The Commons South Yarra
For The Commons South Yarra, Foolscap posed the questions: What will tomorrow’s workplace look like? Guided by "what you can’t get at home”, Foolscap designed with special emphasis on collaborative spaces, social interactions, and amenities fuelling community culture.
Foolscap designed The Commons South Yarra, a four-level coworking environment in Melbourne that advances a new vision for contemporary workplace design. The project responds to the shift in post-pandemic work culture by focusing on experiences that cannot be replicated at home, fostering collaboration, community, and engagement across every level.
The floorplate applies a disrupted grid concept centred on “serious fun.” Linear and modular workspaces are balanced with sculptural, fluid breakout zoness. A custom staircase links the floors, connecting the community and activating the upper-level common areas. Materials, colour, tone, and texture evolve vertically while First Nationsartist Jimmy Pike’s prints feature throughout; upholstering and lining surfaces to enrich the spaces' depth.
Facilities and amenity form the backbone of the project. The Commons South Yarra expands standard coworking offerings with highly functional, multi-use zones, including the Makers Space, equipped for laser cutting, 3D printing, arts, and crafts. A Sensory Room provides time for meditation, relaxation, or yoga, featuring a minimal material palette, curtain-lined walls, concealed lighting, and passive air circulation. Additional amenities include a multimedia podcast studio, photography spaces, and a parents room.
A sketch of the custom staircase connecting the four levels
The kitchens and dining zone serve as the social heart of the building, designed for hospitality, collaboration, and casual interaction. The space channels industrial casualness and abundant natural light, with the sunken Conversation Pit providing a flexible lounge for gatherings and collaborative catch-ups. Modular elements throughout support diverse uses, reinforcing a sense of “serious fun” while enhancing the daily work experience.
