Description

Celebrating SOM’s 90th anniversary in 2026, we invite the public to our new Melbourne studio, located inside the newly-transformed 189 Toorak Road.

This precinct seamlessly fuses the 1880s South Yarra Coffee Palace with an innovative 11-storey addition, creating a dialogue between Victorian heritage and a next-generation workplace.

Anchored by its Victorian heritage façade, SOM’s Melbourne studio is at home within the new light-filled tower rising from 189 Toorak Road. The design intentionally blurs the line between professional and hospitality environments, prioritising wellness and comfort for its team of architects, designers, engineers, and guests alike.

A restrained palette inspired by locally sourced brick is accented with dramatic circadian lighting and greenery, all contributing to the studio’s anticipated 5-Star Green Star Interiors rating.

What's On

Come behind the scenes of one of the world’s most influential design firms during a milestone year: SOM’s 90th anniversary.

Hosted within our newly completed studio at 189 Toorak Road, this event offers a rare look at how a global practice operates within a local, heritage-rich context.

The studio will be open to explore so the audience can experience our hospitality-led workplace firsthand. Visitors can wander through our open-plan design floor, observe our material library, and see current project models on display.

Speak to our team of architects, interior designers and engineers about the fitout, the building’s unique structure, and our latest projects across Australia. Our team of designers will be present to answer questions about the studio’s Green Star targets, its unique circadian lighting, and the design of the building, which includes adaptive reuse of the heritage-listed South Yarra Coffee Palace.

To mark our 90th year, there will be a curated digital exhibition looping in the studio showcasing SOM’s local and global impact, from historic icons to our latest work in Australia.

Whether you are a design student, a heritage enthusiast, or a curious neighbour, you will gain insight into the collaborative process that shapes the future of our cities.