Architect and Builder February/March 2019 | Page 81

enjoy external views and natural daylight
throughout the day.
Design Process
The office design process was an
extensive and interactive collaboration
between novospace and the architects,
EPA. The interior concept that emerged
at an early stage became known as ‘funky
raw’ and this term has stuck as the defining
description of the interior design. The
principle was to apply honestly expressed
textures and materials throughout the
RCL Foods
building, using polished concrete, exposed
brickwork and concrete soffits, rough
sawn timber, exposed steel and glass.
The building accommodates RCL’s
full staff complement over four floors
and in two grouped blocks. The building
is dissected with a striking quadruple
volume glazed atrium and a 65m long
steel and timber staircase with a series
of interconnecting bridges connects all the
levels. The bridges are vital in facilitating
and encouraging interaction amongst
RCL staff. Informal meeting ‘bays’ were
attached alongside each bridge to promote
perchance meetings or cups of coffee in
the buzz of the atrium’s activity. Careful
consideration was applied to areas that
required acoustic treatment and this was
achieved by using suspended acoustic
panels in brightly coloured fabrics. The
branding colours were also weaved into
furniture pieces, signage and artwork.
Ultimately this design alchemy yielded
a result which is a stunning and captivating
interaction between the building’s archi-
tecture and its interior design.
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