The rooftop of Habitat House in Surry Hills, Sydney, is one of the main drawcards attracting young and dynamic companies to the building. The World is Round transformed the 1960s commercial building into a workplace designed for tenants’ needs and wellbeing, and the rooftop, with furniture from KE-ZU, is its crowning glory.

Aware of the correlation between mental health and access to green space, David Briscoe, director of April Group, conceived the rooftop as an urban escape to help support the wellbeing of Habitat House tenants. The World is Round designed the rooftop as an extension of the internal workplace. “It’s a space that supports collaboration and allows for tenants to interact. It can be used an entertainment area, for meetings, and it has kitchen facilitates so people can eat lunch and host events,” says Andrew Cliffe, director and founder of The World is Round. Andrew describes the rooftop as a “deal sealer” for tenants, and it has helped April Group secure a vibrant tenant profile.

There is a variety of seating areas with all seating and tables sourced from KE-ZU. “We wanted one furniture company to provide a unified solution. KE-ZU has a great outdoor furniture range, so it was really a no-brainer,” Andrew says. The furniture needed to be high-end, high quality and low maintenance, as it is left outside year-round.

Expormim’s Lapala chairs and stools (above) provide seating around the tables and bar. They can be easily rearranged, and the woven rope construction of the seat and backrest is a detail Andrew loved.

Vondom’s Suave sofa (below) made its Australian debut on the rooftop. The modular lounge setting is relaxed, making it ideal for informal meetings, lunches and after-work drinks. Kenneth Cobonpue’s Kaja occasional tables also facilitate these different purposes with tables of different heights.

The World is Round specified Suave not only for its curvaceous, comfortable design, but also because of its technical fabric that is resistant to adverse weather, and drains water and dries quickly.

This was an important consideration for all furniture and influenced the choice of the EMU’s Heaven and Re-trouve chairs and tables (above). The woven-steel design means water trickles through the seat, and they can be easily cleaned and used after rain. All the furniture is sturdy and robust so as to withstand strong winds.

While the rooftop is now in full swing, it will flourish even more over the next few years as the established plantings grow. Bougainvillea, jasmine and other plants will cover the overhead wires, creating a canopy that provides sun protection and that all important greenery for tenants’ wellbeing.

For more information about outdoor furniture, drop by the KE-ZU showroom at Alexandria or view our products online.