Grey Street by Bearspace

In the heart of Brisbane’s lively Southbank, Bearspace redefines what a corporate office can look like with a playful, design-led suite powered by EGGER’s decorative collection.The location of a corporate office suite at 189 Grey Street in central Brisbane has directly informed the space’s design. Its setting in the Southbank precinct – a lively riverside area buzzing with museums, galleries, restaurants and a man-made beach – meant classic corporate palettes and attitudes could be shifted to the background in favour of an aesthetic that’s altogether more exuberant. “The client wanted the new fit-out to be fun and energetic,” says Julia Tamatea, creative director of Brisbane interior design studio Bearspace, which oversaw the design of the spec suite.

The design channels Brisbane’s creative spirit with greenery, light, and layered textures reflecting the energy of the Southbank precinct. Natural timber tones and plenty of greenery bring the outdoors in, while rock gardens and geometric lighting echo the river below. The area’s industrial history is referenced in polished-concrete desks, tabletops and planter boxes, as well as gleaming copper accents on furniture. A striking mural of Brisbane greets visitors, softening the industrial textures and immediately grounding the design in its sense of place.

“The kitchen’s all-concrete look, paired with the apricot laminate banquette and dining tables with green and pink stone and copper legs changes the concrete feel to an energy that reflects a unique softness and edge,” says Tamatea. “The transition between the timber to the concrete and the wall art works exceptionally well. The design draws the guest’s eyes through the entrance into the boardroom to enjoy the stunning view.”

ForestOne’s EGGER was used throughout the space, bringing pastel colours, unique timber-grain looks and stone finishes to the design.Natural Halifax Oak adds warmth to collaboration areas, while Apricot Nude brings playfulness to shared spaces. The office’s largely monochrome palette is broken up with open shelving and a banquette harnessing EGGER’s alluring Apricot Nude U232 ST9 decor. Dining tables are given a striking marble-look effect with a laminate from EGGER’s International range (EGGER’s Engelsberg Marble F014 ST9). Elsewhere, walls are panelled in EGGER’s warm Tobacco Halifax Oak H1181 ST37; while square desks and drawers, the kitchen counter and the boardroom exude industrial polish thanks to EGGER’s Light Grey Chicago Concrete F186 ST9.

Tamatea says that while the renowned durability and easy maintenance of EGGER holds great appeal, so, too, do the brand’s sustainability credentials. EGGER is committed to sustainable forestry, and it aims to use byproducts from sawmills to cut back on the natural resources required to make its products. It even converts heat to green electricity in its biomass power plants. Ultimately, the choice to use EGGER’s products came down to the unique colours and renowned high quality.

The office’s largely monochrome palette is broken up with open shelving and a banquette  harnessing EGGER’s alluring Apricot Nude decor.

“We choose EGGER for its refined finishes, durable textures, and distinctive stone-inspired laminates that elevate simple surfaces.” Tamatea says.

“The stone we used was very special and we have not seen a stone finish in a laminate like that before. And the size of the larger sheets are great in wall applications and minimising joint lines.”

Author: Che-Marie Trigg

Photography: Cieran Murphy

Interior Design: Bearspace

Furniture: M&E Interiors

Location: Brisbane, Australia