Kate Nixon was commissioned to create an inspired new workspace and important showcase for renowned Sydney antiquarian dealers Hordern House and their vast collection of rare books, manuscripts and paintings.

Relocating from the heritage Potts Point offices the client had occupied for three decades to a vast, converted warehouse in the heart of Surry Hills was a transformative journey from a rabbit warren of corridors and closed offices towards open plan, natural light and a modern approach to their marketplace.

A clean palette of white laminate and walnut timber joinery and painted concrete floors offsets architecturally inspired task and feature lighting and the client’s own collection of vibrant, antique carpets. Natural light and ventilation were maximised through steel framed glazing. Used as full and half height partition walls the framing echoes the original windows and industrial integrity of the space.