Global Mining Firm, By Hammond Studio
Located within the iconic, Harry Seidler designed, three-tower precinct of ‘Darling Park’. Each of the three towers have a central core with a different axis. The placement of functions around the three sides were driven by a client focused experience, providing the client with the ideal views of Sydney harbour and beyond.
In the design development of the client area, consultation took place with he CEO to discuss the proposed finishes and he took particular interest in the stone flooring proposed. He requested that a stone be sourced that has visual fossils throughout, a fitting brief for a company that deals with below ground fossils. The selected ‘fossilized’ stone was selected and paired with other natural materials like American Cherrywood used as wall panelling and joinery and other complimentary natural stones in furniture.
An illuminated brass rod ceiling is a striking addition to the space, highlighted by up lighting wall lights custom made in American Cherrywood. The use of colour is restrained to carpets and fabric wall panelling within meeting rooms, and furniture upholstery only. A sophisticated burgundy red used instead of the bright red used in branding.
Away from the client area, in the work zones, a proposed new planning approach to their previous accommodation was accepted. The previous model of accommodation had offices placed along the facade which consumed views and daylight for other internalised staff. Instead all offices were placed against the core of the building away from the facade, affording equitable access to daylight and views for all staff.
The main staff refresh hub was designed for multiple functions or varying scale, providing large open social gathering spaces through to private booths for up to four colleagues to collaborate or dine together. All gathering points are provided with power and usb chargers so they can also be used as work points.
What was the brief and how did Hammond Studio interpret it?
The workplace is a 1,900sqm (20,450ft) environment designed for creating human relationships and fostering a stronger collaborative spirit between cultures.
It challenges the conventions of the conservative coal mining sector and those inherent in Yancoal’s nature as a partly Chinese-owned company.
With approximately half of employees of Chinese origin and other half of Anglo-Australian origin, the workplace was required to ensure the cultural differences between the two was one of continued and heightened respect.
The Chinese culture is hierarchical and very conservative in its outlook, yet local workplace culture is flatter, with staff being more comfortable to speak out, make mistakes and learn from failing.
The design outcome has been highly successful, because it altered the cultural misalignments that were at play within Yancoal, with previous workplaces providing offices for Chinese management around the perimeter / façade of the building, significantly compromising the access to daylight and views for all other staff.
We therefore created a flat hierarchy by providing access to daylight and views for all staff, open plan work points are now located next to the façade to reinforce the message that all Yancoal members are a valuable part of the team, and all are valued equally.
Open and enclosed collaborative environments of varying scale are provided for differing cultural work styles. Social hubs and staff kitchens providing facilities for both cultural cuisines and styles of interacting amongst colleagues.
How did the project demonstrate a progressive approach to architecture and design?
Designing within a heritage building by Harry Seidler & Associates, takes a delicate and considered planning approach. Overlayed with the requirements of Yancoal to provide formal meeting environments for trade and government delegations, Chinese and international dignitaries and stakeholders, the aesthetics of this formal environment needed to provide a progressive and premium presence.
The introduction of curved timber walls softens the triangular shaped floor plan, adds warmth to the space and provides a contemporary narrative with form. The natural limestone floor has visible fossils throughout, a request from the CEO, and the gold tube line ceiling along with subtle use of the colour red, provides a nod of respect to the company’s Chinese origins.
With the political relationship between Australia and China being questioned at times, this guest environment shows a way that the two cultures can be brought together, through design.
What aspects of this project make it a true stand-out to commercial design?
The new Yancoal office is a sophisticated and stylish, take on the contemporary workplace that also puts company culture first.
To achieve this, we worked closely with the client to develop a firm grasp of where their culture was at and where they wanted it to be.
From there, we set about designing a space that bridged the gap between the two and left room for flexibility.
