WILL & CO

materials, an open, airy interior and street-art graphics stamp a playful mood on this mixed-use space, located near the sweeping crescent of Bondi Beach, by architect Jeremy Bull. I have known Rolando, owner of Will & Co The building tenancy was difficult, poorly built and full of complex services. The brand for Will & Co had never been established as a standalone, mixed-use flagship. These issues posed significant complexity which needed to be resolved within the project. We sorted them, through what was at times a long, complex coordination process, in conjunction with an extraordinary design team. Will & Co Bondi Beach is an experimental hybrid space – part commercial, part workplace, part educational – located in a refurbished beachside building. Designed as a company headquarters, showroom, training venue, working cafe, roastery and branding exercise, it’s inspired by the simple coastal palette, young entrepreneurship, street art, skate hustle, artistic curiosity and, of course, coffee! Full of colour, reflection and shape, it’s an homage to 20th-century classic design, mashed up with Rachel Whiteread and industrial chic. Colour and material palettes were kept restrained while exposed and painted recycled brick, blue rendered walls with tiles, polished concrete and blue powder-coated steel, brass, stained oak and birch ply, and leather all inject interest and layers. Taking centrestage is a monolithic Marblo resin counter – a nod to Rachel Whiteread’s cast-resin doors and working as the space’s key operational area, training zone and counter. A dichroic film as an artwork and privacy screen adds drama, colour and texture, and the facade wrapped in retractable glass and seating encourages maximum street activation. The dichroic glass and glass blocks are both fun materials that we loved exploring. The acrylic and steel Marblo counter is also super surprising and specific to the brand execution. Loved it. Rolando still uses it as his own office.