Description:

Our brief was to create a office and tea room space for Duck Island’s expanding ice cream empire, in which their employees would feel inspired and motivated by the company’s distinct and cohesive brand. The office is now a beautiful and flexible space with easy access to the adjoining factory with consistent brand implementation throughout.

The inspiration for the project was a combination of their existing brand personality and the repurposed industrial space into which they were moving. Offering both hard elements like original exposed concrete walls and stunning views of the Waikato River, the interior design softens the surrounding elements to create a comfortable and inviting workspace. Designed with ice cream in mind, the colour palette consists primarily of warm neutrals and pastel pops. We took every opportunity with this fit out to sprinkle in fun brand elements and ice cream inspired paraphernalia.

The material palette is warm and soft, using natural materials and colours as a base on which the brighter brand colours feel grounded. Sheer curtains and fluted glass provide privacy and subtle divisions of the space without obscuring the streams of natural light that pour from the large windows along the west wall. The lush greenery outside is framed by these large windows, while substantial indoor plants chosen for their air-purifying qualities bring the greenery inside.

The Duck Island head office has turned a hard and industrial space into a biophilic, comfortable, productive, and inspiring workplace for their team of clever ice-cream aficionados.