Bass Coast Shire Council Offices

2014

Wonthaggi, VIC ∙ Boonwurrung Country

This project was a sizeable interior refurbishment of an existing 1980s council office building.

It had been designed more like a residence than a civic space. The floor plans were inefficient, comprising irregular networks of small rooms connected by corridors. Moreover, the building was positioned on a sloping site, which had not been sufficiently accommodated. These characteristics had generated numerous issues of access, circulation and acoustic/visual isolation, and had limited some occupants’ proximity to light and ventilation.

We renovated the foyer, and refurbished the nominated spaces as rationally banded open-plan areas with peripheral offices and meeting rooms.

The changes offered better access, circulation, wayfinding, isolation, light and ventilation, allowing for flexibility between independent, breakout and team working styles. Meeting rooms suitable for executive use were located at the open plan’s perimeter, and could be booked alternately by others for secluded, informal teamwork.