Ao50 Office: A Commercial Building Connected to Nature

Ao50 Office, a medium-density commercial building in Collingwood, Melbourne, seamlessly integrates into its natural surroundings, paying homage to the mature gumtrees at the rear of the site. While the concept behind the design is simple, its execution demonstrates a thoughtful connection between architecture and nature, with a focus on blending the building into its green backdrop.

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The building’s façade, clad in dark green Colorbond steel, mirrors the surrounding park, making the structure feel at home within its environment. Each face of the building varies in its degree of openness, strategically designed to maximise floor space while allowing the modulation of light and shadow throughout the day. This careful balance ensures that the interior spaces are both functional and naturally lit.

One of the most distinctive features of Ao50 Office is its use of blonde bricks on the ground floor, a nod to the original warehouse that once stood on the site. While the overall building envelope had already been approved by VCAT, the design team’s approach brought a more domestic scale to the project, ensuring that the building, though commercial, feels warm and welcoming.

At the heart of the design is the borrowed landscape—the mature gumtrees and greenery that have been celebrated and integrated into the overall vision. This connection to the natural surroundings is a key element of the project, reminding us that even in commercial settings, thoughtful architecture can harmonise with the environment.

In Ao50 Office, architecture meets nature, proving that commercial buildings can enhance and celebrate their natural surroundings while maintaining a sense of practicality and purpose.

Images by Jack Lovel via ArchDaily