Aje Sydney Headquarters by Those Architects
Once a burnt-out restaurant, a 1890s corner shop and terrace in Surry Hills is transformed into a light-filled creative office and headquarters for Australian fashion house Aje by Those Architects.
Photography: Felix Forest
All joinery in the Aje headquarters in Surry Hills was custom designed by Those Architects. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
Downstairs is the reception, a boardroom and meeting spaces. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
The downstairs spaces — a dynamic maker’s space. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
Those Architects have reimagined an 1890s corner shop and terrace in Surry Hills, turning a burnt-out restaurant into a light-filled creative office and headquarters for Australian fashion house Aje.
For over a decade, the two-storey building had operated as the beloved Sydney restaurant Porteño until a fire rendered the building out of action.
Stripping the interior to the bare bones, the team’s first job was to unearth the original identity of the landmark and define its new direction as Aje’s Headquarters.
As a labyrinth of boxy rooms, layers of linings and fire damage were stripped away, revealing the volume’s full spatial potential. Paired with a dramatic 9-metre central glass atrium, the interior was treated like a courtyard building.
The two levels are divided into key functional zones, all hinging around the central atrium, just as a courtyard house wraps around its garden. Reglazing the atrium roof and all external windows has brought abundant new light to the centre.
As a multi-purpose space, it provides a wondrous sense of calm and tranquillity that extends to the entire office. Downstairs is reception, boardroom and meeting spaces — overlooking the design and production section — a dynamic maker’s space.
Upstairs is the communal kitchen and breakout, facing north into a laneway with mature trees. The architects have exploited this aspect with tall operable windows so the kitchen ‘borrows’ a balcony feel amongst the tree canopy. Also on this level, the CEO’s office overlooks the central void.
By capitalising on the building’s two greatest assets – an atrium and a glass ceiling – Those Architects has created a fresh and modern, light-filled workplace that facilitates efficient and effortless connection and communication. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
The internal balustrade was custom designed by Those Architects and painted in Dulux Pale Eucalypt. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
Those Architects selected a minimal palette to restore and enhance the clarity and unity of the old and new. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
“Two key opportunities we identified early were the central space of the courtyard, and restoring original building fabric to make it legible.”
The Aje derive workspace is a project where unearthing the identity of the original building was as pivotal as defining its existence as the headquarters of a contemporary Australian fashion house. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
‘The curves help balance some of the interior geometry,’ says Ben Mitchell.Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
The two levels are divided into key functional zones, all hinging around the central atrium, just as a courtyard house wraps around its garden. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
Natural, tonal textures and artisan design details can be found throughout the spaces. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
Revealed in the demolition works, a prominent concrete archway was retained and used to anchor an assembly of workstations. Its curves inspired the motif used in some of the new insertions, such as the curved reception walls and joinery.
‘The curves help balance some of the interior geometry,’ says Ben Mitchell, Director of Those Architects. ‘They also act as a subtle way finding cue, leading you through the space.’
Supporting the way finding is the material palette and soft furnishings, all designed to align with the Aje aesthetic, to reinforce their brand.
The palette includes oak timber battens, limestone flooring, travertine benchtops and goat hair carpet. Walls are natural white and custom-made tubular steel balustrades are a gentle Eucalyptus green. Artisanal details and contrasts include smooth render-meets textured travertine, curved walls set against up-cycled natural timbers, brass accents for lighting and tapware.
This is a space where we would happily work each and every day!
The meeting room in the Aje headquarters in Surry Hills featuring custom designed joinery with unfilled travertine benchtops by Those Architects. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
All joinery in the Aje headquarters in Surry Hills was custom designed by Those Architects. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
Australian-inspired materials and products align with Aje's aesthetic of natural, tonal textures and artisan design details. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
New insertions are in Australian-inspired materials and align with Aje's aesthetic of natural, tonal textures and artisan design details. Styling: Joseph Gardener. Photo: Felix Forest
The exterior is rendered and painted in Resene Soft Apple. Photo: Felix Forest