Project RUNWAY

Much-loved Australian brand Oroton gifted itself an inspiring new home replete with works hand-picked by local-art champion Michael Reid.

WHAT WERE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR NEW OFFICES? Jenny Child, Oroton CEO: My first instinct was to approach the design analytically and based on how people would want and need to work in a physical space, post-Covid. We began by taking off all the traditional labels and habitual patterns like ‘finance will sit on the second floor in the back corner’ and focused on the aims we had for the output of the business.

We designed a space that is modular in use and highly flexible day to day. Knowing that hybrid work would continue, we also had to embrace the fact that when someone came into the office, they would need technology that would bring people together across disparate locations.

So we invested in furniture, technology and structural layout where it would make a real difference. This got us to a great balance, but it took hard work, an openness to think differently and lots of iterations. We were so lucky to have the generous support of [Oroton’s owner] Will Vicars to drive this ambitious project. Michael’s expertise has allowed the space to feel grounded by the art collection, yet the curation also feels fluid in a way that aligns with the office being adaptable to business growth. 

WHAT APPEALED ABOUT THE SITE? Sophie Holt, creative director: It was time for the brand to really embrace a culture of change, so we wanted to find a space that had a lot of light, a studio where we could be creative. When Will bought the building, it had an old mechanic workshop on the ground level and a warehouse up the top in a very pretty leafy street in Chippendale overlooking a beautiful church, so the office is flooded with natural light and the open plan allowed us a big design space.