| 87 DESIGN Wonder Group: Faraday St Proudly supporting Wonder Group 027 530 2409 info@casaconstruct.nz www.casaconstruct.nz CASA delivers high-end construction across the commercial, residential and industrial sectors. Known for our detail-driven approach, we partner with clients, architects and designers to bring ambitious projects to life – balancing craftsmanship, buildability and commercial outcomes. Defined By Detail. T T Karen Phelps Flexibility achieved at Parnell premises Wonder worked carefully with what was already there, retaining exposed brickwork, distressed concrete, original steelwork and roof trusses. Photos: Jono Parker. “We kept the brick, concrete and structure visible, then added a few carefully made contemporary layers around them. New where it needed to be, but never at the expense of what was already there.” Designing one space to work equally well as an office, showroom, and event venue proved to be a deceptively complex task. At Faraday Street in Auckland’s Parnell, Wonder Group was asked to craft a new head office for bespoke fit-out company CASA and its decorative finishes business, Surface, bringing both brands together within a flexible, character-rich environment. “It needed to work hard without ever feeling over-programmed,” says Katrina Bell, project lead at Wonder. “On a normal day, it’s a workplace, by evening it can become a showroom, dinner space or event venue. The challenge was making all of those uses feel like part of the same place.” Large pivot doors and full-height curtains allow the interior to open up or divide down as required, accommodating everyday office work, client presentations, product displays, industry events and the occasional late night antics. Rather than imposing a new identity on the building, Wonder worked carefully with what was already there, retaining exposed brickwork, distressed concrete, original steelwork and roof trusses. “The building already had a lot of character, so our job was to work with it rather than tidy it into submission,” says Katrina. “We kept the brick, concrete and structure visible, then added a few carefully made contemporary layers around them. New where it needed to be, but never at the expense of what was already there.” Tobacco-toned timber, soft plaster finishes and an earthy palette bring warmth to the workshop-like shell, and recycled Oregon pine flooring was cut and stained on-site to give it a depth that will continue to develop over time. The material palette is deliberately restrained, allowing the people, products and events passing through the space to become the focus. At the centre of the front-of-house area is a generous open kitchen with a large island and twin butler’s sinks. Designed as much for hosting as everyday use it has become the social heart of the project and allows the space to move easily between work, conversation and gathering. “The best thing is seeing how well it’s actually used,” says Katrina. “It works hard as a workplace, but it also gives CASA and Surface somewhere to host, share ideas and bring their wider creative community together. That adaptability is what gives an old building a useful future.” Founded around a decade ago, Wonder is an Auckland interior design studio creating boutique, highly crafted spaces for ambitious New Zealand brands and businesses. Working across workplace, retail, hospitality and commercial projects, the studio remains closely involved from early strategy through to construction, using interior design to strengthen how a brand is experienced, improve how a business operates and create room for future growth. Recent work includes three category winners at the 2026 Interior Awards: GP&Me for Healthcare & Wellness, Aotea at Auckland Airport for Retail, and BLUNT Headquarters for Workplace up to 1000sqm. Wonder’s wider portfolio includes Forté’s Grey Lynn showroom, and interiors delivered for more than 30 New Zealand brands at Commercial Bay. “Our role is to understand what makes a business distinct, then turn that into a space that works hard, feels entirely its own and gives the brand somewhere to grow.”
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