Award-winning architecture and design firm Bates Smart was engaged by the Clemenger Group to design their new office in Sydney. Located in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct within the historic Pier 8/9 at Millers Point, the new Clemenger BBDO Sydney office met the design brief that called for an engaging dialogue between the forward-thinking and energised creativity synonymous with the Clemenger brand and the rich heritage of the historic Pier.

Bates Smart sought to create a design that would resonate with the strong brand culture and identity of the Clemenger Group. The designers chose a muted palette to neutralise the space and invite people to fully inhabit and own the space around them. The muted palette also creates a distinct line between the existing architecture and the expression of new insertions.

Oversized blocks inspired by the scale of the historic pier have been composed into a series of interlocking sculptural pieces to form the stairs, joinery and furniture items.

Gibbon Group was called upon to create custom fit-for-purpose Tretford rugs made to exacting scale and specifications. The Tretford carpet combines a natural pile with an innate corded structure to correctly balance comfort and solidarity.

Bates Smart designers chose a palette of Tretford Charcoal and Double Cream for their striking floor design. Hundreds of geometric shaped carpet pieces were accurately cut by hand and installed in a repeatable pattern for stunning effect.

Bates Smart’s design of the Clemenger Group Sydney office has been shortlisted for Workplace Design in the Australian Interior Design Awards.