The natural beauty of the Australian landscape was the focus of the design during the fitout of the new Microsoft Technology Centre in Sydney.
Designer Tom Mark Henry (TMH) was engaged by Microsoft to design their first flagship technology centre in Australia. The design had to represent the global Microsoft brand while reflecting the project’s distinct Sydney context and site. Given that the office – located above the iconic GPO in Sydney’s bustling Martin Place – would host a demographically diverse group of employees, the design had to accommodate this diversity with a complex spatial plan.
The natural beauty of the Australian landscape was captured using bold textures, colours and forms, which included the choice of timber flooring from Havwoods.
The multipurpose spaces were defined using different Havwoods timber floors. TMH selected Havwoods Pureplank Clermont for the kitchen areas and Par-ky Ivory Oak Twist for several of the staff touchdown zones. By complementing the other material choices, the timber flooring enabled TMH to create a cohesive aesthetic that flowed seamlessly throughout the space.
“A Havwoods floor was selected due to the vast range of formats, colours and finishes available. This made it easy for us to find the right choice of timber flooring for the project, which was suitable for the space and worked with the rest of the material,” Tom Mark Henry commented.
TMH’s design for the new Microsoft Technology Centre also celebrates all facets of its Australian context, not only in terms of the physical forms but also the less tangible qualities of the local culture, language and design ethos. For instance, local artists were engaged to create unique elements throughout the space to celebrate Australia’s distinctive design culture.
Havwoods products installed at the Microsoft office included HW2214 Clermont, HW7364-T Ivory Oak Twist, and HW695 Chalet Pewter Midi.
Photographer: Damian Bennett
