Golder Associates – Adelaide

Linear was engaged by Golder Associates to create a new workplace that went beyond a simple relocation – one that embedded its values, improved the way people connected and shared knowledge, and would give expression to the organisation’s deep commitment to the environment.

Following a series of strategic workshops, a clear set of values and objectives was established to frame the design. The result is a workplace that is unmistakably Golder: serious in its thinking, but with a quirky, characterful edge that reflects the personality of the people who work there.

This balance plays out throughout the space. Hanging plant balls, vegetable patches, mismatched chairs and an organic workstation system that accommodates individual personalities. These sit alongside a rigorous activity-based planning model built around flexibility, desk sharing and the freedom to physically adapt the workspace to suit different working styles. Traditional ways of working were challenged – the planning evolves with the business, not against it.

The environmental commitment is woven through every design decision: raw and responsibly sourced materials, wall linings and colour palettes drawn from earth, water and vegetation, and an abundance of planting throughout. The centrepiece is a terrarium soil wall at reception – a direct and striking reference to Golder’s core business in soil testing, and an immediate statement of purpose from the moment visitors arrive. A glazed wall beyond connects the reception to the wider workspace, reinforcing the open, ‘sleeves-rolled-up’ culture of the organisation.