Work in progression

From BlackWhite magazine - issue 11, gold standard

In the era of hybrid work arrangements, Formery offers an elevated experience which cleverly caters to competing business needs.

Though it’s been years since we left the harshest challenges of the pandemic behind us, the ripple effects continue to shape our built environments – and there are few sectors where this is this more evident than commercial office design. Not only did lockdown restrictions force us to work differently, but they also gave us a long-overdue opportunity to rethink where and how we work. As overhead expenses continue to rise, many businesses are examining the practicalities of traditional office models as they seek to embrace more flexible design solutions that can adapt to evolving workforce needs and economic realities.

In a bid to compete with the creature comforts of home, more clients are working with designers to reimagine how their commercial office spaces look, feel and function. The stark and impersonal aesthetics of harsh lighting, sterile finishes and workstations that lack privacy are rapidly giving way to residential inspired environments. Designers are embracing softer materials, layered textures and thoughtfully curated furnishings which echo the warmth and familiarity of domestic interiors. This shift isn't purely aesthetic; it's strategic. As hybrid working becomes the norm, offices must now entice employees back by offering something distinctly different from home – yet equally comfortable – to foster focus, encourage connection and support wellbeing.

As we aim to create offices that feel less like a place employees are forced to go and more like a space they want to be in, striking the right balance between comfort and professionalism presents its own set of challenges – especially for businesses that rely on face-to-face client interactions and hosting in-person meetings. While casual seating, cosy lighting and homey finishes can enhance employee satisfaction and productivity, wary business owners worry they could dilute the authority and clarity that traditional corporate environments have long conveyed. For these clients, their office remains a physical extension of their brand, and it must communicate reliability, competence and attention to detail from the moment a visitor steps through the door.

Located in the heart of Auckland’s burgeoning Midtown precinct, Formery offers an ingenious solution. More than just a coworking space, the hybrid office mecca is a carefully crafted environment where the customer-first ethos of hospitality design and the utility of commercial workplaces converge. For those seeking to reduce the overheads of traditional office tenancies and banish underutilised boardrooms, Formery offers a clever high-functioning alternative to businesses who aim to impress customers and please employees – a meeting ground that balances professionalism with an inviting sense of place.

Empowered by repeat client, Alberts NZ, to create an unparalleled experience, CTRL Space Project Director and Senior Designer Emily Cain and her team pulled out all the stops in bringing this innovative concept to life within a unique block of real estate. “Formery connects three city buildings – 87 Albert Street, 16 Kingston Street and 60 Federal Street. Prior to the fitout, 87 Albert Street felt like just another tired city tower. Ignite Architects laid the groundwork with a new entry façade and we continued the revitalisation journey through the interior, bringing fresh life and identity to an overlooked space,” Emily explains.

Along with flexible working environments and shared amenities incorporating the latest tech, Formery boasts concierge services, catering, bookable meeting rooms and boardrooms and health and wellness facilities in its impressive list of offerings. “Our client’s business thrives on three core pillars: collaboration, community and aspiration,” Emily says. “Our brief was to design a hybrid workspace emphasising design-led shared amenities which would encourage collaboration among tenant businesses. Inspired by hospitality design principles, our approach aimed to facilitate social interaction while ensuring a conducive working environment, attracting upscale tenants seeking a premium space to enhance returns for our client.”

CTRL Space’s studio process is grounded in a human-centric approach which focuses on how people connect with and interact within the spaces. This commitment to championing user needs in their designs is clearly evident at Formery. “We believe in the age-old adage that form follows function, and in this case, we established our material palette early on, with colour layered in as the second step to support and enhance those choices. Paint finishes sit firmly in our materiality conversation. We sourced Resene drawdowns to test colours against the broader palette. Brushouts of Resene testpots were topcoated with clears of differing gloss levels to help us fine-tune surfaces, and testpots were used on textured and acoustic elements to ensure consistency. For example, we painted out ceiling services and tested finishes on 3D routed dado panels to get the look just right and ensure the client knew exactly what finish to expect,” says Emily.

“We took a deliberate approach to wayfinding and tenant journey, infusing our hospitality-centered mindset into the corporate environment,” she adds. “Our goal was to craft a workplace that not only operates seamlessly but also cultivates a culture of warmth, connection, and shared experiences. These elements are all brought together using colour.”

The attention to texture across the design is exceptional. Emily and her team employed a variety of sheen levels across different surfaces to manipulate their appearance beyond palette alone. Although a textured Resene wall finish wasn’t originally in the specifications, it now plays a pivotal role in the finished design. “Because of the scale of the fitout, we hit budgetary issues as many projects do. A specialist plaster wall finish was omitted, and we opted to replace it with a Resene Sandtex Mediterranean effect finish to maintain the textural materiality we wanted. We used Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for the walls, Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen for the exposed services and ceiling and Resene Lustacryl throughout for our joinery items – which we knew would have just the right amount of lustre and the durability this project needed. The painter needed a bit of convincing that a semi-gloss finish was in fact part of the plan,” Emily says.

“The most rewarding part is seeing the space used as intended,” she adds. “Passing a quiet booth with the curtain drawn, people chatting over coffee, a concierge buzzing past with refreshments, that activity brings the space to life and validates every design decision.”

Of the many Resene colours used for the project, the deep oceanic blue of Resene Tangaroa is the standout for Emily. “It is featured on a full-height dado panel as you exit the lifts, anchoring a striking wall mural by artist Mikey Freedom. Mikey also sent custom canvas artworks from Sydney, which now sit beautifully against our walls in Resene Sandtex Mediterranean effect finish tinted to Resene Triple Sea Fog. The combination creates a strong visual identity for the arrival point.”

For Cordelia Kidd, Head of Brand Integrity for Alberts NZ, the finished project ticks all the boxes. “Formery has been created with a very specific audience in mind – business leaders, professionals and teams who want more than just a desk or meeting room, but a place that reflects the same ambition and energy they bring to their work,” she says. “Inspired by a New York grunge aesthetic and layered with Alberts’ signature refinement, it offers a blend of heritage character, curated design, and brand-led personality that you simply don’t find in traditional offices or coworking spaces. Beyond the design, Formery, like all Alberts spaces, is an intelligent, hybrid A-grade workplace that delivers centrality, networking opportunities and high-end facilities with attractive economics. The community that forms within our walls drives return-to-office, supports team building and ultimately enhances productivity and satisfaction for the businesses we host.”

“What I love about the palette is how it shapes the experience of being in the space,” Cordelia adds. “It is unapologetically bold but still deeply considered. The muted tones and natural textures bring a sense of calm and composure, while the blues inject clarity and vibrancy. It’s a combination that makes the space feel professional yet approachable, distinct yet still connected to the wider Alberts portfolio.”

“From the beginning, Formery has always been about more than design – it’s also about intent,” explains Cordelia. “We put an enormous amount of research into understanding how people want to work, move and connect, and that shapes every choice we make. Midtown itself is a huge part of that story. With CRL on the horizon and unparalleled access to transportation options, this precinct is evolving into Auckland’s culture and community hub. Formery is designed to reflect and contribute to that regeneration. It’s not just a building, but part of a wider movement of connection and ambition in the city. Working with CTRL Space, Statement ID and Coco Republic allowed us to translate those ambitions into a physical space that feels authentic to its audience and aligned to Alberts.”

This attention to detail is part of what earned Formery a Resene Total Colour Commercial Interior Office Coworking Colour Maestro Award. While many contemporary office spaces feature neutral palettes, the project's thoughtfully curated colour scheme stood out for the judges. “Infused with a sophisticated air of ‘office space meets corporate club’, this project cleverly transforms a workplace into something that feels more like a hospitality space,” the judges commented. “The colours and sheen levels have been carefully selected to play with the lighting and set the mood. The scheme is beautifully harmonious and well-grounded as a means of supporting those engaged in mutually rewarding business discussions.”

› To learn more about the office spaces and amenities that Formery has on offer, visit www.formery.alberts.nz.

Colours mentioned in this article

Products mentioned in this article

Design: CTRL Space
Build: Focus Construction
Furniture procurement and styling: Statement ID in collaboration with Coco Republic
Images: Sarah Grace Photography

BlackWhite magazine

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