The work of the Snowy Mountains Engineering Company (SMEC) has an important place in the history of engineering in Australia. While the firm is well and truly diversified, the design team connected the design to the experience its engineers might have had on site in the Mountains in the 60s and 70s. While working on one of the civil engineering wonders of the world – the Snowy Hydro Scheme – they would have experienced the tones, textures and colours of the iconic mountains.

This palette is both crisp and cool, as well as deep and rich. This developed into a contrasting colour scheme for the project: icy blues and greens are paired with deep greys and browns throughout, providing intuitive connection to purpose and brand. There is also a nod to classic 60s and 70s design lines that are fun and futuristic. There is an overall planning concept that is angled and playful. Classic 60s and 70s design is also visible in the simple and softly rounded joinery and interior architectural elements, such as the rounded corners of the portal frame connecting (and separating) the public and privileged zones.