Assemble

Assemble Studio

Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne

Assemble Studio

Assemble

ARCHITECTS
Assemble

PHOTOGRAPHS
Tanja Milbourne 

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Northcote, Australia

CATEGORY
Offices

Assemble designed our studio in Northcote. Our aim was to create a low cost, flexible workspace that would be an inspiring workplace.

Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne
Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne

As a company with design at its core, we felt it was important to use our studio as a kind of three-dimensional showcase for our design capabilities and sensibility.

As architect and builder, we negotiated the design and construction through an organic process in which the design and detailing of the fit-out were improved upon and adapted as the build progressed, making use of the expertise and craftsmanship of the Local Spaces tradesmen while incorporating as much ‘unskilled labour’ (the Assemble team) as possible.

Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne
Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne

The main feature of our studio, the ceiling is a geometric form comprising triangular, origami-inspired folds of timber battens.

The existing ceiling was cluttered with pipes, ductwork, air-conditioning units, smoke detectors and fire alarms – a bit of an eyesore.

We wanted to conceal this labyrinth of pipes and tubing while still allowing everything to function. The ceiling design grew out of a process of experimentation, folding different sculpted origami forms in paper.

Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne
Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne
Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne

The eventual design was composed of five triangles mirrored and repeated eight times across the length of the ceiling.

All the custom-built furniture in the studio is on castor wheels so it can easily be shifted and the space reconfigured for events and design workshops.

Exposed concrete can be both beautiful and energy-saving. So, we decided to leave the side walls and front part of the ceiling just as they are. This allows the space to benefit from the sun’s rays and the thermal mass effect and we also like seeing ‘the bones’ of the building.

Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne
Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne

In keeping with this ‘inner beauty’ vibe, we’ve also left the marks and notes on the walls made by the builders during construction. The concrete floor slab has been cleaned and sealed with a low VOC concrete sealer.

All the joinery is build from sustainably harvested hoop pine plywood. The ceiling battens are also sustainably harvested hoop pine ply. All timber has been white-washed and sealed with a low VOC clear finish.

Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne
Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne

The desktops are finished with Marmoleum, an old fashioned flooring material made from linseed oil and natural pigments. The large windows mean that the space is flooded with natural light all day which means we rely very little on electric lighting.

Assemble also has Assemble Papers, a very interesting online publication exploring small footprint living across art, design, architecture, urbanism, the environment & finance.

Assemble Studio
© Tanja Milbourne


Assemble Studio
Detail


Assemble Studio
Detail


Assemble Studio
Detail
Assemble Studio
Floor Plan

Assemble
T +44 20 72370000
Assemble
30 Hancock Rd, London E3 3DA, United Kingdom