Westlab’s Experience Centre was designed to showcase its new laboratory equipment and joinery system, to communicate its brand as a world leader and to create inspiration and connection. While ultimately a space to learn about technical equipment and practical solutions, Westlab Experience Centre sparks inspiration, while capturing the ‘archetypical laboratory’ vision in a unique experience that highlights Westlab’s products. The result, a celebration of space that inspires scientific discovery while establishing Westlab as an innovative, future-proof organisation.

In addition to the display area, there is a lounge, a co-creation space for design workshops and a staff hub with workplaces and a meeting room. Flexibility was key and the space can accommodate industry events and large mock-ups of custom laboratory bench solutions.

The design response connects a sequence of experiences and each experience creates the perfect backdrop for the various steps in the customer journey; a clean, bright space showcases laboratory equipment and joinery systems; the lounge accommodates informal interactions; the co-creation space stimulates collaborations and creativity; and the workspace for staff is comfortable with dark tones offset by timber details.

There is a very deliberate use of colour and texture to balance contrast and fluidity. While there is a consistent character throughout the space, reinforced by the white epoxy floor, the lounge stands out through its use of bright colour, organic forms and soft textures and the co-creation space is defined by joinery pieces that introduce warm timber tones.

Furniture: Signature Floors, Bauhaus Seating System, Len, Stylecraft, Derlot Editions, Living Edge, Living Edge, L.A. Sunset Coffee Table, Glas Italia, Space Furniture, Unifor, Schiavello, Herman Miller, Living Edge. Lighting: Living Edge, About Space, Ambience. Finishes: Kvadrat, Laminex, Sapphire Aluminium, Dulux, Corian, Epimax, Gunnersons, Woven Image. Fittings & Fixtures: Zip, Franke, Harvey Norman Commercial, ABI Interiors, Astra Walker, Braben Architectural Hardware, Hafele, Access Hardware.

Photography: Tom Blachford