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Workplace / Interior Design, Graphic Design & Design + Build — 2020 · IDP Foundation

5AAP

5AAP built signage in the IDP Foundation office: full-height yellow bands on two glass doors reading 04 and 05 with meeting-room pictograms and IDP Foundation set vertically in black, a stacked black cube divider holding a potted peace lily between them

Interior design, wayfinding and construction for the IDP Foundation office, designed and built by RDVS Studios across 2019 and 2020.

The studio’s own posts are the whole record of 5AAP: the IDP Foundation office, the Patrick Steele Room and the Reception, each captioned 2019/2020 and each credited to RDVS for interior design, wayfinding design and construction. No written case study was published, so this page carries what was posted and claims nothing beyond it.

The wayfinding is the clearest single deliverable: full-height yellow bands on the meeting-room doors carrying 04 and 05 with room pictograms, “08 Self Service” vinylled across the pantry window, the foundation’s name set vertically in black on glass, and large yellow lettering running along the lounge wall.

Beyond the signage the frames record the fit-out itself: a breakout corner on crate shelving, a pantry in black counters and open shelving, two meeting rooms in dark timber, a planted light-well between a white wall and a timber batten screen, and courtyard paving laid around an existing tree. The first group was photographed on 12 July 2020 and the second two days later, with the elevations and the grounds following.

Design intent

The approved view of the completed building, before the site record below

5AAP — the design intent: a white upper volume over a black plinth, the first-floor balcony screened with vertical timber battens and the wordmark wrapped around the corner

Interior fit-out — 12 July 2020

Rooms photographed as the joinery and planting went in

5AAP — the breakout corner: a long black-topped worktable on crate shelving, two navy lounge chairs, and a low planter box laid with books
5AAP — the pantry: black counter, stainless sink, microwave and kettle beneath a window vinylled '08 Self Service', with open shelving holding tea crates and mugs
5AAP — the planted light-well: white gravel, succulents and ground spotlights pinned between a white wall and a screen of dark vertical battens
5AAP — the meeting room: a long dark timber table with white-framed mesh task chairs against a black wall and full-height shelving
5AAP — the same meeting room from the head of the table, the shelved bench and display niche at left
5AAP — the Patrick Steele Room seen through its full-height glass partition: dark table, blue chairs and a computer at the far end

On site — 14 July 2020

Two days later: the same rooms finished, with the elevations and grounds following

5AAP — the street elevation with the corner wordmark painted and the batten screen in place, a worker on the first-floor balcony
5AAP — the first-floor balcony at dusk: tiling laid, timber balustrade fixed and a worker standing at the screen
5AAP — the Patrick Steele Room from inside, lit by a temporary worklight before handover
5AAP — the courtyard: a black boundary wall with a planted bed at its base, an existing tree rising through newly laid paving and a spade left against the wall
5AAP — the rear elevation with air-conditioning units mounted along the wall, a timber ladder in the yard and stacks of paving slabs waiting to be laid
5AAP — the light-well planted out with broad-leafed tropicals, two tripod lamps throwing the pattern onto the white wall
5AAP — the breakout corner two days on, the low planter box now carrying established plants in glass jars
5AAP — the side elevation after dark under a single floodlight, a vehicle and wheelbarrow parked on the concrete yard
5AAP — the waiting lounge: quilted grey armchairs beside an interior planted bed lit by tripod lamps, yellow wall lettering running out of frame and timber stairs rising at right
5AAP — the balcony at night, battens and metal balustrade complete against the open yard
5AAP — the corner from the street under overhanging branches, the ladder still leaning on the finished elevation
5AAP — the second meeting room under a black ceiling, grey upholstered chairs drawn in to the long table
5AAP — paving slabs set as stepping stones through new grass, a white gravel edge and timber beam running beside the planted bed
5AAP lookbook frame: a model seated on the bonnet of a copper-brown vintage Mercedes before a dark grey wall carrying oversized white lettering and timber louvres above, in an embroidered black vest, checked and cream trousers and red leather shoes