Studio Mass Office: A Creative Workspace Housed within An Old grain Store Built in 1990s

Located in Collingwood, Melbourne, the Studio Mass Office sits within a repurposed industrial shell that feels entirely at home in its neighbourhood. Collingwood’s warehouse typologies, maker culture, and dense mix of studios, cafes, and light industry form the backdrop to Studio Mass Studio, a creative digital design studio. It is a compact project with a big impact. At just 132 square metres internally, the studio demonstrates how careful planning can produce a workplace that feels generous and lived-in.

The design brief was informed by how the team wanted to work and gather post-pandemic. In response, Studio Mass HQ intentionally blurs domestic comfort with the building’s industrial heritage, fusing flexibility with a sense of permanence.

“Design is central to their identity, whether it’s for clients or their own environment. They wanted an office that felt personal, warm and inviting, something that could persuade people back post-COVID without it feeling like a requirement.”

—— Martin Musiatowicz, director of Kart Projects.

An example of this is the meeting room, which is fitted with a sliding wall to open into the main workspace when required, accommodating larger gatherings and events.

Beyond day-to-day functionality, Studio Mass HQ also reflects its commitment to engaging with the wider design community. “The space is not just for work, it’s a venue for dialogue, workshops and cultural programming,” says Musiatowicz. “It’s an embodiment of who they are and what they stand for.”

Colour and materiality play a central grounding role throughout the fitout. A measured palette, expressed through green-toned joinery, warm red wall planes, and soft off-white surfaces, is used to subtly define zones without fragmenting the space. Vertically ribbed joinery introduces texture and rhythm, acting as both spatial marker and tactile surface, while warmer wall finishes add depth without visual dominance. Pale timber flooring and joinery soften the industrial shell, lending a domestic warmth that balances the existing concrete structure and columns. Together, these elements create an atmosphere that prioritises material honesty, longevity, and clarity.

The design is organised around two custom-built volumes. One contains the meeting room area, and the other is a deep green core that houses the kitchen, bathrooms, and open library. These elements are intentionally compact, allowing most of the open-plan space to remain open and adaptable for different ways of working. “It’s a balance between keeping the warehouse open while creating moments of intimacy and enclosure,” Musiatowicz explains. “Each volume has its own mood and identity, and together they create a layered experience.”

Local design and fabrication were prioritised as a core part of Kart Projects’ approach. Custom joinery is used throughout, designed as a direct response to both place and function. The detailing celebrates Australian craft and making, reinforcing the project’s connection to its surroundings . As Musiatowicz reflects, “The idea wasn’t to import a vision, but to create something that felt grounded within local design culture.”

Designers by trade and by instinct, the team at Studio Mass is shaped by a deliberate mix of strengths, perspectives, and experiences. Conceptual thinkers work alongside technical specialists and inquisitive problem-solvers, creating a culture grounded in exchange, curiosity, and continual learning. Design is treated as a strategic tool, balancing pragmatism with creative expression and placing people at the centre of every decision.

At its core, the practice is built on direct relationships. The team works closely with clients from start to finish, without intermediaries or rigid hierarchies, favouring transparent conversations, shared responsibility, and a collaborative process.

Project Completed 2024

The office feels like a natural extension of who the Studio Mass team are. Thoughtful, calm, and quietly confident, it supports the way they think, collaborate, and design, with the same care and clarity that runs through their work.

Project Credits

Architecture and Interior Design: Kart Projects

Structure: StructED (Cathy Poon)

Fabrication: Proxima

Photography: Pier Carthew