The stimulating architecture of Centrepiece — Melbourne Park’s new conference and gala venue — embodies the dynamism of the city’s premier sports and entertainment precinct. As host to the 2022 Australian Open and surrounded by the iconic MCG and Rod Laver Arena, Centrepiece’s spaces transform to accommodate an array of events. Seamlessly interwoven throughout the building is the essence of Australia’s natural landscape; ochre carpets and organic materials furnish the Grand Hall, Pre-Function areas and breakout rooms. Above Left was chosen to collaborate with NH Architecture, ensuring that the design of Centrepiece is not only stunning but also environmentally conscious.

Above Left is Australia’s distributors for Carpets Inter and Royal Thai, supplying revolutionary flooring solutions for sustainable, beautiful spaces. Meeting the demand of carbon-conscious clients, Above Left is driven by their values of conscious design, sustainability and quality. This is reflected in their intelligent production and consumption — from recycling waste PET bottles to repurposing organic waste — resulting in innovative modular carpet tiles and woven or tufted broadloom carpets that leave a positive sustainable footprint on the environment. Above Left recycled 200,000 plastic bottles alone in this project for the stunning Centrepiece, contributing to the company’s overall goal of recycling 1 billion bottles by 2025. Centrepiece, therefore, is distinct in its highly sustainable design and architecture, making it a truly exemplary venue that reveres the natural environment of Australia.

Among the beautiful terraces and break out rooms of Centrepiece is the Grand Hall — a flexible 2500 square meter space that is surrounded by skyline views and flooded with natural light. With operable walls, the Grand Hall can be divided into smaller rooms, transforming the space for conferences, banquets or cocktail events. Grandiose 8.5 meter ceilings offer an abundant feeling of openness and feature an expansive rigging capacity as well as an integrated lighting system that enhances the natural light from the hall’s glass doors and windows. These industrial lights also create contrast with the organic feel of the walls, paneled with wood. Their diverse tints and vertical alignment are reminiscent of trees, allowing the Grand Hall to embody the beautiful Australian landscape. However, the focal point of the Grand Hall is its stunning ochre-coloured carpet — Above Left designed this custom carpet tile, inspired by the indigenous flora and fauna surrounding the sports precinct in Melbourne. Its warm brilliance also represents the red and orange hues of the Australian outback, allowing the Grand Hall to capture the beauty of our alluring natural landscapes.

This custom carpet consists of Above Left and Carpets Inter’s Royal Thai Axminster carpet tiles on EcoSoft cushion backing — a unique recycled PET tile backing system that not only ensures comfort and quality but also reflects a sustainable commitment to the environment. Installed across 4,000 square meters of Centrepiece, these EcoSoft tiles constitute over 200,000 recycled plastic PET bottles, diverting them away from our oceans and landfills. EcoSoft carpet tiles are PVC, bitumen and fiberglass free, giving them the highest award of ‘LBC Red List Free’ under the International Living Future Institute Declare Label Award program; not only are they environmentally sustainable, but also ensure that our health is protected. The unique backing delivers superior underfoot comfort, thermal efficiency and sound absorption, making EcoSoft an exemplary choice for Centrepiece.

Adjoining the stunning Grand Hall is the 800 square meter Pre-Function area, also carpeted with the ochre EcoSoft custom tiles. This space offers a comfortable setting for exhibitions, breakout spaces or pre and post-event functions. Bar-stools and dark orange lounges complement the vibrant carpet and create a warm atmosphere that promotes connection and relaxation among clients or guests. Glossy tiled ceilings with overhead lights further showcase Above Left’s beautiful, environmentally conscious carpet as they reflect and bounce light off each other, giving the Pre-Function area a unique aesthetic aura.

Melbourne Park’s new conference and gala venue, Centrepiece, is truly distinct in its design and architecture — not only does the dynamic venue display a variety in colour, materiality and texture to embody the stunning Australian landscape, but is also environmentally conscious. As over 200,000 recycled plastic PET bottles were used for Above Left and Carpets Inter’s custom Royal Thai Axminster carpet tiles on EcoSoft cushion backing, Cen trepiece’s flooring is guaranteed to be sustainable, comfortable and beautiful.

Above Left
aboveleft.com.au