-
Architects: Melbourne Design Studios
- Area: 500 m²
- Year: 2014
-
Photographs:Peter Clarke
-
Manufacturers: Kingspan Insulated Panels, Dow Building Solutions, Bluescope, Bradford, Comcork, Cultured Stone, Dulux, Enzie, James Hardie, Painted Black, Resene, Smart Timbers, Triton Wetsuit, Vellum, Zenolite
Text description provided by the architects. The multi-award-winning design succinctly translates the brand’s core values into a spatial experience, intuitively illustrating Birkenstock’s commitment to craftsmanship and quality, to health and sustainability. The warm and contemporary design, with a hip feel and an holistic approach to sustainability, results in enjoyable spaces for both workers and customers.
The scope The run-down heritage building was brought back to its former glory, extended and complemented by a contemporary fitout. The new headquarters consist of wholesale offices, workshop, courtyard, retail space, online store, and a warehouse with newly inserted Mezzanine storey as wholesale showroom.
The Concept The layout allows for spontaneous staff encounters, unifying different departments into one company culture through the design. A new central core connects, with staff amenities as meeting points between the levels. The shopfront becomes a single point of entrance, so all staff experience the 'front end', where shoe meets customer.
Architecture follows values Birkenstocks are natural, handcrafted, healthy shoes. This is reflected in the design; from concept to detail, the HQ promotes a healthy lifestyle / workplace. Both natural materials and nature itself form an integral part of the design.
Healthy, Natural, Sustainable Carefully selected greenery is built into the sustainable design, working as 'air-purifiers' throughout : Remaining emissions / offgasing from low VOC materials get filtered and cleansed by the planting.
An element of surprise Traditional materials/elements are put into new context : The shopfront uses natural grass for flooring, plants are replacing office screen partitions, plywood forms a complete interior covering all surfaces in some areas, and a ‘homely’ fireplace invites customers to relax at the tea bar within the shop.
