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333 Collins Street, Melbourne, is straight out of the ostentatious 1980s and, while granite foyers and ornate timber lined lifts remains integral to the building, the overall mood was considered inappropriate for Arnold Bloch Leibler's offices, a confident and forward thinking law practice.
Nonetheless, Bates Smart Architects has incorporated some elements from the original fit out: a sandstone wall in the entrance, a glass and marble staircase, together with rich Madagascar ebony used sparingly throughout the offices. "These materials are quite beautiful. One of the problems with the original design was the use of too many different materials. There was also timber parquetry at reception and blonde timber on all the office doors," says Principal Designer, Jeffery Copolov.
The architects were asked to add a third level to the practice, bringing the floor area to over 5,000m' The brief was to integrate the three floors and totally re-organised the environment to create greater flexibility and encourage teamwork. "The original office," says Paul Purcell who worked on the design team "was quite rigid. Law is different to how it was practised ten years ago. Briefs change and teams need to be flexible when working in an international environment:"
The additional level (the lowest of the three) was incorporated by punching through the floor and extending the glass balustrade staircase Then, to further unify the three levels, the parquetry flooring was replaced with a new limestone floor, elegant limestone reception desk and lacquer wall panelling, together with a linking palette.
Individual offices were re-worked and open plan areas rationalised "The floor plates are awkward," says Copolov "The original design appeared to square off the offices on the corners and divide these up with glass." A number of offices were re-configured and new meeting rooms with floating ceilings, glass walls and lacquer panelling were. Despite their transparency, these meeting rooms with their double-glazing and retractable automatic blinds offer privacy as well as views of the city.
On the top level, directly above the staircase, was a space that originally didn't contribute either to the practice's floor space or image. Used as a library, bookshelves simply spilled over into the space. "We wanted to make this area more of a feature, not only for clients visiting the office, but also for solicitors using the library," says Copolov, who inserted a series of timber fin-like walls and desks for staff. "They have privacy and they can also enjoy the view," he says, pointing out the Dandenong Ranges in the distance.
The waiting areas on both the lower level and the reception level were also re-furnished using Arne Jacobsen's 'Swan' chairs and Eero Saarinen's 'Tulip' table. Against the sandstone walls, these forms create a sense of warmth, as well as a sense of arrival. The pond, once a feature of the entry level, has been filled in. As Copolov says: "You can now press your nose against the glass to appreciate the view Before, people occasionally left the building with wet shoes."
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