Five Mile Radius reimagined an underutilised loading dock in West End, Brisbane, into a dynamic office and urban-facing laneway activation, showcasing the potential of circular design at a small commercial scale. 

Our Bond Street Office project called for a new kitchen, bathroom and gathering space for a busy studio in South Brisbane. An existing roller-door into a rear loading dock becomes a pivotal device for connecting the street to the interior of the office. Interior walls were reconfigured such that the roller door (which previously opened into a store room) becomes a south-facing balcony for use throughout the day. The opportunistic opening becomes a source of ventilation, steady light and distant views which provide amenity deep within the office's plan. 

The project is built using three main recycled materials sourced from demolition suppliers in South Brisbane - steel, concrete and timber. Our workshop reworked these materials, prefabricating all components for the project using simple and economical means. Appreciating that our client may move, an effort was made to create modular pieces that can be easily reconfigured in future tenancies. The cabinetry elements - tables, shelves and seats are arranged on a grid of 700mm which allows for this future flexibility. 

Steel display racks, previously used for shop fitting, become the main structural element, the 30mm x 30mm square section is used to support the balcony, tables, shelving and benchtops. Reclaimed oregon VJ timber was thicknessed and repurposed as table tops, a seat and shelving. A benchtop made from reclaimed concrete left over from a local pour was paired with a recycled laundry tub to form the kitchen. Other elements, the suspended lighting, pink curtain and steel cabinetry were also repurposed from a previous life. Only the fiberglass sheet for the balcony was sourced new, a concession made after failing to find something recycled in time (though we should have just asked the supplier for their offcuts).

"I had been a fan of Five Mile Radius for years. When we took over an old hat factory as an office, complete with a loading dock we’d never use, I knew they were who I wanted to transform the space. Their use of recycled materials didn’t just save on cost and waste—it gave our office a unique identity. The team’s attention to detail, flexibility, and future-proofing means we have a fitout that works now and can evolve with us. They turned an used loading dock and laneway into a feature. We regularly have visitors to the office comment on the space, and I delight in telling them where all the pieces came from.“

William Smith-Stubbs Executive Director
Mettlesome