Origin has constructed an inspiring ‘Outdoor Room’ for employees at its National Customer Contact Centre in Collins Street, Melbourne. Located on the balcony of level 7 at 271 Collins Street in the heart of the CBD, the garden has been specially designed for Origin employees by celebrity gardener and Origin green ambassador Jamie Durie. Inspired by the growing trend for green spaces within urban centres, Durie and his team at PATIO, together with awarded landscape designer Ian Barker and Associates, have transformed what was previously a concrete space into a contemporary landscaped balcony space that embraces sustainable principles.

The balcony garden is designed to encourage creativity and outdoor activity, while providing a place for Origin’s people to relax and interact in an engaging, communal setting.

Innovative design elements include:
• A 10m diameter area of timber decking for use as a yoga or tai chi space. Encircled by bench seating around the perimeter, the area is surrounded by pre-grown lattice screens which create a wall of green and sense of calm seclusion for those on the deck
• Breakout areas in the form of sunken and stepping decks
• A more private open-ended ‘cocoon’ that holds up to six people. Made from a new
outdoor sustainable material, it invites people to socialise, take time out for lunch, or simply relax and enjoy the unique city views
• Barbecue and entertaining covered area under a pergola.
• Outdoor lounge seating among plants
• Two 3,000 litre rainwater tanks for efficient plant watering
All plants are allergy free in addition to being drought tolerant and hardy.
The design philosophy and environmental and HSE principles applied to the exterior landscape have been translated from the interior of the Contact Centre. The garden incorporates lighter soils and materials, native and drought-tolerant plants, sustainable principles and innovative landscape building techniques.