Bright future

Creative agency Raft chose a heritage location for their Melbourne studio and created a bespoke workspace that, like their work, is bold, adventurous and anything but bland.

WHAT INFORMS YOUR AESTHETIC? Stasia Raft: A picture tells a thousand words and because Raft has visual communication at its core, contemporary art is constant inspiration. We take cues from all over: culture, fashion, the street, social media and architecture. ARE THERE COMMON ELEMENTS THAT RUN THROUGH YOUR WORK? Each client has unique objectives so it’s vital that our work reflects those. Striking visual imagery, colour, engaging typography, clear communication and quality production are all essentials of our design approach. WHAT APPEALED TO YOU ABOUT THE STUDIO SITE? We came to Collingwood in 1999 before the hipsters. The heritage of the Foy & Gibson factory buildings that loom large in this precinct appealed, as did the area’s raw, edgy feel. The former warehouse space we chose had five-metre-high ceilings, light-filled interiors and an industrial edginess. We ripped out everything aside from the floors and built it back again but in a new and unexpected way. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE COMPLETED INTERIORS? Clean, modern, minimal, brooding, surprising, inspiring. We created a multifunctional studio with gallery-like spaces. To minimise the workspace footprint we hid operational functions, such as printers, storage and bathrooms, in a raw steel box you can walk around that has a beautiful flowing, sculptural feel. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGN ELEMENTS? The blue steel doors with removable magnetic handles. The long marble bench that can be a bar, table, dining area or workspace. IS YOUR ETHOS REFLECTED IN THE DESIGN OF YOUR WORKSPACE? We wanted to provide an inspiring, open and interesting workplace – one we are happy to come to each day. This is reflected in the art that adorns our walls, the ability to celebrate within the office after hours and the generosity of space. WHICH ARCHITECTS OR INTERIOR DESIGNERS DO YOU ADMIRE? Edition Office architecture studio. They came on this journey with us and delivered a finely considered response to our brief. WHAT PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO? Breaking through the creative ceiling by attending a Synthesis Retreat in Amsterdam which offers safe, legal and modern psychedelic experiences using psilocybin truffles for breakthroughs, personal growth and spiritual development. raftstudio.com; edition-office.com