Designed by Woods Bagot, the new fitout of a major resources company transforms 40,000sqm across 19 levels into interconnected villages that celebrate Western Australia’s diverse terrain.
High above Perth’s bustling CBD, a transformation has taken place that redefines what it means to bring landscape indoors. Woods Bagot’s comprehensive redesign of the Perth headquarters of a major mining company spans 40,000 square metres across 19 levels, creating a workplace that embodies Western Australia’s iconic terrain.
The project, a collaboration between Woods Bagot’s Perth and Adelaide studios, repositions one of Perth’s most significant corporate spaces through a lens of profound connection to place. Rather than imposing a generic corporate aesthetic, the design team crafted a narrative deeply rooted in the Western Australian landscape, creating what they term interconnected ‘villages’ that mirror the natural communities found across the state’s diverse geography.
“Central to the design is the rich narrative of connection—to Country, site, port, and city —woven throughout the space,” explains Woods Bagot Principal Eva Sue. “To optimise floor space, engaging co-working environments were developed specifically to enhance collaboration. Meeting rooms and open lounges strategically line the perimeter, offering inspiring city views that serve as constant reminders of place and context.”
The design draws from four distinct environmental experiences that define Western Australia’s character. Site (Boodja) grounds the space in deep textures and carved forms, reflecting the raw beauty of the land. Country (Boorna) embraces biophilic design with accents inspired by native flora, creating refuge and escape within the corporate environment. Port (Wardan) channels the working waterways s through deep and patina hues and honest detailing that celebrates functional design. City represents the client’s global reach while maintaining its roots in local identity through structured, efficient workspace design.
“Central to the design is the rich narrative of connection—to Country, site, port, and city —woven throughout the space. Meeting rooms and open lounges strategically line the perimeter, offering inspiring city views that serve as constant reminders of place and context.”
Woods Bagot Senior Associate Ashleigh Lyford says, “the layering of durable, natural, and soft materials formed a harmonious blend of unexpected yet complementary textures, resulting in a palette that feels both fresh and familiar. The thoughtful integration of colour and materiality was designed to create a space that seamlessly harmonises with the site’s expansive views.”
This aesthetic storytelling is a strategic approach to workplace design that acknowledges the duality between intimate human scale and the vastness of the landscapes where the client operates. The result is a space where a site worker feels as welcome as a corporate executive, achieved through carefully chosen raw materials, including nickel displays in the lobby and repurposed furniture and fixtures from site offices positioned throughout the space. The design is a canvas for thoughtful art curation, including commissioned First Nations artworks and vivid large-scale photography from the client’s operational sites.
The village concept operates at multiple scales. At the macro level, the building functions as one large ecosystem, comprised of six villages grouped across three adjoining floors. Each village creates its own community, with typical work floors supporting hybrid working, a central ‘Village Green’ serving as the heart of each community, and dispersed collaboration spaces connected by centralised stairs and lifts.
The crown jewel of this vertical landscape is Level 45’s Sky Terrace—a triple-height space with panoramic views that transforms the building’s summit into an employee-centric indoor community hub. Here, expansive views connect occupants to the Derbal Yerrigan (Swan River) while offering diverse spaces for social connection, focused work, and contemplation. It’s workplace design that recognises the psychological importance of horizon lines and natural light in a city where both are abundant.
Sustainability was a driving principle throughout the design that is projected to achieve a 6-Star Green Star Interiors rating and 5-Star NABERS Energy rating. Through significant reuse of existing materials, services, and furniture, the design team was able to divert 97% of construction waste from landfill. Materials were repurposed from the client’s site offices, creating tangible connections between headquarters and operational locations across Western Australia.
Working in collaboration with Soft Earth and the client’s Indigenous Engagement team, the project weaves Boodja (country), Boorna (trees), and Wardan (water) throughout the design narrative through materiality, First Nations art commissions, and creative collaborations that celebrate Indigenous language and storytelling.
The arrival experience on Level 34 is framed by carved stone reception desks. The welcome area provides concierge services, formal meeting spaces, and a business lounge that communicates the client’s connection to local and global communities.
The new Perth office represents more than workplace design—it’s a meditation on place, connection, and the responsibility that comes with transforming landscapes into liveable, workable spaces. In an era where remote work has redefined office necessity, Woods Bagot has created a compelling argument for the office as a place of genuine connection to purpose, community, and the land itself.
“This longstanding partnership with this client spans the globe, and it is wonderful to see our local projects celebrate the organisation’s values while showcasing the quality of our industry,” says Woods Bagot Principal Rosina di Maria.
“Through our ongoing collaboration, we continue to design award-worthy projects by bringing local expertise to each design—with every project hyperlocalised to its context. Beyond design quality, Perth holds particular significance for this client, and this fitout celebrates the values of this important organisation and honours their daily workers, the clients they welcome, and the community they serve.”By drawing inspiration from the macro to the micro—from the vast natural environment to intimate meeting spaces—the design creates what Eva Sue describes as “multi-channel experiences that connect emotions, senses, and contexts.”
The completed office fitout won the Best of Region at the 2025 Shaw Contract Awards and received a commendation at the 2025 WA AIA Awards for the Commercial Workplace interiors category.
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27 May 24