Located at 120 Collins Street, Corrs Chambers Westgarth's Melbourne workplace draws directly from the character of its address. Designed by Bates Smart, the project combines the material richness of Collins Street with the comfort of a private residence and the considered service of a luxury hotel. The result is a workplace defined by quality, restraint and attention to detail.
Materiality sits at the centre of the design. Timber, stone and textured finishes are layered throughout the workplace, creating a calm and highly resolved environment. Rather than relying on bold gestures, the interior establishes its presence through proportion, craftsmanship and consistency.
A key contributor to this vision is BLOQ, a modular workstation platform co-created by District, Elements Studio, Bates Smart and Corrs Chambers. Developed through District's Co-Create process, the system was designed to challenge conventional expectations of workplace furniture. Concealed height-adjustment mechanisms, integrated services and a custom lighting solution allow BLOQ to read more like a finely crafted table than a workstation. The result is a workplace system that combines executive-level performance with the warmth, elegance and material presence of residential furniture.
Throughout the workplace, BLOQ workstations support the carefully considered material palette. Specified in timber finishes that align with the surrounding joinery and glazing, the workstation reads as part of the architecture rather than a separate layer within it. In private offices and focused work settings, BLOQ contributes to a cohesive environment where furniture and interior architecture work together.
Clean detailing, integrated storage and generous work surfaces provide the functionality required within a leading legal practice while maintaining the calm, ordered appearance of each space. The workstation supports the experience of the workplace without competing for attention.
The BLOQ platform was conceived with adaptability in mind. Designed for reconfiguration, repair and component replacement, it enables workplaces to evolve as organisational needs change. Rather than designing for a fixed outcome, the system provides a framework that can be adjusted over time, extending the life of the furniture and reducing the need for wholesale replacement.
This approach reflects the principles behind District's Co-Create methodology, where each solution is shaped by project-specific requirements and broader considerations, including longevity, environmental impact and future flexibility. At Corrs Chambers Westgarth Melbourne, these ambitions are realised within a workplace that balances executive presence with practical performance.
The result is a highly tailored workplace where furniture is not simply specified for the project, but developed as part of it. Refined in its expression and designed to adapt over time, BLOQ demonstrates how collaboration can produce workplaces that are both enduring and responsive to change.
