PRESENTING ROKT

Hammond Studio has joined forces with e-commerce tech company, ROKT, to revitalise and adaptively refurbish/renew its Sydney office space. Taking cues from Rokt’s recent New York office fit-out, Hammond’s design captures the essence of its global identity, extrapolating its branding through clever wayfinding and imaginative architectural details. The vibrancy of Rokt’s surrounding Surry Hills locale is also infused into the space with a series of specially commissioned mural artworks.

Hammond’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility saw the studio execute an adaptive reuse strategy. Furniture and fixtures from Rokt’s previous fit-out were meticulously assessed and where possible repurposed or refurbished to extend their lifecycle and minimise waste. Spatial planning was guided by Rokt’s strong ethos of community, and two distinct environments have been created across Level 13 (retained from the previous tenancy) and Level 16 (a new addition).

“We thoroughly enjoyed working with Todd, Zoe and the Hammond Studio team to design our Surry Hills office.  The new fit out, including a mix of brand new spaces and adaptive re-use of existing areas, provides us with a highly functional, comfortable and visually appealing office. The feedback from our team has been overwhelmingly positive and we would highly recommend Hammond Studio.” – Stuart FitzRoy, Managing Director APAC, Rokt

Level 13 manifests as a hub for collaboration, based around principles of meet, work, play. Level 16, meanwhile, works on principles of greet, dine, gather and is home to the multi-functional Town Hall – the ‘hero’ of the project. Here daily lunches, events and workshops take place, serviced by a large kitchen island and front-of-house bar, with a scullery and staff kitchen concealed behind. This tech-enabled space is fitted out with in-ceiling microphones, speakers and large LED screens. Meeting rooms are also purposely positioned away from the building’s façade to allow for natural light and views over Sydney’s Central Station.

Leveraging the colour palette and linear ‘connector’ device which represents Rokt’s key role as a connector between people, products and brands, Natasha Hammond led elements of brand application, environmental graphics and signage. The brand’s punchy colour palette can be seen in the wayfinding approach, and echoes of the angular ‘connector’ line can be found in the architectural detailing of Level 16’s Town Hall and the custom shrouds on the meeting rooms.

The Hammond team commissioned artists Nico Nicoson (Sydney), Sasha Heath (Melbourne) and Kim Siew (Sydney), to create bespoke artworks for Levels 13 and 16. Manifesting as large-scale murals and whimsical illustrations, each artwork has been created for its respective space, encapsulating Rokt’s values, brand and history. With their distinctly local vibe, the artworks have become a source of conversation (the perfect Zoom backdrop) and social sharing (serving up many Instagrammable moments). Exposed ceilings and polished concrete provide a light industrial feel, with minimal finishes offsetting the colour of the murals and signage.

Photography by Terence Chin. Images © Hammond Studio