Shot late last year for Amicus, the offices of Six Degrees, a Melbourne recruitment group. A calming and sophisticated workplace set amongst the South Yarra sky scrapers in Goldfields House.
Fixations 5
Fixations 5. Still in Adelaide (not now, at the time of taking). If you’ve been following this series of me obsessing over fairly ordinary things, you can probably tell me what I love about this little scene… but in case you haven’t, here it is… colour, obviously. Strong lines and shadows - also obvious. Perhaps less obvious is the contrasting texture of those bricks sitting alongside the smooth concrete and bitumen. And of course there’s that ever present sense of isolation. It was also the way it revealed itself to me as I made my way down the lane. Those colourful little buildings sitting amongst the surrounding concrete giants were like a little oasis in the hot Adelaide sun. That’s all.
Endeavour Group
From the moment I arrived at Endeavour Group last year, it felt different to most of the corporate interiors I’ve photographed in the past. What did it feel like? Part hotel, part airport/airline lounge mixed with retail and hospitality spaces.
Designed by Sydney advertising agency The General Store in collaboration with State of Work, and built by Amicus, the office offers Endeavour staff countless options for private and collaborative working, all the tech for remote employees, and fun and comfortable breakout options - a home away from home, if you like.
I was especially impressed by the tasting room, which felt like an upmarket dining space or wine bar, intended for entertaining. All in all a great space to work, a sentiment echoed time and time again by the staff I met over this fun two day shoot.
Interiors: The General Store
Build: Amicus Spaces
Workplace consultant: State of Work
Brunswick East House by Lazcon Build
It’s quite extraordinary what’s been achieved by Lazcon Build, on this narrow block in Brunswick East. Four levels of clever, comfortable, inner-city living, a stones throw from anything you could want. From the hydraulic skylight to the roof-top terrace, to the gorgeous earthy toned bathrooms, this family home was something and a pleasure to spend time in.
Build: Lazcon Build
Interiors and shoot styling: Jacqui Lazzarotto
Clifton Hill Townhouse by Amiconi Architects
It was walk to work day for this shoot back in November, which was a real treat - as it was to work with the team at Amiconi Architects and Pip&Coop again. This time a beautiful upgrade to a Clifton Hill townhouse overlooking the park and away to the east. Adrian and the team have brought new life to this home for a lovely family.
Architect: Amiconi Architects
Stylist: Pip&Coop (Cassie Thomson)
Fixations 4
Did you know I have a carpark fetish? Maybe fascination is a better word. In any case, I do. I’ve been wandering in and out of carparks, old and new for many years but like so much of my personal work, it remains unseen. What is it about carparks? It’s all the themes that run throughout this series of fixations and more - strong lines, great colours, concrete, detritus a sense of the extraordinary in the ordinary and that feeling of isolation. The “more” in this instance, is the light - dark, moody, atmospheric and a touch cinematic.
This carpark, in Adelaide, has a very particular and strong memory and feeling attached to it. I was returning to my hotel late in the day when I came across it. It was unclear if it was public or private but unable to resist I went on in and started to shoot. So there I am, snapping away when I heard the roller door start to close! Of course I was too far in to make it back to the door and regardless, as a wise lecturer (2nd year for those in the know) once told me “photographers never run”. Instant panic set it at the thought of being stuck in that dark, moody and no longer atmospheric, just terrifying, carpark.
Fortunately, it turns out it was a pubic carpark and swipe access was not required to leave the exit door in the back, so once my heart rate had settled I continued to snap away! Here’s what I saw:
Milwaukee Tools by PTID and Amicus
I wasn’t sure what to expect as I drove towards this project in Knotting Hill. I knew it was 4,000sqm, a mix of commercial and industrial spaces and on the site of the former Toyota Technical Centre. What I found was a bold and clever update and reuse of an existing space, which offered some great opportunities for photography. I had particular fun playing with colour, which you know I’m a fan of and the unexpectedly green building surrounds. Hats of to PTID and Amicus for what they’ve achieved here.
Fixations 3
So here we are again. Fixated. This time in Adelaide and quite some time ago. What is it I’m seeing?
Colour plays a part here. The palette of this little scene reminds me, somewhat cringingly and somewhat fondly of a check shirt I wore in the nineties - blue, beige and brown. And I can’t resist a bit of yellow, divisive as it is as a colour.
From colour to texture - organic and manmade - rocks and stone, contrasting with the industrial elements of iron, steel and aluminium.
What else? Lines. Always lines. Lines of different widths and heights and orientations - repeating, crossing, meeting. Curved lines to interrupt the straight. Order in the chaos.
There’s a hint of pareidolia (google it) - though I’m never seeking it or deliberately framing for it.
Finally it’s the little reminders of the natural environment to soften the industrial hardness - soft clouds, palm tree and even a little shadow.
There’s just something about industry that draws me in as it did one of my favourite Australian painters and significant influencer of my work, Geoffrey Smart.
