Concept, Furniture Design & Build

Two Fifty Seven was a collaborative workplace project built around a simple idea: create something new without treating what already existed as waste.

I was responsible for the concept, design and build of the furniture throughout the new office, working with the existing materials salvaged during the demolition of the previous fit-out. The old 2x4 framing timber and doors were carefully recovered and transformed into a new collection of furniture, giving these materials a second life rather than sending them to landfill.

The furniture was designed specifically around the needs of the new space, balancing functionality, durability and a strong visual identity while making the most of the material that was already available. This required designing around the dimensions, condition and character of reclaimed materials rather than starting with a blank sheet of paper.

The furniture formed part of a wider circular approach to the 700m² fit-out, in which more than 80% of the existing materials were salvaged and reused or redistributed. The project demonstrated how considered design can turn construction waste into valuable resources and create a workplace that is both highly functional and materially distinctive.

The project was recognised at the 2022 Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards, receiving recognition in three Spatial categories:

Winner — Workplace Environments
Winner — Repurposed Spaces / Adaptive Reuse
Winner — Emerging Designer

I was credited as Design Director for the project.

Client Credit: A special thanks to Ash Holwell for his commitment and vision to pursuing a recycled-material approach by giving materials from the previous fit-out a new life. His willingness to prioritise reuse was fundamental to making this project possible.