When a rocket is set to launch, ground staff shelter in the blockhouse. When engines roar on Hoddle St, our clients enjoy a more luxurious refuge. Encased by concrete walls and enlivened by greenery, Block House evokes a utopian vision of a peaceful, sustainable Collingwood — without and within. The clients’ Industrial/Botanical design concept is cool yet entirely apposite. And it guided our reimagining of a property that sits across thresholds. Between industrial and residential; smokestacks and solar; yesterday and tomorrow. Blockwork walls, metal cladding and copper details embody the industrial heritage of the locale. A beautiful north-facing rear garden and other greenery provide the botanical counterpoint. Passive design, a solar array and a 5,000L rainwater tank ensure the green theme runs even deeper. The overall experience is a harmonious juxtaposition of built and natural environment.