Perth interior design and architectural practice HBO + EMTB may have a strange name, but it has not stopped the five year-old business from stamping its name across some of the city’s most high profile office fit-outs.
Alinta, Australia Post, KPMG, NAB, ANZ, Lavan Legal, Newmont Mining, St George and Deloitte are among several corporate players to engage the firm’s interior design services recently, producing a solid stream of work for the 12-strong design team.
By doubling its staff in less than two years, HBO+EMTB, otherwise known as Hoadley Budget Olphert & Edwards Madigan Torzillo Briggs Pty Ltd, has become the second largest interior design firm in WA Business News’ Book of Lists.
“The name is a mouthful, but people don’t forget it,” principal Rob Parker said. “We are a very tight, practical-oriented business. Interior design is our focus but we’ve significantly grown our architectural arm over the last two years with 10 architects.”
Preparing the practice for future growth, Mr Parker said he planned to move his staff of 25 from its small character office at 21 Howard Street to a new 400 square metre office at 99 St Georges Terrace before the end of the year.
With competition in the interior design sector heating up in Perth, HBO+EMTB claims to have made close client consultation its point of difference by offering “envisioning sessions” to help clients picture their ideal workplace.
Included in the service is a unique graphics and 3-D imaging package, which the practice outsources to a team of 50 designers in its Philippines office.
“Our aim is not to be the biggest. We want to grow carefully and retain the personal touch,” Mr Parker said.
According to Mr Parker, interior design was being increasingly acknowledged by business as a way to tap into the Generation Y mind-set through work space.
He said the practice had successfully found the middle ground between excess and an over-efficient approach to design.
“There is a lot more emphasis now on establishing work environments that compliment what people need and provide them with the right tools,” Mr Parker said.
Apart from its core commercial interiors work, he said it would look for more opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sectors, while working on residential apartment projects.
