PHOTO: The Rubinstein Group’s founder, Gavin Rubinstein
Upon stepping inside, it’s challenging to determine whether this is a spa or an office. The new headquarters of The Rubinstein Group, designed by Esoteriko, invites a second look. With its clean, textured walls, plush materials, hidden booths, and boucle lounges, the space blurs the line between a luxury real estate office and a serene retreat.
Esoteriko’s lush design for The Rubinstein Group’s founder, Gavin Rubinstein, brings this vision to life. Anna Trefely of Esoteriko explains, “Gavin quickly outgrew his initial headquarters we designed just a year and a half ago… It was time for a new space. Working with Gavin is always fast-paced and decisive. He has big ideas but values the details.”
The new office design, a continuation of their previous collaboration, supports the company’s ambitions. Drawing inspiration from Sydney Harbour, Esoteriko used a ‘shell’ motif to create an interior that is both bold and calm. “The space needed to be light and sinuous,” Trefely adds. “The design evokes a pearly shell washed up on the shores of Rose Bay.”
This shell motif not only ties the office to its location but also cleverly navigates council regulations by combining two apartments into a single, street-facing office space. “We had to scale back on initial signage ideas,” says Trefely. Instead of overt branding, the striking interior design serves as a “billboard to the street,” making a bold statement to passersby.
A sweeping, curved stairwell serves both as a practical feature and a design highlight. Ascending through the floor and reaching towards a skylight, the staircase illuminates the space and showcases staff movements, visible from the street.
The ground floor includes a reception area, meeting rooms, numerous workstations, and cozy nooks surrounding the staircase, mimicking the layers of a shell. Flexible 3.4-meter acoustic bifold glass doors and mobile tables create a versatile space for 25-person conferences and lively auction events.
The Rubinstein Group’s Sydney headquarters by Esoteriko. Image: David Wheeler
Hidden upholstered phone booths and office spaces echo the same sense of reveal, while the guest powder room features floor-to-ceiling, handmade black gloss Moroccan Zellige tiles. This design choice provides high contrast from the light, spacious reception area and the white bathroom.
Ascending the curved light well to the first floor, the office maintains its spa-like ambiance. Verono Iceberg terrazzo floor tiles flow throughout, and the crisp white resin workstations offer ample space for the growing team. The kitchen, defined by an Emerald Haze Quartzite honed island bench, opens onto an outdoor terrace. Rubinstein’s office features a clean palette of light, calm materials.
The Rubinstein Group’s Sydney headquarters by Esoteriko. Image: David Wheeler
“It’s quite zen but still ‘buzzy’,” Trefely notes. “It’s a high-octane chilled space. We wanted a level of sophistication that befits the clientele, so there are some very serious deals being done here. It suits Gavin, who remains calm in intense situations.”
The open-plan office has also fostered a culture of tidiness. “With everything so minimal and light, we worried about messy desks. But the environment promotes tidiness. A tidy desk leads to a tidy mind,” Trefely concludes.
The Rubinstein Group’s Sydney headquarters by Esoteriko.
SOURCE: ARCHITECTURE.AU