Cornwalls

*Shortlisted – Workplace Category
AIDA Awards 2023

Cornwalls is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected independent law firms. After signing the lease on a 2,000m2 warm shell, they engaged Studio 103 to transform it into an office that reflected the company’s values.

We were thrilled at the opportunity to work with such an extraordinary client. From the CEO (who could give James Bond a run for his money in the style stakes!) right through to the whole team of partners and stakeholders, it was a genuine pleasure to work collaboratively to create & deliver their vision.

The Queen and Collins precinct couldn’t have been a better fit for Cornwalls, comprising three interconnected buildings, each with a unique identity that spoke to a different facet of the business. The grand heritage building at 90 Queen referenced Cornwalls’ rich history, while 380 Collins – a combination of old and new architecture – spoke to its innovation and future aspirations. Finally, the more understated building at 100 Queen represented the company’s culture of humbleness and its strong focus on their people.

Key to our design strategy was bringing together the old and the new to create a cohesive story that employees and clients could identify with. The Queen and Collins historic precinct features beautiful gothic arches throughout the façade and the atriums spaces. We immediately saw an opportunity to bring this design language into the interior architecture and create a consistent story throughout.

The building at 380 Collins was a natural choice to serve as the executive client space, containing all front-of-house areas including the reception, boardroom, meeting rooms, an innovation lab full of high-tech equipment and the café. The café also serves as a multifunctional event space and features a spectacular custom mural wall and island bar with metal fin detailing – the perfect centrepiece for cocktail events.

While there are plenty of wow moments throughout the design, this project was also about those little details that make a space memorable, such as the speakeasy bar that is only accessible through the café kitchen – those in the know simply pull on a wooden spoon on a nearby shelf to enter. The secret bar features a dramatic green marble wall, bronze detailing, and integrated lighting to create the feeling of being out for a drink at a fabulous high-end bar.