Hames Sharley opened the doors of its new Adelaide Studio last week, welcoming over 150 guests from the built environment industry for a spirited housewarming to toast the start of a new chapter.

Located in the heritage-listed Reserve Bank building, Hames Sharley’s new Adelaide Studio expands on the ethos of their recently opened Melbourne Studio; harnessing sensory design to create spaces that empower the team to work in the conditions that suit them best.

Following a moving Welcome to Country by Kaurna man Corey Turner from Southern Cultural Immersion, Hames Sharley Managing Director Caillin Howard remarked on the positive impact of the new studio.

“We’re proud to share this space with our clients and the wider community, which will have the flow on effect of fostering design outcomes that are deeply rooted in empathy and collaboration,” said Caillin.

The new fit-out speaks to the materiality of the building’s mid-century heritage, featuring breeze blocks, mosaic tiles and curved timber panelling. With a rich palette of terracotta, blush pink and earthy green, the overall effect is almost residential in nature; cosy, comforting, and inviting.

“This studio already holds such a special place in my heart as it does for everyone in this team,” said South Australia Studio Leader Madeleine Steele. “Our workplace is designed for the people we are when we walk through those doors each and every day, whether we want to be secluded in in a quiet space, or in the midst of the buzz of the studio.

“It has truly blown me away how truly welcoming it feels. We finally have a space that echoes and amplifies the vibrance and warmth of our team.”

To underscore this, Hames Sharley team members were equipped with name badges featuring fun personal facts that sparked many curious conversations. They took guests on tours throughout the space and acquainted them with Juan the hot pink donkey, an enduring heirloom of the studio.

The new premises marks a full-circle moment for the practice, which was founded in Adelaide in 1976. During the proceedings, Founder and Chairman William Hames reflected on watching the Reserve Bank building’s construction in the 1960s while musing that he might like to work there one day. Serendipitously, almost 50 years later, Hames Sharley’s Adelaide Studio now calls that building home.

With its soft and welcoming focus, the new Studio is ready to share with clients and consultants, as the team continues to expand on their legacy of creating meaningful places to support Adelaide’s diverse communities, such as Purruna Spencer Newton Centre at Scotch College Adelaide, the Australian Centre for Sports Aerodynamics, Glenside Grace Apartments, and Camden Park Community and Affordable Housing.