New Zealand Commercial Design Trends Series NZ Commercial Design Trends Vol. 34/01C | Page 24

to suit work flow or a wide variety of other tasks.
The sleek, curving lines of the pods and passages
call to mind the rounded forms of a swift automobile
but there is another prominent reference to cars, too.
“There’s a workshop/display space called The
Refinery at one end of the office,” says Gaiqui. “This
has stacked garage doors and large suspended
whiteboards that can be rolled out on tracks as
required. It also includes touches like caged lights,
while the concrete floor and exposed services seen
through the wider office add to the garage feel here.”
Z Energy’s purple and orange brand colours also
feature throughout, including on another playful,
curvaceous element. This pod has a transparent
meeting booth on one side and a bright orange-
lined water station with comfy chairs on the other.
Gaiqui says the water station helps keep staff
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hydrated, while its limited beverage options encour-
age them to go further afield to the cafe or barista
station for coffee, promoting fitness and sociability.
This vibrant feature is aptly named The Peach, for
both its colour and thirst-quenching functionality.
And this is the other theme that runs big through
the office – Z Energy cares greatly for its staff and
the fit-out underpins that. As well as the hydration
station, there’s a wellness room, a quiet meeting
room, and even a rejuvenation space with soft
carpets, cushions and mood lighting.
“Plus, both the primary grouped workstation area
and the secondary desking area, at the other end of
the building, are positioned by windows, optimising
natural light on workstation desks and views out
for all staff. Everywhere you look there are different
custom meeting breakout spots.”
Below:In a fit-out that’s about
inclusivity and transparency, a
barista station is always at the
ready for staff and guests.
Right:As part of the transparency
theme, the meeting rooms are
in tinted glass with empowering
words like ‘kotahitanga’, and
‘everyone is welcome’ splashed
boldly across them.
Lower right:The shared cafe
area includes suspended
acoustic beams to maintain an
overall quiet work environment.