A peaceful psychologists' office within a heritage-listed building.
Behind a heritage streetscape, we designed an office fitout to reflect the ways that a psychologist works: refined but informal, honest, and open to all. In this busy Hobart suburb, it’s an oasis of calm. Skylights and windows create a softly-lit space with no dark corners. Timber panelling, muted greens, and plenty of plants evoke a natural sense of wellbeing. This soothing space is completely new to this heritage context, yet somehow looks like it belongs.
CLIENT
Private
IMAGES
Jesse Hunniford
LAND OF
muwinina
COLLABORATORS
VOS Construction and Joinery
Holdfast Building Surveyors
Sackett Services
Allans Garden Centre
AWARDS
Our design has made the space quiet, but not silent. Soft materials like full-length curtains and carpets muffle conversations without erasing the comfort of background noise. With a muted colour palette and soft curved edges, it’s a space that feels welcoming for clients. And a place where psychologists would want to come to work.
Quiet, but not silent.
Outside in.
Timber brings a natural warmth and informality to these offices, with Tasmanian oak that will wear in, not out. Different applications guide visitors through the space: timber battens at reception create a varied texture of light and shade, and timber wraps around threshold spaces, transitioning to solid panelling in the consulting rooms, and minimal treatment in the back of house space.
Plants add to the feeling of wellbeing. They also gave us a hand in making accessible features fit the aesthetic, like a planter box that acts as a handrail. It becomes a detail both soothing and welcoming, not unlike the space itself.
Filling the consulting rooms with natural light was a priority. This is always more challenging in an existing building, especially one that’s heritage-listed. We made use of skylights and highlight windows to create a bright, airy space, with extra lighting where needed to avoid dark corners.
Calm and comfortable.
