Posts

Seamless Furniture Integration for Future-Ready Heritage Learning Environments

Zenith Interiors delivered custom furniture and workspace solutions, blending contemporary functionality with heritage building character.

Zenith Interiors

Delivering contemporary, high-performance interiors within heritage-listed buildings demands more than furniture,
it requires nuanced understanding of the building’s function, history, and architectural intent.

Zenith Interiors delivered a highly tailored interior fit-out for the University of Tasmania’s The Forest, achieving a rare balance between contemporary workspace design and sensitive heritage integration. The scope of works included a comprehensive furniture and workspace solution across the building’s academic, research and community zones.

“This included Orbis workstations with custom Echo Panel curved and precinct screens, a suite of seating solutions including Noho Move chairs, JAC side and tub chairs, Tipo chairs, Primary tables, along with custom Verse Rooms in crafted hardwood timber and integrated storage,” said Vera Meharg, Marketing Director at Zenith Interiors.

“One of the biggest challenges was integrating contemporary furniture solutions into irregular spaces without compromising the heritage fabric or the architect’s intent for openness and connectivity,” Vera explained. Custom precinct screens and timber Verse Rooms were purpose-designed to align with the building’s historic character while delivering modern acoustic performance and privacy.

Sustainability and user wellbeing were embedded throughout the fit-out strategy. Zenith specified low-impact and recycled materials where possible, including the Noho Move chair made from upcycled materials and Echo Panel acoustic screens manufactured from recycled PET. Ergonomic seating and height-adjustable workstations were selected to support comfort, adaptability and long-term usability, while modular systems ensure the spaces can evolve over time.

“The standout achievement is the seamless integration of contemporary, flexible workspaces within a heritage-listed building. The custom Verse Rooms exemplify that balance—offering privacy and function without detracting from the building’s historic character,” said Vera. The result is a vibrant, future-ready learning environment that honours the past while supporting modern education, research and collaboration.

For more information contact Zenith Interiors, Level 6, 555 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, phone 03 9693 2600, website www.zenithinteriors.com

/by

Sustainable Furnishing for a Future-Focused Campus

Living Edge supplied 150 sustainably designed Herman Miller chairs for the University of Tasmania – The Forest, aligning with its circular design vision.

Living Edge

In a project defined by deep environmental responsibility and future-focused design, Living Edge played a pivotal role in equipping the University of Tasmania – The Forest with furniture that reflected the same ethos driving its architecture.

As a premium supplier of design-led, sustainably manufactured furnishings, Living Edge provided 150 Herman Miller Setu chairs, which combined performance, aesthetic integrity, and circular design thinking.

“We worked closely with Woods Bagot throughout the furniture selection process,” explained Tim Batchelor, Senior Education Consultant at Living Edge. “Beyond fit-for-purpose and ergonomics, the university was particularly interested in design for disassembly, warranties, and products with recycled and recyclable content. Given the high level of sustainability objectives for the project, Living Edge and Herman Miller were ideal partners.”

The 150 Herman Miller Setu chairs selected for The Forest exemplify this alignment. Combining ergonomic comfort with a lightweight, highly recyclable frame, the Setu embodies circular design principles, supporting long-term asset lifecycle strategies and end-of-life material recovery, key priorities within the university’s sustainability framework.

Throughout the procurement phase, Living Edge was required to provide detailed documentation confirming sustainability credentials, lifecycle transparency, and compliance with circular design frameworks. “As part of Living Edge’s LivingOn sustainability programme, this was readily available information which we were able to support Woods Bagot and the client with,” said Tim.

The Forest has been recognised as an architectural and environmental benchmark, integrating renewable materials, biophilic design, and thoughtful future-use planning. For Living Edge, contributing to a project of this calibre reflects their enduring commitment to sustainable innovation in commercial interiors.

“The Forest is an ambitious project with sustainability considered in every design element—from its new life to its end-of-life,” Tim reflects. “This aligns perfectly with Living Edge’s ‘Furniture for Life’ sustainability philosophy, which underpins every brand we bring to the Australian market.”

For more information contact Living Edge, phone 1300 132 154, email info@livingedge.com.au, website www.livingedge.com.au

Visit Living Edge in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane

/by