In a move that reflects the company’s evolution, the new home of The Local Project and its full-service agency, The Local Production, brings a considered and contemporary approach to workplace design.
Housed in the shell of a former aircraft manufacturing warehouse in the creative precinct of Alexandria in Sydney, The Local Project’s new workspace presented an opportunity to not only rethink the physical space but also consider what the company needed to support its expanded full-service agency, The Local Production.
The Local Project’s founder & CEO Aidan Anderson collaborated closely with architect Tom Robertson throughout the design process. Together, they considered how the team uses the space each day, ensuring the furniture and spatial choices aligned with the rhythms and culture of the workplace.
“The brief was to create a series of workspaces for a young and vibrant workforce – a collaborative environment that employees would be proud to work within,”
- Tom Robertson, director at Tom Robertson Architects
Set across three floors, an open-plan layout and ample natural light from the double heighted ceiling and large, industrial-style windows provided the foundation for the refined interiors.
As Aidan explains: “From the beginning, we were looking for pieces that felt warm, purposeful and slightly unexpected. The space itself is designed to work hard. It shifts constantly between being a production hub, an editorial meeting room and a place where the team can sit together and think. Everything in the room supports that flexibility. The furniture helps keep the atmosphere calm, open and considered, even when the pace is fast."
A Radiofonografo record player by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Brionvega anchors the entry. Designed in 1965, it reflects Achille Castiglioni’s belief that objects should feel personable and keep you company, not simply serve a function. The Brionvega radiofonografo features FM/AM radio, Bluetooth via an external device, and a Pro-Ject turntable with an Ortofon stylus. Built from wood and set on a metal base with castors, it also includes detachable speakers that can be positioned for richer, high-fidelity stereo sound.
The studio’s bespoke work zones, furnished with Herman Miller Sayl task chairs from Living Edge, balance a minimalist, pared-back aesthetic with moments of deliberate drama. Drawing inspiration from the Golden Gate Bridge, the chair’s designer Yves Béhar created a chair that combines striking aesthetics with ergonomic support, all while minimising material usage.
Featured within a glazed meeting room, the low-back Leadchair Executive by Walter Knoll delivers ergonomic comfort and timeless modernity. Soft leather shapes its refined upholstery, while the star base, swivel column, seat, back fork and armrests flow seamlessly as one cohesive, sculptural form.
“The Brionvega Radiofonografo became an early anchor. It’s such a distinctive object and it softens the room straight away. It brings a sense of nostalgia and character, and it reminds people that this is a creative environment, not a corporate one. The Herman Miller Sayl task chairs followed the same thinking. They had to be comfortable enough for long days of editing and planning, but visually light so the studio didn’t feel heavy or cluttered.”
- Aidan Anderson, Founder & CEO, The Local Project
A ground-floor recording studio is fitting for The Local Production’s video and photography work. Upstairs, concealed editing suites are completely blacked out, with soft lighting and feature lamps subtly illuminating each space.
Indoor plants introduce natural vibrancy throughout, while The Local Project’s own architecture and design-focused magazines and treasured coffee-table books line the bookshelves to foster a lived-in, homey atmosphere.
The design aligns the headquarters with the company’s ethos, delivering a fresh and fun, yet sophisticated and refined environment for creative production.
