Finding the perfect premises in which to house a business can be a long and arduous task. But when Denizen’s Editor-in-Chief Claire Sullivan-Kraus laid eyes on an unassuming warehouse in Auckland’s Victoria Precinct, she knew she had found something special. With its discrete ivy-covered street frontage, soaring ceilings, and spacious upper and lower levels, she recognised a space with immense potential.
Having published and edited design magazines for more than a decade, Sullivan-Kraus knew that the outcome of this conversion needed to unequivocally reflect the ethos of the Denizen brand. A floor plan and concept was developed to create an impactful space that presented two major points of visual interest.
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Housing the publishing operations of Denizen in the building’s mezzanine floor, the large cavernous downstairs area was converted into a social hub for hosting and entertaining clients, conducting photo shoots and facilitating inter-office conviviality in the form of shared staff lunches and Friday afternoon cocktails.
Keeping things light and bright was pivotal, so Resene’s Half Copyrite paint provided a fresh finish on the floors. Furthering the sense of vastness in the double height space, the low-sheen finish of Resene Uracryl prevented glare and provided the ideal blank canvas for the thoroughly contemporary furnishings.
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A long-standing passion for the industrial look of Crittall window frames led to the decision to create a steel framed glass boardroom that would become the office’s epicentre, an impressive room to host client presentations and meetings. With a desire to keep the space relatively informal, textured walls and artworks were used to imbue the room with an inviting warmth.
The boardroom’s built-in cabinetry, displays an eclectic collection of tchotchkes and books helped to curate a more relaxed atmosphere, with the final result offering a distinct departure from the traditionally austere corporate boardroom.
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Being the backdrop for many of Denizen’s most important meetings, a screen was a necessity for the boardroom and Samsung’s Frame television offered a revolutionary way to integrate the television into the room’s design without requiring a compromise on style. When not in use, the 55-inch TV displays works of art in near perfect resolution, while its built-in sensor works to balance the screen brightness and colour to create the impression of a naturally illuminated canvas. The screen artworks can be updated at the click of a button, to suit changing moods and styles.
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To introduce a textural element to the large feature wall, we used Resene’s Rockcote Clay Plaster Decor. Beautifully fine with built-in marble dust that glistens when exposed to ambient light, the hand-applied, hand-finished plaster boasts a velvety smooth, suede-like finish that immediately injects the space with a tactile warmth. Aside from its obvious aesthetic qualities, this natural clay plaster is non-toxic and free from Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) making it ideal for the long-term health of the building’s occupants.
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Designed purely with entertainment in mind, the expansive kitchen offers a complete fleet of innovative, Fisher & Paykel appliances — including a 127 Bottle Dual Zone Wine Cabinet, an integrated CoolDrawer™, an Induction Cooktop and Built-In Oven, and an integrated double DishDrawer™ dishwasher — ensuring that Denizen remains well-equipped to host any event in style. The majority of the kitchen’s functional elements were housed behind large, bi-folding doors allowing for a swift transformation to hide any unsightly mess, should an unannounced visitor arrive.
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Cementing the project’s underlying objective of creating an office that reflects the Denizen brand, the practical spaces, refined aesthetic, inherent functionality and purpose wrapped tidily in a glossy facade have resulted in the ideal space to call home.
*This project featured in the latest issue of Denizen Modern Living