Intermain HQ

Agency: BVN with Intermain
Client: Intermain

BVN’s flagship Sydney headquarters for Intermain in Alexandria harmonise workspace, showroom and joinery manufacturing facility, reflecting a partnership between two organisations committed to sustainability and excellence in workplace design. Intermain aims to lead the industry in ethical and socially responsible fitouts and refurbishments. BVN’s design highlights the synergy between innovation and sustainability through bespoke interiors that showcase Intermain’s capabilities while promoting the use of offcuts and waste.

The original site was a typical industrial factory, featuring a large manufacturing shed and adjacent office with minimal connectivity. BVN’s solution integrates office and factory, inserting an inventive series of two-storey timber pods that extend into the workshop. These pods house a boardroom, meeting rooms, casual zones, a joinery design studio, an interiors sample library, and a tool shed – all clad in plywood diverted from landfill. Flexible and versatile, they foster creativity and collaboration. Unexpected apertures overlooking the factory provide unexpected vignettes of workshop activity, showcasing local fabrication with a playful energy true to Intermain’s culture. “In a quest to communicate what's possible in creating more sustainable fitouts, the arrangement of spaces encourages clients and collaborators to weave through the site, telling a story of clever reuse and reimagination.” – BVN Principal Sally Campbell Sustainability is key for both BVN and Intermain. The design prioritises finishes inherent to the building fabric over additional applied finishes. Achieved within challenging fire regulations, the headquarters features a cohesive palette of timber, concrete and cork, which was chosen for insulative and acoustic functionality as well as aesthetics. Timber-framed partitions and joinery can be disassembled to encourage reuse or repurposing down the track. Second-hand Eames' Aluminium Group chairs, reused furniture from the previous office and a custom reception desk made from cleaned-up packing crates and recycled offcuts contribute to circular aims. Block colour accents from Intermain’s brand palette add to the visually striking environment. Creativity, community and wellbeing are central at Intermain. The workplace features a spacious kitchen breakout area and sunlit terrace, providing indoor-outdoor spaces where team members can socialise, relax and recharge. Impeccably finished end-of-trip facilities promote active transit and enhance the workplace experience for all team members. Site-specific commissioned artworks enrich communal spaces. Dennis Golding's 88m² mural Following the Pathways pays homage to the Gadigal and Bidjigal people of the Eora nation, connecting viewers to Country. A six-metre mural titled Good to be Back by Sydney artist Felix Saw celebrates Intermain’s craft and the return to the office post-Covid. Grounded in connection to place, this 1600 sqm project cares equally for people and planet. Intermain’s headquarters exemplify the contemporary workplace, intertwining the company's ethos and craftsmanship while demonstrating the value of raw and recycled materials through intelligent design. “Collaborating with a powerhouse such as BVN on our head office project in Alexandria, Sydney, was a pleasure. We couldn’t have asked for more! BVN’s visionary design and collaborative approach worked seamlessly with our construction and project teams to realise a remarkable head office.” – Andrew Johnson, CEO/Managing Director – Intermain