The building replaces our current one we’ve been in for nearly 25 years,” Branch Manager Simon Hollander says. “We had rather outgrown the space, so when the Clyde Road site became available, it looked like we might have a real shot at getting the work space we had dreamed of
The new building is a work of team collaboration – Aaron Jewell, architectural draughtsperson, builder Hamish Neave and Davinia Sutton of Detail, spatial designers – with more than a little input from Simon himself. “Aaron, Hamish and Davinia had worked with me on previous residential projects and I was sure they would be perfect for this commercial build,” Hollander says.
The 235sq metre building has a central hallway filled with natural light from overhead windows. Glass fronted offices spill on both sides of the central thoroughfare, giving good connection between everyone working there. “You can’t miss seeing your colleagues and bumping into them as you walk along the hallway,” Hollander says.
“We wanted separate spaces where our agents could be private, but we also required linkages for networking which is so vital to a real estate company.
It was also important for the new office still to be firmly anchored in the community where it has been for so many years. “We love this location and know all the businesses and many of the residents,” Hollander says.
“To pay homage to the locale we have named the individual offices after local streets – Penhelig Place, Gleneagles Terrace, Chateau Drive and Chepstow Avenue for example. We are also still close to the Harcourts Holmwood HQ on Ilam Road for our auctions.”
Harcourts Holmwood CEO, Tony Jenkins, is understandably proud of the finished product. “Those involved have well and truly brought to life the vision that we sought for this build,” he says. “It is purpose-built for real estate and is state of the art in terms of design and functionality.”