Kamispace

Something a little different for us, but certainly one of our favourite projects to date, Kamispace is a purpose-built creative hub located in Erina, designed to support artists, workshops, education and community connection.

What made the project so rewarding was the relationship behind it. The clients first came to us about renovating their home; when that was placed on hold, they turned their attention to Kamispace, having connected with the aesthetic and quality of the office space we’d created for ourselves. On our recommendation, they engaged Corinne and the team at Pair Studio – the same designer we’d partnered with on our own workspace – and placed complete trust in both teams, making for a collaborative and genuinely enjoyable process from concept through to completion.

As with all our projects, much of that success came down to the work done long before construction began. Having both designer and builder involved early meant the practical requirements were resolved up front, keeping the build efficient and closely aligned with the client’s vision.

From the moment you enter, the curved Polytec-lined walls establish the character of the space. Integrating concealed pivot doors into these panels took an enormous amount of precision, resulting in clean, uninterrupted lines that make the joinery feel almost sculptural. Hidden details like these run right through the fit-out, allowing the architecture to stay calm and uncluttered so nothing competes with the work on display.

The finished hub brings together dedicated artist studios, a photography studio, flexible workshop and classroom areas, exhibition spaces and offices, all designed to accommodate multiple uses – from exhibitions and workshops to photography, retail and artist residencies. The practical detailing is what lets each space work as hard as it needs to: a dedicated clay wash sink with an integrated clay trap, gallery hanging systems, adjustable track lighting, floor-mounted power outlets and durable commercial finishes mean the rooms perform just as well during a busy workshop as they do for an exhibition or event.

Rather than replacing everything, we retained parts of the existing building wherever we could. The original staircase was refurbished with new Blackbutt timber treads, custom grooving and compliant contrasting nosings, giving an existing feature new life while reducing unnecessary waste. Even the imperfections in the original concrete slab were embraced, acknowledging the building’s history and creating a space that feels authentic rather than over-polished.

Material selection did much of the work in shaping the atmosphere. Soft pastel joinery, warm timber finishes, textured flooring and carefully detailed lighting create an environment that feels calm, welcoming and creative without ever competing with the artwork itself – a space equally suited to quiet individual work, collaborative workshops and large public exhibitions.

Kamispace is proof that commercial spaces don’t need to feel commercial. Through careful detailing, quality craftsmanship and genuine collaboration, an existing warehouse has become a thoughtfully resolved, highly functional destination for creativity, community and connection on the Central Coast – a space built to support the people who use it every day.

As always, the amazing trades we worked with on this project were a wonderful extension of our team, conducting themselves respectfully onsite and creating beautiful work. Thank you Mitch and the team at Copper Electrical, Ben and the team at Totally Drained Plumbing, Mitch the tiler from MJW Tiling, Dylan the painter from Hardaker Painting, and Chris and the team at Coastal Air Conditioning.