Honda NZ had an existing office space elsewhere in Auckland with a lease due to expire, and decided to relocate their head office to within the Honda Newmarket building.

Our brief was to identify areas within the existing building which could be reconfigured to create a modern office environment which works with the Honda ethos and branding. The Honda team based in Japan also expressed a desire for a ‘Japanese garden’ as a relax-ation and breakout space for the staff and from this we subtly expanded the influence of Japanese architecture throughout the fitout.
The requirements were for a calm and functional office environment – somewhere the staff will be happy to work in. They wanted the space to reflect the principles of Honda and their history as a Japanese company.

The project had an extremely tight timeframe from project inception through to consent lodgement due to the absolute deadline (the offices had to be ready to move into before the old lease expired). When rationalising the fluid design requirements for the space we had to be flexible and agile to accommodate design changes without compromising the programme.

Working within the constraints of the existing space, which wasn’t originally designed for office use was also a challenge – particularly when it came to incorporating as much natural light as we possibly could in the new design.
Sliding windows with rain sensors were utilised in a unique ‘Japanese garden’ space to allow an outdoor feel but maintained an weathertight space lined with perforated ply acoustic panelling. Acoustic ceiling baffles with a timber batten design were also used.

For the design of the breakout area, we chose an engineered timber flooring configured in a traditional ‘tatami mat’ design, with attention to layout and proportion. We also took the unusual step of exposing the existing ceiling to highlight the steel truss within the office space. Robust fire rated materials and installations were chosen whilst allowing the design to reflect the very natural form of Japanese design.

Many of the materials are durable and robust like the baffles (which are metal) yet they give a soft appearance to the rooms they are installed in. Red, the traditional colour of Japan and Honda’s signature colour is incorporated on every floor level to strongly tie space and brand together.