For a global company like Deloitte, which has operations in 150 countries, connection to place and local community is essential to build meaningful relationships. When developing the brief for the company’s new workplace in Auckland, New Zealand, the focus was on creating an authentic connection to whenua (land) and whanaungatanga (kinship) and celebrating diversity. The project was undertaken by Custance Fisher, a joint venture between two design practices – Custance and Fisher Partners, who embraced this direction, and collaborated with Milliken on a dynamic series of custom carpets that not only brought the scheme to life, but also helped achieve the design team’s ambitious sustainability goals.

The brief from Deloitte was built around the idea of New Zealand as a “diverse nation of navigators” brought together by arrival through “the gateway of Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland)”. With this in mind, the client wanted the new Auckland workplace at 1 Queen Street to celebrate the history of the site and to bring people together to “navigate toward an innovative future”.

“The concept of ‘Navigation’ was embraced,” says Nicola Custance, director of holistic design practice Custance. “This included the sense of arrival into the space, how the space is navigated and how the spaces bring people together.” The point of arrival for most visitors to the new workplace is the Level 20 reception. Here, the historical significance of the site to Māori as an important landing and trading point  is celebrated through elements such as the wedge-shaped wall that anchors the circular reception and evokes the form of a tauihu (the prow of a traditional canoe), and a woven brass mesh wall inspired by a Māori korowai (cloak).

Across the rest of the fit-out, the design team took inspiration from the diverse landscapes surrounding Auckland. A base palette of natural materials and neutral tones across all levels creates a welcoming space and embraces biophilic design principles. Each level is then uniquely defined by a scheme that draws inspiration from a different landscape, from the lush rainforests of the Waitakere Ranges on Level 17, to the raw lava fields of Rangitoto on Level 19.

To achieve this vision, Custance reached out to Milliken to create a series of custom carpets utilising the brand’s patented PrintWorks technology, which uses fluid dyes to achieve effects and colours not possible with pre-colored yarn.

“Our main reason for working with Milliken was the option to develop custom colourways and large repeat designs – and our relationship with Jodie Mickleson and James Mfula at Milliken gave us the confidence to embark on an ambitious custom design,” says Custance. “We also liked the convenience and local lead times enabled by an Australian mill and design team, as well as the quality of the product, and Milliken’s focus on sustainability.”

Each floor features the Milliken Coastline collection in a neutral palette as a base tile, with contrast and transition tiles. The base carpet is punctuated by swathes of the Milliken Unearthed collection – in Gypsum, Glyph, and Basin designs – which is used to define various zones and facilitate wayfinding. The granular textures, linear striations, and organic shapes of the Unearthed collection evokes the New Zealand landscape, and custom colours were created to respond to the theme for each floor.

“We selected the Unearthed collection for its large-scale pattern and plush cut pile finish, while the Coastline collection was chosen for its balance of texture and colour,” explains Custance. “Both collections also have WellBAC Backing, which is PVC-free and enhances comfort and acoustic performance in the workplace.”

Beyond achieving the aesthetic and functional goals for the Deloitte Auckland project, the collections created using PrintWorks technology also enhanced workplace wellness. These carpets were treated using MGUard+, a topical treatment that provides an additional layer of infection control against a number of common viruses and bacteria.

Complementing the bold carpets, Milliken Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) was also specified, with the Live Oak Jacobean from the Metro Park Wood collection used throughout the staff café space and Slate Mica from the Metro Park Stone collection in the kitchenette areas. These hard-wearing, carbon neutral tiles are ideal for high-traffic hospitality zones, with integrated cushion backing to address acoustic performance and reinforced ProGuard for a superior scratch, scuff, and stain resistant finish.

Custance Fisher designed a fit out that meets WELL principals and specified only products that comply with Green Star accreditation – think biophilic design principles, consideration of natural light and views, and a variety of wellness facilities. It’s an approach that is testament to the design team’s dedication to building a more sustainable world, and their ambition is matched by Milliken’s green ethos.

Milliken is the world’s first floor covering company to be validated across all science-based targets to achieve net-zero and all of the brand’s floor coverings are carbon neutral. This impressive achievement is part of the pioneering M/PACT Carbon Neutral Program and there is an ongoing dedication to produce ever-more sustainable products.

“The client was very interested in the design development of the carpet story and have expressed their delight with the result,” says Custance. “The process of developing the custom design with Milliken was no small undertaking, but they were great to work with and their team contributed to a great collaboration experience. We’re proud that we have provided a workplace our clients are delighted with and a design that includes many creative and refined features that reflect Deloitte, their people, and the Auckland region.”

Milliken
millikenfloors.com.au

Custance
custance.co.nz

Fisher Partners
fisherpartners.co.nz