Project: Bunnings Head Office
Architecture: Gray Puksand
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Area: 16000 m2
Year: 2021
Photo Credits: Peter Bennetts
Gray Puksand has successfully completed a state-of-the-art support office for Bunnings, one of Australia’s leading retailers, setting a benchmark for the future of workspace design.
Situated across two towers in inner Melbourne, the Bunnings Head Office spans seven floors and covers an impressive 16,000sqm, consolidating its Victorian teams in a space designed to accommodate hybrid working styles in the post-pandemic era.
The interior design showcases raw and rustic elements, including timber, concrete, steel, and brick, which lend a distinctive character to the space. Earthy hues of rust and sage are interspersed throughout, harmonizing with the natural materials and creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The inclusion of expansive floor-to-ceiling glass walls enhances the sense of unity and openness, allowing ample natural light to flood the interiors.
Transparency and authenticity are central to the design ethos, with exposed construction techniques and services proudly on display, adding an honest and genuine appeal to the space. These raw elements are juxtaposed with soft furnishings that introduce a sense of comfort and homeliness, striking a perfect balance between industrial aesthetics and warmth. The understated colour palette, featuring earthy rust, red tones, sage, and pistachio, further enriches the visual appeal and cohesion of the design.
Notably, the incorporation of soft green hues serves to bridge the interior with the outdoors, reflecting the majestic gum trees in the adjacent park and fostering a connection to nature within the office environment.
Each space within the office is designed to be tactile and welcoming, promoting a sense of friendliness and approachability. This design philosophy proved crucial as employees returned to the workplace following the easing of Victoria’s lockdown restrictions. The Managing Director of the retailer expressed that the design authentically captures the spirit of the company. As a result, the staff eagerly embraced the new office environment, eagerly returning to their revamped workspace.
“Our mission was to create and offer something that working from home could not. Not only a space to collaborate and meet, but to learn, develop, socialise and have fun. The spaces needed to be equal to, or better than, what you could get at home.” — Dale O’Brien, Partner, Gray Puksand
