From the Soil to the Soul
When Tailor Inc was asked to design a bespoke workplace environment for the Lewis Road Creamery and Southern Pastures’ team, they took up the challenge to align the organisation’s office space with its sustainable on-farm values.
Lewis Road Creamery has a rich and remarkable history for one so young (13 years), is 100% owned by Southern Pastures, who own 19 farms, and has 4 Kiwi directors at the helm.
To understand the Southern Pastures and Lewis Road Creamery brand and values, we sat down with Head of Marketing Lynette Maan and asked, “What are you most proud of?” Lynette was very quick off the mark, “values”, she said. “All of equal significance, we value our people, our planet, and our animals, with the latter being 99% grass-fed and free-range 365 days a year.”
The passion, enthusiasm, and motivation to be true to their values are evident, with a visit to Europe imminent, having been shortlisted at the World Sustainable Awards in Germany.
“One of the most challenging aspects of the project was to create an inviting and tranquil experience within a heritage building located in the heart of Britomart.” said Tailor Inc’s lead designer, Nicky Wood. “We worked closely with our client to ensure every aspect of the space was aligned with their unique brand. As a local business with such a beautiful story, we wanted their workplace to reflect this concept”.
“As you enter the space you are greeted with a warm and inviting open plan lounge, dining and kitchen space consciously mimicking a home environment. Our intention was for these key areas, which are so important to our client’s workplace, to draw clients and their team into the space and function as the main hub in the design.”
The finishes selected were inspired by the New Zealand landscape and green pastures, along with subtle nods to Lewis Road’s signature gold branding. We used a natural earthy tonal palette, teamed with renewable sustainable materials such as natural timbers throughout the space. Brass accents were used to highlight key elements through the use of feature lighting and hardware, adding richness to the neutral colour palette.
Bespoke joinery units were designed to cater for our client’s multi-purpose needs. Natural stone slabs were chosen specifically for the kitchen and a polished plaster finish was used to enhance the existing heritage features. This will be the backdrop to the Lewis Road Creamery outward digital content and the soul of the brand in Auckland.
Sourcing locally made furniture and selecting sustainable materials are just a couple of examples of how Tailor Inc. adhered to Lewis Road Creamery’s TenStar Certified Values proposition, which covers grass-fed, free-range, climate-change mitigation, human welfare, animal welfare, and sustainability requirements As like-minded businesses, we were partners in their journey to create a more sustainable environment.
