Framing A Sustainable Workplace

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5 Parks Boulevard by GLH Architects

As the latest jewel in the Oxford Parks crown, 5 Parks Boulevard opened its doors in September 2023. Designed by GLH Architects, this innovative space melds fresh modernity with timeless elegance, offering striking yet functional simplicity. Spanning five floors and encompassing 7300 m² of versatile office and retail space, this project sets a new standard for sustainable design in the modern workplace.

Oxford Parks, an extension of the well-established Rosebank area, is a lively mixed-use district featuring offices, retail outlets, and a hotel. Emphasising the importance of the public realm, the precinct embodies a contemporary and dynamic high-street atmosphere. The newly added 5 Parks Boulevard, GLH’s fourth project in the area, perfectly contributes to the surroundings, propelling the precinct’s development forward and enhancing its overall vision.

Setting the scene
As one approaches 5 Parks Boulevard, the building unfolds gracefully. Landscaped steps elevate visitors, creating a grand entrance that evokes a sense of arrival and anticipation. The east-facing façade guides onlookers towards the corner, where the building opens up to a bustling streetscape. Standing out is the concrete frame which encases striking elements of glass and textured solid panels. Their strict geometry is softened by a graceful curve that sweeps downwards. This design choice not only directs the eye towards the entrance but also purposefully reduces the building to a more intimate scale.

Beyond the glass
Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows define the building’s aesthetic, flooding the interior with natural light and offering panoramic views of the jacaranda trees and surrounding neighbourhood. The curtain wall windows and solid panels on the street façades were designed as a unitised system, achieving the desired aesthetic of a wooden plank cladding feature without the inherent complexity. Porcelain wood-look tiles replicate the natural beauty and texture of wood, eliminating the need for future maintenance and enhancing the building’s sustainable profile. Inside, the triple-volume entrance atrium acts as a transitional space, connecting the exterior with the interior and linking the lower levels. This fluid design continues with the internal planting, which trails along the curved edges of the bridges and staircases, softening the space and creating a tranquil environment.

PSP OP 2491 Atrium entrance
PSP OP 1916 Parks Boulevard streetscape

Design dematerialised
5 Parks Boulevard adheres to Oxford Parks’ high standards of environmental efficiency and transformative vision. It holds a 6-star Green Star rating and a Net Zero-Carbon Level 1 Building Emissions certification, setting a benchmark for sustainable workplaces. The building’s design prioritises an exceptional indoor environment for its occupants. High-performance double glazing ensures unobstructed views and natural light, while solar gain is curtailed and glare is managed with automated blinds.

GLH Architects chose building materials wisely, focussing on durable, low-maintenance finishes in natural hues. Natural concrete elements and high-quality coatings ensure weatherproofing, while cill and drip details effectively manage water runoff and protect the longevity of the vertical finishes. This selection of materials and finishes aligns with the concept of dematerialisation, minimising the use of layered finishes. The design emphasises natural daylight, reducing the need for artificial lighting.

Photovoltaic panels cover the entire roof, harnessing solar energy to reduce carbon emissions. The fresh air supply rate guarantees thermal comfort and energy efficiency, contributing to the building’s overall sustainability.

BW 20231123 GLH 221 Atrium curves
PSP OP 1642 Entrance atrium

Towards a unified vision
5 Parks Boulevard integrates seamlessly into the pedestrian-centric urban context of Oxford Parks by actively engaging with the public space. This treelined midblock avenue transforms Dunkeld’s large-scale street grid into a rationalised, walkable lifestyle hub, connecting the Rosebank CBD to the suburb of Illovo. The building’s sophisticated design and functional simplicity attract a diverse array of global businesses, infusing vibrancy into this mixed-use destination.

Facing the residential areas, the western façade of 5 Parks Boulevard aligns with a suburban aesthetic. It features proportionally scaled-down windows and warmer colour tones, which are enriched by the soft light of the setting sun.

As an exciting chapter in the Oxford Parks story, 5 Parks Boulevard not only enhances the precinct but also establishes a new standard for sustainable work and retail spaces. At the helm of the project, GLH Architects have created a space that harmoniously blends elegance, functionality, and environmental responsibility.

Photography by Philip Schedler

This article is an extract from our August Issue. Read the full issue here.

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