Transforming A Heritage Home Into An Office Space

When asked to transform a 1970s heritage home into an office space, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects focused on creating a place that represented the client’s strong focus on sustainability and biophilic design. Led by Tim Greer and Nazia Kachwalla, the process of turning a home into an office took to planning a series of spaces that would be pleasant to work in and offered a great sense of wellbeing. Additionally, a focus was placed on how the office spaces could use as little energy as possible. However, before any of this could be done, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects took to celebrating each era that the building had witnessed as well as making sense of the new additions. Beginning by acknowledging the past, the architects turned the heritage home into an office by adding elements that emphasised the original structure. The first of such additions is upon the façade, where a transparent staircase allows workers a view of the original 1890s brick wall. Additionally, the new windows on the exterior architecture help tell the story of the building’s history.
Continuing on throughout the renovation of a home into an office, the architects emphasise the use of natural materials to complement the home’s lasting character. As such, with the timber floors throughout, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects works with the notion of the original house. However, as they were turning a home into an office, there were some typical workplace challenges that arose. To answer the challenge of acoustics, the architects devised a technique where the glass walls take the form of the original walls to add a natural acoustic seal. After this, the interior design and architecture was coded around white and timber so to help modernise the heritage home into an office. Moreover, natural light was heavily employed to imbue a bright and calming light throughout the office and also help with morale within the team. Additionally, the skirting boards and doors are raised up in width and height, which is reminiscent of the late Victorian era in which the home was originally built.
Throughout the interior, there are subtle contemporary acknowledgements to the heritage home’s beginnings. However, to move the space into the modern age, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects have added a living tree to the centre of the build. To help encourage the tree to grow, the architects have employed a glazed ceiling skylight with shades, so the office would not become a hot-box. The tree caters to the client’s focus on sustainability and biophilic design, and the panels on the glazed ceiling are positioned to a particular angle so to generate and retain warmth during the winter. Passively ventilated and natural lit, the foyer of the workplace becomes an ecosystem within itself and encourages employee’s everyday livelihood. Though paying attention to the finer details during the renovation of a home into an office, Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects focuses on celebrating life as we know it as well as encouraging the everyday habits of the workers.
00:00 - Introduction to the Office Space
01:09 - A Celebration of the Eras
02:44 - The Natural Material Palette
04:16 - Subtle Addition of the Interiors
05:04 - A Sustainable Approach to Electricity
06:23 - Incorporating Life into Design
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Photography by Cieran Murphy.
Architecture and Interior Design by Tonkin Zulaikha Greer Architects.
Build by Buildcorp Interiors.
Landscape Architecture by Dangar Barin Smith.
Electrical Engineering by JHA Consulting Engineers.
Structural Engineering M+G Consulting Engineers
Filmed by The Local Project.
Edited by Visual Noise.
Production by The Local Project.
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
#Office #Transform #Heritage

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