388 George Street
Sydney NSW
Australia
Overview
The ECP Asset Management office resides in The Pavilion Building at 388 George Street, Sydney. The material palette was conceived as an extension of the client's brand ethos. The company focuses on an ethical approach to investing, which is represented throughout the space, with sustainable natural materials and a warm palette.
The building's unorthodox curved form has led to the unique curved planning outcome that maintains visual connectivity across the floor. It also provides privacy where required, for more focused work.
Timeless and enduring finishes such as timber and natural stone were carefully selected to ensure longevity for the client’s 10-year lease period, ensuring what is modern today will be modern tomorrow.
Space planning was focused on projected growth, with flexibility in the configuration of open plan workstations to cater for increasing staff numbers over time. This will enable the workplace to adapt with minimal intervention to the built space, thus being sustainable in its ability to evolve over time.
The repetition of curved forms creates sculptural settings, with screened open plan workspaces and enclosed meeting spaces. This leads to an elegant social space that overlooks the city's premium retail and business district. The adaptable conference room transitions to a dining room in order to support business functions and events.
Project team
Interior
A sophisticated but minimalist palette of finishes includes rock maple timber, limestone, bronze and navy blue accents. The materials coalesce to form a calming interior.
The project features both rock maple timber veneer wall coverings and bespoke rock maple timber door hardware. The extensive use of timber throughout the project imbues a sense of wellness and authenticity. From wallpapered veneer surfaces to hand carved touch points such as door handles and cabinet pulls, the experience of the space is warm and tactile.
The natural qualities of timber have been showcased across various elements utilising standard sheet sizes to minimise wastage. This includes the ceiling panels, which were also crafted from timber veneer. The panels were custom made by a joiner with concealed fixings. The panels were butt joined together with minimal shadow line to achieve a flush finish. Services were coordinated into recessed channels to maintain a clean finish across the ceiling plane.
The timber veneer ‘wallpaper’ is a super thin layer of timber that can be applied over most substrates, offering an affordable and flexible real timber finish. It was supplied as a pre-finished product with one coat of sanding sealer and one coat of solvent-based polyurethane, with a gloss level of 5%. The large expanse of timber veneer has an enduring and timeless quality that is subtly reflected through other light and tonal finishes.
Careful coordination of the timber species across various applications and suppliers was carried out to ensure a cohesive finish throughout the project. Although supplied and built by many hands, the resulting finish across various applications is seamless.
The rotary cut rock maple veneer species was specified for its blonde finish. The design intent required a luxurious but neutral backdrop for the clients significant collection of Indigenous artwork. The subtly in grain direction and finish was beneficial, as the timber veneer was supplied by numerous suppliers, so consistency was key.
