Melbourne-based architecture and interior design studio Carr has completed the fit-out of a smart new workplace for the Australian law firm Russell Kennedy. Described by Carr as “an exercise in polished practicality”, the workplace design emphasizes warmth, flexibility, and inclusivity.
The workplace is spread over four floors of the newly refurbished 500 Bourke Street tower in Melbourne’s CBD. (The iconic 36-story brutalist tower was designed by the architectural firm Godfrey & Spowers and constructed in 1977. In 2019, multidisciplinary design studio FK was tasked with completing the tower’s significant adaptive reuse.)
Russell Kennedy engaged Carr in an analysis of suitable sites for its new premises. The studio assessed a number of pertinent factors, including floor plate efficiency, natural light conditions, and sustainability, ensuring the chosen building was in keeping with the law firm’s vision for its future workplace. Catherine Keys, Associate Director at Carr, explains: “Rigorous strategic and functional briefing stages revealed a law firm with a long history of approachable and collaborative relationships. The new working environment needed to reflect and direct this for both the team and hosted guests.”
The workplace is arranged across levels 16 to 19 of 500 Bourke Street, with the client floor extending over the majority of level 18. Here, the reception and waiting area have been positioned to maximize light and views, providing a warm welcome. A range of amenities on level 18, including a cafe, library, and various flexible spaces, help to promote connections between the Russell Kennedy team and clients.
The law firm was keen to minimize any sense of hierarchy and reaffirm its commitment to inclusivity: a mix of spaces, both open and private, accommodates a variety of working practices and requirements. Moreover, Carr has designed the workplace with modularity in mind, for example, office and quiet room pods allow for flexibility if any future reconfiguration is necessary.
Breakout areas on each of the four floors are interconnected by a bright and open stairway, encouraging movement and chance encounters. The incorporation of trailing plants adds a sense of vitality to the space and promotes the well-being of users.
The aesthetic design of the new workplace was influenced by the column–grid articulation of 500 Bourke Street’s facade — a secondary internal grid made with oak timber extends the building’s physical design language into the interior. “This has been achieved by cladding the existing facade columns in timber and creating a secondary structure by introducing internal timber beams and columns,” explains Keys. “The resulting articulation dictates the layout of spaces and creates a strong colonnade, providing visual clarity and grounding the interior spaces within the context of the building.”
Carr’s considered use of warm wood throughout the workplace provides a pleasing contrast to the cooler tones of the poured concrete terrazzo flooring; in addition, wood wool ceiling tiles add depth and texture. These choice materials are complemented by the use of soft leathers and natural fabrics, creating a classic interior that is both welcoming and comforting. The workplace is also imbued with a sense of reassuring solidity, underpinned by the use of strong oak columns and substantial joinery.
“The idea of bringing the facade in, the detail and strategy of the layout, and the refined material palette ensures everything is working in absolute unity,” says Keys.
The project has achieved a 5 Green Star rating (from the Green Building Council of Australia), aligning with the sustainability aspirations of both Russell Kennedy and Carr. In addition, Carr carried out a furniture audit in order to reuse and/or refurbish existing furniture.
Level 16 floor plan
Level 17 floor plan
Level 18 floor plan
Level 19 floor plan
