Melbourne Design Week Recap: Circular Thinking at Scale with Australia Post.
Hosted by Living Edge, in partnership with the ADA, the panel discussion offered an in-depth look at Australia Post’s landmark relocation in Melbourne.
Redfining Workplace Design for Circularity
Setting new standards in workplace reuse and sustainable design applied at scale, the project serves as a benchmark for scaling furniture reuse and restoration.
This approach extends beyond product supply to help clients achieve ambitious environmental goals, focusing on furniture saved from landfills, as showcased during the Australia Post Melbourne Design Week discussion.
Melbourne Design Week Panellists: Guy Walsh, Kate Osborn, Dan Cox and Anne-Maree Sargeant.
Moderated by Anne-Maree Sargeant, Authentic Design Alliance, the panel featured Kate Osborn, Australia Post; Dan Cox, Principal at Hassell; and Guy Walsh, Sustainability Strategist at Living Edge.
Living Edge actively promotes authentic design and stands out as a leader in sustainability and circular procurement.
Through its Relive program, Living Edge helps clients extend the life of their furniture by offering refurbishment, resale, and responsible end-of-life strategies. This approach extends beyond product supply to support clients in achieving their ambitious environmental goals.
A Case Study for Furniture Reuse
“We reused around 4500 pieces of furniture, with more than half originally coming from Living Edge in 2008. We refurbished more than 1800 Herman Miller ‘Mirra’ chairs on-site, which offered huge time and cost efficiencies.”
— Kate Osborn, Australia Post
Kate Osborn led the logistics and reused over 4,500 pieces of existing furniture, including more than 1,800 Herman Miller Mirra chairs that Living Edge purchased initially in 2008.
The program tightly organised the on-site refurbishment of chairs, allowing for significant savings, reducing landfill waste, and preserving continuity for staff.
Collaborative Design Processes
“You cannot retrofit sustainability halfway through a project. You must embed it from the beginning.”
— Guy Walsh, Living Edge Sustainability Strategist
The co-design process, undertaken by Hassell and Australia Post, commenced nine months before the formal start of design work.
Inspired by Australia Post’s network and the joy of receiving mail, this nine-floor workplace blends the functional aesthetic of a warehouse with a sense of community connection.
Reclaimed materials and layered finishes transform collaborative work areas into unexpected, engaging environments that foster connection and bring people together.
The three essential elements of circular design include the product, its usage, and the outcome at the end of its life.
Enabling Circular Practice
Guy explained how the Relive program supports the three stages of circular design. Achieving lasting circularity relies on early planning, high-quality materials, and strong partnerships.
Quality products and materials support circularity, emphasizing that clients and consumers must invest more in authentic, sustainable furnishing products.
POSTMARKED was presented by Living Edge in partnership with the Authentic Design Alliance on Tuesday, May 20th, for Melbourne Design Week 2025.
Contact us here to register for future sessions on circular practice within furniture, objects, industrial, and interior design, as well as architecture.
