Rochester Street Office Redefines the Modern Workspace

According to directors Bill Clifton and Will Dangar, the office needed to be adaptable, filled with natural light, and offer a welcoming environment that fosters interaction among staff across different departments. A spacious kitchen for shared lunches, outdoor areas for fresh air, and thoughtfully designed breakout spaces ensure that the office promotes both productivity and well-being. As Clifton and Dangar put it, they wanted to work in a space that reflected the Robert Plumb Collective's unique culture—inviting, functional, and fun, complete with a ping-pong table for downtime.

This ethos led to a collaboration with some of Australia’s top design and architecture talent, including Allied_Office, Akin Atelier, Second Edition, and landscape architects Dangar Barin Smith, who worked together to create a environment tailored to Plumb’s needs.

The architectural concept by Allied_Office emphasises Botany’s gritty, semi-industrial character, melding the new office with its surroundings. As architects Andrew Macdonald and Telly Theodore explain, the building is designed as a “stacked set of three long containers” of concrete, glass, and beam. This straightforward design prioritises functionality while using large windows and edge-beam planters to create a connection with the outdoors. Perpendicular brick screens, strategically placed to mitigate sunlight while allowing views, further enhance the building’s industrial aesthetic and playfully complement its natural surroundings.

Inside, Akin Atelier’s Kelvin Ho has created a tactile, sensory experience that reflects Robert Plumb Collective’s core values of craftsmanship, sustainability, and collaboration. The recycled off-cut marble floors in the lobby, a timber staircase winding through concrete and glass, and immersive bathrooms lined with recycled terracotta tiles showcase the layered materials and storytelling integral to the design. Each touchpoint throughout the building, from recycled Oregon joinery to terracotta and marble offcuts, invites occupants to engage with the space’s sustainable, narrative-driven form.

With the rugged industrial landscape in mind, Dangar Barin Smith crafted outdoor spaces that are modest and resilient, softening the building’s bold concrete façade with cascading greenery. Native plants, carefully selected to thrive on slab and in raised planters, add a layer of grounded tranquility. The landscape architects used trees like Melaleuca and Eucalyptus to connect indoor and outdoor spaces, bringing a distinctly Australian feel to the environment. “The landscape is integral in grounding the building,” says William Dangar, who worked with Naomi Barin and Tom Smith on the project.

For Second Edition, Rochester Street was an opportunity to experiment with materials, pushing boundaries with recycled and locally sourced elements. Terracotta roof tiles, timber, and salvaged marble offcuts were transformed into terrazzo pieces. Local artisans at Cranbrook Workshop crafted custom joinery and furniture from recycled Oregon, creating a connection to local material history and further embedding sustainability into the design.

Through the combined efforts of these talented teams, Rochester Street Office stands as a blueprint for future workspaces in Australia.