A Tour of Carman’s Modern New HQ in Melbourne

Carman’s, a popular Australian breakfast and snack brand, recently hired architecture firm Ewert Leaf to design their new headquarters located in Melbourne, Australia.

“Echoing the wholesome and nourishing soul of the brand, the 5000sqm state-of-the-art building is set across three levels, complete with a breezy outdoor conservatory that illuminates in the evenings, along with a communal landscaped garden and retreat to promote walking meetings with a side of Vitamin D. There’s also a contemporary, open-plan kitchen that provides a gathering space for staff, alongside eclectic storage solutions. An array of existing spaces have been converted into a fully equipped gym, light-filled yoga studio, sleep retreat, phone booth, and ‘prep’ room where employees can relish in some quiet time or utilise hairdressing and beauty tools to freshen up. Meeting rooms are enclosed by glass in open spaces to achieve the ideal balance of privacy and transparency. A tactile material palette layered with lush greenery, local art pieces and a diverse collection of Carolyn’s personal interior touches reinforces this nod towards residential design, while black metal glazed partitions and exposed concrete flooring are contrastingly modern. Welcoming Carman’s neighbours, the ground floor features a public retail offering and adjoining café, fit with a cascading ceiling plant installation that uniquely waterfalls from the first workspace level. This striking feature was made possible by carving an opening in the ceiling to create a connection between the offices above and the public space below. It was important to consider Carman’s relationship to its community throughout every step of the design process,” says Ewert Leaf

• Location: Melbourne, Australia
• Date completed: 2018
• Size: 26,887 square feet
• Design: Ewert Leaf
• Photos: Fi Storey