Melbourne Old Building Renovation: Innovation in Office Space Design

Address: Melbourne, Australia
Area: 1780+800 square meters
Keywords: office furniture, customized furniture, office environment design, real estate model room, old building renovation, high-end elite market, landscape view, facility upgrade and utilization, luxurious front desk experience, high-end materials and furniture configuration, sustainability, regional culture, spatial aesthetics
Melbourne Old Building Renovation: Innovation in Office Space Design under the Existing Economy

Project Background: From Old Buildings to Elite Offices, a New Landmark

In 2023, 28 Freshwater Place in the South Bank Business District of Melbourne, Australia, will undergo a transformation. This commercial building, completed in 2008 with a total area of approximately 34000 square meters, was transformed into a top-level office model space on the 15th and 21st floors by the Vemi design team. The project focuses on "transforming old buildings into luxury", integrating modern aesthetics and sustainable concepts, and setting a new benchmark for office space design in the era of stock economy.

The building is located in the Yarra River Art and Entertainment District, with panoramic views of Melbourne city and the Yarra River. Renovation is not about demolishing and starting over, but about preserving the essence of the original structure, such as the iconic agate wall on the ground floor, and revitalizing the old building through spatial reorganization and functional upgrades.

Transformation Highlights: Reshaping Office Value in Four Dimensions

Sustainable transformation and facility upgrading

The project adheres to the concept of "low intervention, high return", first restoring the space to its original state, and then maximizing the reuse of existing components. Recombination and utilization of complex electromechanical systems rather than replacement, specialized handling of dismantled materials, and reuse of workstations and logistics facilities not only reduce costs but also minimize resource waste.

Comprehensive renovation of public facilities, upgrading of public corridors and elevator halls, and modern entrance design to create a respectful arrival experience. The ground floor lobby has been redesigned by Bates Smart as a garden oasis, introducing a large number of green plants and coffee leisure services, becoming a leisure space for tenants and visitors to socialize and meet.

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Space Design and Landscape Utilization

The core of the design is to create a modern kitchen with a panoramic view of the Yala River, serving as the central hub of the space. Panoramic french window are introduced into the city skyline and river scenery, transforming landscape resources into core selling points.

Flow curves and sharp lines guide the flow, while warm neutral tones outline an elegant atmosphere. Inspired by the topography of Victoria, we use natural tones of coastal cliffs, forests, and plains to create a peaceful and efficient office environment.

High end materials and office furniture configuration

The prestigious welcome lobby is the focus of the renovation, with a high rise space paired with high-end finishes and polished flooring, creating a "low-key luxury". High end materials focus on key touchpoints, while the logistics area maintains practicality, balancing cost and high-end feel.

The configuration of office furniture is the core link in improving the quality of office environment design in the renovation of old buildings. The project adopts a modular workstation system, which can flexibly adjust the layout according to the team size, meeting the needs of independent office work and creating possibilities for collaboration.

The comprehensive provision of ergonomic seats ensures comfort for long-term office work. The spatial design naturally divides the collaboration area and the focus area through furniture layout, with an open discussion area paired with a movable conference table, and a quiet cabin equipped with comfortable sofas to achieve efficient work mode switching.

All furnishings are made of natural materials that evoke memories of outdoor life, deeply integrated with the overall spatial design language, further enhancing office comfort and quality.

Regional Culture and Local Expression

Integrating Victorian natural imagery into the design and transforming regional cultural elements into modern design language. This local expression makes the space more recognizable and approachable, creating a warm and organic office environment for different tenants.

Sustainable strategy: a win-win situation for environmental protection and efficiency

The project will integrate the concept of sustainability throughout. Under the principle of budget and resource reuse, inject vitality into the office with new paint and carpets. Prioritize environmental protection, professionally classify and handle demolition materials, reuse existing facilities, and reduce construction waste.

The implementation of ESG concepts aims to reduce renovation costs through measures such as economic benefits and the reuse of old furniture. Domestic developers can learn from this and establish a database of demolition and renovation materials to achieve the unity of environmental protection and efficiency.

Project Inspiration: Five Core Logic of Stock Transformation

The Light Asset Path of Stock Transformation

Preserve the essence of the building structure, revitalize through material updates and spatial reorganization, and avoid large-scale demolition and construction. Recycling equipment and facilities, extending their lifecycle, reducing renovation costs, and achieving "low intervention, high return".

Value reconstruction of spatial scenes

Breaking through traditional office space thinking, transforming public areas such as lobbies into social destinations, and incorporating high-frequency consumption scenarios such as light dining. Fully utilize landscape resources, integrate them with functional nodes, and enhance spatial premium capabilities.

Local innovation of design language

Explore regional cultural elements, transform them into modern design language, and shape differentiated aesthetics. Concentrate on investing high-end materials in key areas to create memory points and balance cost and high-end feel.

The practical implementation of sustainable concepts

Combining environmental protection measures with cost control, achieving a win-win situation of sustainability and economic benefits through resource reuse, specialized disposal of dismantled materials, etc.

Rental oriented model room design

Create model rooms tailored to the needs of different tenants, showcase spatial possibilities, and attract potential tenants. Upgrade facility services, enhance the added value of office products, and strengthen leasing competitiveness.

The renovation case of 28 Freshwater Place old building in Melbourne focuses on office furniture, office environment design, old building renovation, and space design, showcasing the innovative way of office space under the existing economy. The renovation of old office buildings in China can draw on its concept, enhance asset value through design innovation and sustainable strategies, and create office spaces that meet the needs of the new era.