A Refined Architectural Insertion – Light Box by Clare Cousins Architects
Glowing against its industrialised setting, Light Box rises as a beacon of both architectural hope and intrigue.
Situated within its Collingwood milieu, the office space by Clare Cousins Architects is immediately identifiable as ‘other’ as it convenes alongside its local warehouse streetscape; the building’s sharp semi-transparent glass block façade confidently greets both its occupants and those who pass by.
A respectful interplay transpires between the office and its surrounding context. During the day, the structured material blurs vision both into and out of the building, whilst the night captures the space as a textured beacon of iridescent light in the darkness. Considered openings allow cross ventilation and direct engagement with the street below, whilst light – ultimately the core theme of the structure – strategically fills the interior. Polished concrete floors reflect the building’s industrial chapter, while an open stairwell lush with greenery is both a visual and physical connector between occupants and the public.
The glass façade manages to define both its external and interior spaces, becoming an immediate and purposeful moment of pause. Challenging traditional workplace environments, Light Box is a refined architectural insertion and tells the powerful story of material at its most elementary.
