Gibbon Group was engaged by Bates Smart to create and deliver a series of unique custom rugs for Clemenger Group Sydney, as they relocated from their long term location at St Leonards to 3 floors within the historic Pier 8/9 at Millers Point.

The design for the fit out calls for an engaging dialogue between the forward-thinking and energised creativity synonymous with the brand as well as the rich heritage of the historic pier.

The design solution: The design concept translates into a muted palette that neutralises the space and invites people to fully inhabit and own the space around them. This creates a distinct line between the existing architecture and the expression of new insertions. 

A series of overscaled blocks echo the rhythm and shapes inherit to architecture, a concept translated from the scale of the historic pier. These blocks have been composed into a series of interlocking sculptural pieces forming stairs, joinery and furniture items that engage with the human scale. 

Gibbon Group was called upon to create custom fit-for-purpose tretford rugs made to exacting scale and specifications. tretford carpet’s natural pile combined with its innate corded structure offered the right balance of comfort and solidarity. Bates Smart designers chose a palette of tretford Charcoal and Double Cream for their striking design. A repeatable pattern combining hundreds of geometric shaped carpet pieces were accurately cut by hand and fashioned together for stunning effect. 

The overall fit out is so dynamic, inviting open interactions between its people and clients and embraces this central to their creative process.

Awards: This Bates Smart design of the Clemenger Group Sydney office has been shortlisted for Workplace Design in the Australian Interior Design Awards.