HSF Fit-Out

HSF’s fit-out at 80 Collins Street continues a familiar collaboration with Bates Smart, yet the outcome moves in an entirely different direction. Where neighbouring projects explore softness and curvature, this space sharpens the language — embracing crisp lines, angular forms and a more assertive architectural expression. At its centre, a staircase once again anchors the experience, but here it is complemented by a ceiling that feels dynamic, precise and deliberately bold.

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The introduction of cranked aluminium blades defines the spatial rhythm. Set at 50mm centres with a 50mm deep profile, the ceiling establishes a tight, controlled grid that responds directly to the scale and intensity of the interior. The cranked geometry is key.

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Rather than presenting a static plane, the ceiling shifts as you move through the space — opening and closing sightlines into the plenum above, creating a sense of movement that evolves with the user’s perspective. It is a subtle but powerful device, transforming the ceiling into something active rather than purely functional.

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This approach also serves a practical purpose. The tighter spacing and angled blades work together to conceal the density of services above, maintaining a clean visual outcome without compromising performance.

Lighting, however, is where the design takes a more expressive turn. Rather than integrating fixtures directly into the ceiling plane, light is allowed to sit above, creating softened, diffused pools that glow through the gaps between blades. The effect is deliberate — a contrast between the sharp, angular structure of the ceiling and the softer, atmospheric quality of the light it reveals.

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Detailing remains disciplined throughout. The now-familiar plasterboard margin detail allows the blades to float cleanly above the perimeter, reinforcing the sense of precision and control. Acoustic performance, treated at the slab level to achieve an NRC of 0.70, ensures the space functions as well as it reads, maintaining clarity within what could otherwise be an intense environment.

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Delivered by Shape and installed by Esjay Commercial Plastering, the project reflects a high level of coordination, ensuring that geometry, services and lighting are resolved into a single, cohesive system. HSF ultimately demonstrates how a strong design intent, when paired with careful detailing, can produce a space that feels both bold and controlled — an environment where movement, light and structure are brought into sharp alignment.