Designed by The Stella Collective, MA Financial Group’s Melbourne headquarters addresses the fundamentals of workplace design – lighting, ventilation, amenity – under a guise of minimalism and warmth. It’s a practical environment realised with all the familiarity and personality usually reserved for residential or hospitality spaces.
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“Our brief was to bring the Stella hospitality-led hallmarks to MA Financial’s new premises,” explains Hana Hakim, Design Director of The Stella Collective. “This can mean many things, but the essence is a flexible and high-performance space that feels like a beautiful hotel mixed with residential comfort.” The lobby features a half-moon shaped sofa in creamy upholstery around a cluster of timber coffee tables; beyond this, there’s a curved, pastel pink desk topped with richly veined Artedomus Tiberio marble. Boardrooms take advantage of the expansive views, and walnut wall panelling and soft fabrics signal a restful approach to the workday. In the kitchen, deeper hues emerge with glossy rose-toned tiles alongside dark stained timber and bronze Studio Henry Wilson wall lights.
Haptics and hues drive this space, and the Artedomus Litzio travertine flooring is a notable player; used throughout, it is the undercurrent of the design, and the continuity of its tactility and tone has a calming effect. Natural timber, linen, Artedomus stone, porcelain panels and mosaics round out the materiality. There are also custom furnishings and objects by Mr and Mrs White and Anna Varendorff, along with Ross Gardam lighting. These inclusions create a layered, personal atmosphere reflective of a residential setting. As Hana says, “we looked at how to support the future workplace through amenity, finishes and great lighting. The sea of workstations is gone in favour of high-class, feel-good spaces.”
MA Financial’s Melbourne office is a culmination of wonderfully treated surfaces and mindful touches. It meets all the demands of a functional workplace through its order and function; however, the prevailing feeling is one of serenity and charm.
Words by Millie Thwaites
Photography by Lillie Thompson
Build by SHAPE
Interior Design by The Stella Collective
Styling by The Stella Collective
Engineering by Aston Stone
