When Chris Wright decided to replace a crumbling brick boundary wall at his Waiuku home, he wasn’t looking for something ordinary. Positioned at the top of a T-intersection on the main road, the property demanded a solution that was substantial, safe, and — above all — visually compelling. What followed became one of Envirocon®’s most talked-about residential installations.
“I called in to the depot on the off chance — and immediately saw the Schist pattern blocks outside the office… DONE.”
THE CHALLENGE
The existing brick boundary wall at 81 Kitchener Road had become structurally unsafe — cracked and unstable from years of exposure and minor traffic incidents at this busy intersection. Chris needed a replacement that could handle the real-world demands of a high-traffic location while delivering something architecturally interesting.
His brief was clear: no plain wooden fences, no standard cinder block. The wall needed to be solid enough to withstand potential vehicle impact, tall enough to block headlight glare into the lounge, and distinctive enough to stand out in a streetscape full of painted-black timber paling.
THE SOLUTION: INTERBLOC+
Chris had previously noticed Interbloc+ being used in commercial retaining and storage applications, and appreciated the precision of the interlocking block system. A visit to the Envirocon® depot introduced him to the Schist texture — a rugged, layered-stone finish that offered the visual character he was after, without compromising the structural integrity he required.
At the time, the Schist blocks needed to be brought into production. Envirocon® went further: they developed custom corner blocks carrying the Schist pattern onto the side walls, ensuring the textured face wrapped cleanly around the ends rather than terminating in a blank concrete surface. The additional production lead time was, in Chris’s words, “worth it.”
THE BUILD
Once the extensive foundation was in place, construction of the wall itself moved quickly — a direct demonstration of Interbloc®’s self-locating, Lego-style assembly. Rather than a standard concrete base, the foundation used varying sizes of steel to maximise grip beneath the blocks. The crew required only a grinder to remove the occasional burr. Speed, however, was not the most memorable aspect of the build.
The site became an attraction. Cars stopped at the intersection; drivers leaned out windows asking questions. Pedestrians parked up and walked back to enquire about the product, the supplier, and the cost. The installation drew enough public attention that it began slowing the crew down. Waiuku had not seen anything quite like it.
“Are you building a Castle?” — It was the talk of the town.
One practical consideration did emerge: the Interbloc+ system is optimised for right-angle construction, and the section at 81 Kitchener is not square. The solution was to construct four separate walls, with plantings planned to conceal the gaps at the joins — a landscaping solution that will ultimately add further softening to the overall composition.
OUTCOMES
The completed wall has delivered results well beyond its original brief:
- Road noise reduced by approximately 50% — the front of the property, previously too loud for conversation, is now a functional outdoor living space complete with table, chairs, and lighting.
- Headlight intrusion into the lounge has been fully eliminated.
- The street-facing Schist texture has become a local landmark, prompting widespread community interest and enquiries about the product.
- Flowering creepers are being established on climbing wires to further soften the wall and integrate it into the garden setting.
“It turns out there is more than one use for oversized blocks.”
