A new lounge bar at the rear of the popular Iceworks establishment now features custom sofas by Blok. Detailed in spotted gum, these stylish yet simple structures are in hot demand when the crowds arrive for happy hour. Cheers, Iceworks!

James Cook University’s fifth and sixth year medical students have a new space to relax, study and take a break between classes at Mackay Clinical School. Located at Mackay Base Hospital, Blok Furniture (in conjunction with Woods Bagot Brisbane) has crafted an informal arrangement of custom lounges, side tables and a range of multi-purpose ottomans to create an inviting area for students to congregate, converse and relax both pre and post lecture. Bespoke tables on glides are designed to slide over upholstered pieces to provide a hard surface for laptops, note taking and the mandatory cup of coffee.

Blok was recently contracted as supplier for Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd’s new head office building, the first in Australia to receive a 5 Star Green Star – Office Design v3 Certified Rating from the Green Building Council of Australia. This rating signifies ‘Australian Excellence’ in environmentally sustainable design.

Our brief was to provide environmentally sound furniture for a variety of outdoor breakout spaces. Sunni benches, Sola dining and coffee tables plus a custom ‘snake’ bench were constructed from locally sourced recycled hardwood and marine grade stainless steel.

Our thanks to Thomson Adsett Architects and Studio 39 for the opportunity to be involved in this landmark project.

View our product pages:

• Sunni
• Sola

Korda Mentha’s refurbished Brisbane head office has welcomed an addition to their listed heritage building, Wenley House.

Built in 1864, the Market St property is one of the few original developments remaining in Brisbane’s riverside precinct. It now showcases one of the most contemporary break-out spaces in the CBD.

Constructed using steel framing, timber decking and alucabond cladding, the rear deck is a stunning and modern extension. Spanning over the rear laneway, the semi-enclosed pod provides a strong architectural contrast with the heritage stonework of the original building. Abstract ottomans in bright orange provide seating for staff and clients in this outdoor break-out area.

Architect Paul Lynch’s vision was constructed and fitted by Quadric, while Blok Furniture provided design consultation and manufactured the angular seating benches using outdoor ply, reticulated foam and vinyl upholstery (Instyle Buzz).

Designer Richard Park has developed a reputation for crafting affordable, high quality Australian made products, available on reliable lead times nationwide. With a solid client base, an expanding range and a growing portfolio of custom projects for interiors designers and architects, Blok continues to provide innovative solutions for both commercial and residential environments.

Blok installed dynamic custom furniture for the 6th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art (APT6) 5 December 2009 – 5 April 2010, Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art

APT6 includes the work of more than 100 artists from 25 countries which reflect the diversity of practices across Asia, the Pacific and Australia, and occupies the entire GoMA space as well as the Watermall and neighboring galleries at Queensland Art Gallery (QAG).

Blok was called on to manufacture and install a variety of pieces for Kids’ APT, including special art work tables to help young visitors engage with the works on display.

You can view, sit on and work at Blok furniture at the following exhibitions:

Thukral & Tagra
Hi! I am India 2009
Indian artists Jiten Thukral and Sumir Tagra have designed a Do It Yourself (DIY) activity project which is set in a spectacular environment in the Children’s Art Centre. The artists invite children to select from an array of custom-made stickers, designed to introduce children and their families to contemporary and traditional Indian visual culture. The sticker designs feature people, street scenes, vehicles and architecture. Using framed backgrounds designed by the artists, participants can create collages of daily life in India today for display.

Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan
In-flight (Project: Another Country) 2009
Brisbane-based artists Alfredo and Isabel Aquilizan’s project for Kids’ APT, In-flight (Project: Another Country) 2009 asks everyone to make aeroplanes out of found materials. Using the recycled objects supplied, as well as off-cuts and twine, participants are able to construct aircraft within a dynamic activity space. Touching on themes of migration, family and memory, the recycled planes form a giant flock suspended from the ceiling of Gallery 3 in the Queensland Art Gallery.

Find out more here: http://qag.qld.gov.au/exhibitions/current/apt6/kids_apt

Blok was also approached to make the curved tables displaying
the stunning ceramic work of Bui Cong Khanh.
Find out more from the QAG website here.

cottee parker architects have recently delivered a $100m office/retail building using state of the art technology and innovative design. the ‘synergy’ office building is only 1.5 kilometres from the brisbane cbd in the thriving commercial-creative precinct of kelvin grove urban village, and has recently been awarded 5 star green star rating by the green building council of australia.

the team at cottee parker selected items from blok furniture’s range to add a splash of colour to the crisp, neutral fitout of synergy’s main foyer. using duo sofas and ottomans in kvadrat divina and halo side and coffee tables in beech veneer, this vibrant and contemporary arrangement pulls focus and provides public seating in the large space.

thank you cottee parker for inviting blok to contribute to this project.

read more about the duo here | read more about the halo here.

first impressions count, and blok furniture has been recently commissioned to create an elegant yet contemporary statement in the form of custom furniture for bracton chambers’ new brisbane offices. this group of more than 10 prominent barristers have relocated from mlc centre to the new santos house, formally known as northbridge.

blok’s brief was to design and manufacture a table that would be the focal point of the central reception area, an informal space for clients to relax with the newspaper or for members to meet for a discussion or social function. the table needed to seat 8 but with the option to extend and seat up to 14, be constructed from solid timber and to complement the warm tones and clean lines of the interior fitout by hassell.

richard developed a stylish version of his romani table constructed in solid spotted gum, with a matching console positioned adjacent to the table. when required, the console splits into two separate, identical wings. these are added to each end of the main table to extend it and seat 14 people. the table is complimented by classic wishbone chairs.

read more about the romani here.

telstra’s multi-million dollar queensland headquarters were opened recently to great fanfare in brisbane. through this project a number of local businesses were engaged, including architects, landscape designers and furniture manufacturers like blok furniture.

the building features open plan seating, fewer offices, multiple meeting and breakout areas and open stairwells connecting floors. a key feature is the shared breakout facilities on level 4 which includes outdoor dining areas and a deck, bbq and kitchen facilities, landscaping and a comfortable lounge area for employees to gather informally.

blok furniture were contracted by pdt architects to supply a range of items for level 4 breakout areas. our blokout range, including sunni outdoor benches, tables and stools crafted in rosewood and the popular sola tables specified in brushed stainless steel and compact laminate, are featured prominently in both outdoor and indoor spaces. these australian designed and manufactured products were perfectly suited to the relaxed vision for level 4, and are complimented by intricate custom joinery and an inventive use of materials and finishes.

many thanks to pdt architects for the opportunity to work with you on this landmark project.

read more about the sunni here | read more about the sola here.

The designers realised that solid concrete furniture was problematic in terms of weight and flexibility of arrangement, so they contracted Richard to work out a solution.

Once the design and proportions of the furniture were finalised, three large tables and eight bench seats were constructed. An Alternative Sufaces product, X-Bond, was selected in Blanco and a range of surface samples were prepared for client perusal. Finally, a particular texture was chosen, applied and finished with a low gloss penetrative sealer that would protect the setting from bumps and spills. The finished product has the appearance of roughly polished, sealed concrete – a surface often seen on floors, but rarely on furniture.

The tables and benches can be configured to work as one large setting, or can be divided to function as two or three smaller arrangements, giving QIC plenty of flexibility for use of their key breakout space.

Thank you to Geyer Brisbane for the opportunity to work on this bespoke project.