The CambiumA Sanctuary for Thinkers

An Australian rural retreat, worlds away from the boardroom

Long time friends of BaseMEL, Sally and Damien, had spent way too many hours at lifeless corporate retreats – drinking bad coffee under fluorescent lighting, sitting on uncomfortable chairs, with the same old routines… The entrepreneurial couple realized long ago there was an opportunity to radically rethink this sector, and provide a space where groups and companies could break out of the boardroom to gain clarity and innovate, through curated personalized experiences in a relaxing yet stimulating natural environment.
They stumbled upon the perfect location: an old Australian homestead, surrounded by National Parks in the heart of Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula, and jumped at the chance to turn it into an exclusive-use venue for businesses looking to enact change, away from the distractions of the workplace. They had the property and the concept, but needed to bring it to life.
The surrounding environment, about as Australian as it comes, provided inspiration for the name. In the world of plants, a “cambium” is a site of cell regeneration, tucked away underneath tree bark or inside stems as a hidden, but a vital part of the plant’s anatomy. The Cambium, as a business, equally offers a place for organizational change and growth.
The architecture was restored and repurposed by Carr Architects with a contemporary and pared-back aesthetic, and this quiet and respectful approach was carried through to the branding. Guided by philosophy, and ideas surrounding contemplation in nature, workspace tropes and Post-it note yellows were blended together with natural hues and rusted materials that allowed the brand to blend into the architecture and the striking landscape.

Long time friends of BaseMEL, Sally and Damien, had spent way too many hours at lifeless corporate retreats – drinking bad coffee under fluorescent lighting, sitting on uncomfortable chairs, with the same old routines… The entrepreneurial couple realized long ago there was an opportunity to radically rethink this sector, and provide a space where groups and companies could break out of the boardroom to gain clarity and innovate, through curated personalized experiences in a relaxing yet stimulating natural environment.

They stumbled upon the perfect location: an old Australian homestead, surrounded by National Parks in the heart of Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula, and jumped at the chance to turn it into an exclusive-use venue for businesses looking to enact change, away from the distractions of the workplace. They had the property and the concept, but needed to bring it to life.

The surrounding environment, about as Australian as it comes, provided inspiration for the name. In the world of plants, a “cambium” is a site of cell regeneration, tucked away underneath tree bark or inside stems as a hidden, but a vital part of the plant’s anatomy. The Cambium, as a business, equally offers a place for organizational change and growth.

The architecture was restored and repurposed by Carr Architects with a contemporary and pared-back aesthetic, and this quiet and respectful approach was carried through to the branding. Guided by philosophy, and ideas surrounding contemplation in nature, workspace tropes and Post-it note yellows were blended together with natural hues and rusted materials that allowed the brand to blend into the architecture and the striking landscape.