Interiors That Reflect Your Brand With BresicWhitney
3 July 2023
Will Gosse
Chief Operating Officer at BresicWhitney
At BresicWhitney, our physical offices are an important reflection of who we are as a group, what our passions are, what we value, and how we operate. We were intent on bringing to life physical spaces that subverted the expectations of a traditional real estate office and in doing so, left an impression on visitors. Importantly, we wanted to ensure our physical office environments were and continue to be energetic, curious, and inspiring places that our people enjoy being in.
Often when entering different offices from the same brand the look and feel are the same. The same counters, branded logo on the wall and even furniture. Our interior spaces are a clear departure from a traditional real estate office. With our four offices; Darlinghurst, Glebe, Balmain and Hunters Hill, we wanted them to reflect the personalities and character of each suburb.
We wanted our spaces to reflect our understanding and appreciation for the nuances of each of these neighbourhoods – and in doing so reflect our decades of experience working with sellers, buyers and tenants in these markets.
Essentially, we applied macro-market thinking on a micro-scale and explored how we could represent these communities and neighbourhoods within our own walls. In Darlinghurst, for example, we drew on elements and a colour palette that was bold, exposed and industrial, whereas Hunters Hill has a warmer, more refined palette that draws on metallic and wooden elements. We blended this with our insight into the design and architecture of some of Sydney’s best homes, which we’re fortunate to step inside on a daily basis.
Continuity, however, was still also important to us and we ensured that each office reflected our businesses’ appreciation for art, design and architecture, which are key pillars we’ve aligned to as a brand. We reflected this in some key ways, including; a considered composition of materials and finishes, practicality and openness of layouts, by juxtaposing unexpected dimensions and shapes and looking at the interplay between light and shade.
Office:
Hunter Hill
Office:
Darlinghurst
Continuity, however, was still also important to us and we ensured that each office reflected our businesses’ appreciation for art, design and architecture, which are key pillars we’ve aligned to as a brand. We reflected this in some key ways, including; a considered composition of materials and finishes, practicality and openness of layouts, by juxtaposing unexpected dimensions and shapes and looking at the interplay between light and shade.
Another pillar on which we’ve built the brand is creativity and our ongoing investment in this space is reflected in our distinct creative direction and approach. Therefore, it was important our offices were spaces where this pillar of our brand was evident. In addition to the material elements, each office has its own set of artworks (paintings, photography, installations) that represent our overarching appreciation for this sector.
Office:
Balmain
For our clients, we believe they encourage our people to be present and together in the physical space. By coming together our team can work more effectively through challenges, take on opportunities and also support one another. This has become more pertinent in recent years with the changes the Sydney real estate market has endured. Being able to offer a welcoming and collaborative environment for our people helps them and our business move through these times of change.
We knew early on that we wanted to work with an architect who did not traditionally design commercial spaces. To subvert the industry norm we believed we needed to look outside the industry. This is how we found Chenchow Little, as their first commercial client. Their track record in designing curious and inspiring spaces spoke to us and from the moment we started work on the project together it was clear there was a synergy between our businesses and a shared understanding of our vision.
While we had a vision of what we wanted to achieve, we were happy to be guided by Chenchow Little with respect to new ideas and different perspectives. It was important to us that they were allowed the creative freedom to explore new terrain and 10 years on, we’re proud that our offices feel as relevant and exciting as they did when first designed.
If you’re considering putting more of a conscious effort into your office interior my number one piece of advice is, don’t be afraid to invest in a great physical environment for your people.
The trend towards flexible working and working from home does not negate or lessen the need for brands to have a meaningful and inspiring space for their people to come together, whether it’s four days a week or four times a month. Taking a considered, curated and well-thought-out approach to a potential redesign is critical and I would encourage those looking to do so to engage and consult with their people through the initial process. Times of change can provide very valuable insight that will benefit you for years to come.
