Buddle Findlay, Christchurch
More than a decade after the Canterbury earthquakes drew it away from Cathedral Square, law firm Buddle Findlay has come home. Its new workplace by Jasmax sits on the third floor of The Regent in Ōtautahi Christchurch, looking out over the Christchurch Cathedral. The brief called for a long-term home that reflects the Buddle Findlay brand and puts its people first. The result is a workplace with the warmth of a home.
The design takes its cues from the landscape that surrounds the city. W.A. (Bill) Sutton's oil paintings of the Port Hills, from his Te Tihi o Kahakura and Sky series, inspired a palette of silvers and golds that runs through every surface. Oak timber panelling, rendered plasterwork and bronze anodised aluminium set a warm tone, while the flooring carries those earthy hues underfoot across the 1,000 sqm floor.
Meeting rooms and shared settings introduce Shaw Contract In Common, a plush plank carpet tile from the Collective collection. In Common is Cradle to Cradle® Certified Silver and carbon neutral, qualities that sit comfortably alongside the firm's commitment to a lasting workplace. In the more functional zones, Shaw Contract Pacific in Waimea Granite adds a hard-wearing layer suited to daily use.
In the open-plan work areas, Shaw Contract Back Weave lays a foundation of soft texture. Part of the Community collection, Back Weave appears here in Argan and Wool, two neutrals that recall the light of the hills. The collection is built on EcoWorx® backing, which Shaw reclaims and recycles at the end of its life and which weighs around 25% lighter than traditional PVC backing for lower transport emissions.
Within the wider working areas, Shaw Contract Striation broadloom is used as rugs in the Sierra colourway, anchoring the open meeting spaces. Its geological pattern echoes the way light moves across rock, lending a sense of calm to these shared settings.
Tarkett vinyl features through the workplace where hard-wearing surfaces are called for. Tarkett iQ Granit SD in Black Grey and Tarkett iQ Eminent in Dusty Sand both belong to the Tarkett iQ range, finished with Tarkett Unicoloured weld rod and known for extreme durability and surface restoration as simple as a dry-buff.
In the reception and common spaces, Refin Tune in Lava lays a matt porcelain in a 600 x 600mm format, with Refin Tune 1.0 GRIP in the same colour adding slip resistance where the floor calls for it.
The generous end-of-trip and wellbeing facilities continue the spa-like quality of the workplace. These areas are lined wall and floor in Refin Mold in Mist, a lighter porcelain that keeps these spaces calm. Two subway tiles complete the detail, with Glenbrook Sage in a slim gloss finish and Albert Park Vanilla bringing craft and texture to the kitchen and amenity areas.
The workplace has since been recognised with an Interior Architecture Award at the 2026 NZIA Local Awards and a Gold for Commercial Fit-out at the 2026 NZ Commercial Project Awards.
Together, the surfaces supplied by Jacobsen ground a workplace that achieves what Buddle Findlay set out to create: an enduring home in the heart of the city it returned to.
Products used in this project
