"egger building"

A bold and significant new development has emerged in St Kilda as a ‘liveable Lego tower’, rising in tiered rainbow cubes that appear to balance like building blocks. Aptly named The Icon, the distinctive new building is wrapped in expanded aluminium mesh that changes colour as sunlight moves.The inspiration of artist Matthew Johnson, who worked with Jackson Clements Burrows Architects to conceptualise the distinctive complex, was achieved with Interpon Powder Coating on board as a collaborative partner.“My vision for the project was for people look up and see something interesting, to see something that is in a sense iconographic – as a marker or reference point,” explains Matthew.Interpon were involved with the project “right from the start”, explains Gareth Connell, Regional Specification, Interpon. Their association began after they were introduced to Pace Developments to discuss colour and product selection for the external façade.“We work closely with Interpon, and Pace asked us to quote with the product already powder coated,” says Ian Dunstan, southern regional sales manager at Locker Group, who manufacture perforated and expanded metal. Interpon were able to step in and develop the colour range separately, to meet the design brief and provide an ultra-durable coating system that meet the expectations of all parties.“The team at Interpon were very accommodating, engaged and professional in taking the concept on board,” says Matthew. “We were able to manifest unique colours based on the ratios I created with their chemist, inventing a whole new series of colours. This was crucial, as each level is depicted in different colour hue variations from earth to sky, which cross reference the nature of the geographical and environmental stratums. This flux of seasonal change is portrayed through subtle tonal gradation. Working with Interpon was a very fluid operation.”Interpon has collaborated on several high profile property developments and high rises over the years – although perhaps none quite as unique or with as many distinct characteristics as The Icon. “The nature of expanded aluminium mesh is such that it is formed by shearing and expanding aluminium sheet to create the ‘3D form’ effect. A visually appealing system for a façade, the shearing of the metal can present issues with very sharp edges, particularly in aggressive coastal environments,” Gareth explains.“Part of understanding this project was to comprehend as many elements as possible. Given the location was in St Kilda, with the bay just over 1.5km away, environmental considerations such as UV degradation, exposure to corrosive sea salts and prevailing winds needed to be considered.”After reviewing available data, such as Bureau of Meteorology weather patterns and local geography and topography maps, a specific duplex or two-layer powder finishing system was specified.“This consisted of a controlled preparation process for the expanded aluminium sheets. An epoxy barrier primer (was specified) to provide enhanced protection and to build the sharp edges in order to minimise issues associated with filiform corrosion. And the ultra-durability polyester powder top coat was developed in 34 distinct colours,” Gareth says.After the colour range was developed, it was applied by powder coating specialists Mansutti Bros. Lead by managing director Claude Mansutti, the team refinished hundreds of mesh panels over a period of nine months.“It was a major benefit to be using powder coating because, unlike liquid paints, powder is cured once it comes out of the oven and it’s ready to go once it’s cooled down. If they were painted, the drying phase could delay the process from refinish to installation by up to two weeks. It meant we were able to keep to a very strict schedule,” Claude says.“The project involved a lot of large spreadsheet work. There were 17 floors and over 30 colours, with panels in 15 sizes; it was quite a matrix to work with. But the end result is so different and so unique. It’s an interesting design and I’m sure it’s going to be a talking point for the area for many years.”

PROJECT NAMEFlower Power HQLOCATIONErskine Park, NSW – AUCOLLABORATIONFlower Power Head Office TeamBRIEFFlower Power is one of Australia’s leading garden centres. They wanted an earth-friendly and sustainable solution to keep the Flower Power head office as healthy and safe as possible for staff members.MATERIAL & APPLICATIONECOCLEAN Antiviral coating was applied to the interior office building and common touchpoints.OUTCOMEECOCLEAN is not only providing long-term protection from the spread of viruses but preventing the spread of bacteria, mould, and VOCs creating a safer and healthier workplace for the Flower Power team and staff members.TESTIMONYAt Flower Power, sustainability and safety have always been important to our garden centre business. So, when the ECOCLEAN team showed us how their clever coatings could help keep our workplace safe, it was a no-brainer for us to try them. Now more than ever we have a responsibility to keep our workplaces and each other safe.John Summit, CEO Flower Power

With a glass façade symbolising the transparency of justice and a glossy metal exoskeleton, the new Maison de l’Ordre des Avocats (House of the Paris Bar Association) is a stunning addition to the French capital’s new Batignolles judicial city. For the building owner, safety is a top priority. Therefore, the exoskeleton needed a proven passive fire protection coating that would enable the steel to maintain its load-bearing capacity for up to 60 minutes during a fire, giving those inside valuable extra time to evacuate.The challenge Specialist paint application and surface treatment company ROTH & Cie was contracted to apply the passive fire protection coating system. ROTH & Cie has worked with Hempel for many years and was keen to work with us on this project. However, due to the project schedule, the tubular exoskeleton framework was delivered to the construction site with a competitor’s epoxy primer already applied. ROTH & Cie therefore wanted a Hempel passive fire protection system that would work with the existing primer. Also, as building aesthetics are important in the overall design, the exoskeleton needed a high-quality matt satin finish. The solution Our solution was to specify a system of Hempafire Pro 315 and Hempathane 55750. A single component intumescent coating, Hempafire Pro 315 complies with the EN 13501-2 standard for the fire classification of construction products. It is optimised to provide 60 minutes of passive fire protection, as well as partial protection up to 90 minutes. In addition, thanks to its exceptionally low loadings, Hempafire Pro 315 requires significantly lower dry film thicknesses than competitor products. As a result, ROTH & Cie could apply the coating in a thinner coat, significantly reducing paint consumption, application time and project costs. The full system was completed with Hempathane 55750, a polyurethane topcoat with quick crosslinking properties that provides the matt satin appearance required by the specifications. Our dedicated passive fire protection R&D Centre in Barcelona, Spain verified that Hempafire Pro 315 could be applied on top of the existing primer. The entire system was spray applied using an electric airless pump, which is ideal for construction sites as it does not require an air compressor. The project is just another in a long line of successful collaborations with ROTH & Cie, which also include previous passive fire protection coating projects, most notably La Halle Secrétan covered market and La Samaritaine department store, both in Paris.At a glance Project Name: Maison de l’Ordre des Avocats (House of the Paris Bar Association) Customer: ROTH & Cie System: Hempafire Pro 315 + Hempathane 55750 Volume: 4,080 litres

A Tricell system was designed by SAS International to fit the "Y" shaped departure lounge at Santiago Airport. SAS International has designed, manufactured and installed metal ceiling solutions for both interior and exterior areas of the new 74,000m² terminal of the Aeropuerto de Santiago, Spain. SAS810 tricell has been installed to create a triangular aesthetic in the departure lounges. This open cell system provides a geometric form that can easily be repeated for a striking finish. The flexible approach in SAS International’s design process enabled this unique solution to fit within the ‘Y’ shaped designed departure lounge. Installed in the main terminal and baggage hall, as well as exterior ceiling areas, is the linear profile system SAS710. The linear slat ceiling, designed so that each slat lines up neatly with the next, forms a perfect row resulting in clean and simple architectural lines. SAS710 was also chosen for the exterior of the building to provide continuity of design. Using specially designed slat retaining angles, the system has been adapted for strength and durability to prevent slats from being dislodged in high wind.

International technology firm Microsoft have recently moved into their brand-new office located in Leopardstown. SAS International designed and manufactured a range of metal ceilings and bespoke metalwork installed in the multi award-winning innovation hub. This modern office signifies the celebration of an extensive 30-year history Microsoft share with Ireland. SAS500 linear baffles were supplied in either RAL 9016 (Black) or in a pre-coat timber effect to enhance the natural, organic character of this project. Installed in the main office areas, galvanised SAS130 T-Grid in RAL 9016 was chosen for its industrial demeanour and sharp appearance. SAS330 C-Profiles have also been supplied in a pre-coat timber effect, achieving the popular timber natural impression while still providing the longevity and benefits of metal. Installed in a unique triangular grid pattern, this ceiling adheres to the contemporary aesthetic of an exposed ceiling. The new building has been designed with the 2,000 Microsoft employees needs in mind creating large open spaces with the aim to promote engagement amongst colleagues. SAS International achieved the artistic vision of RKD architects through the collaboration with BAM and Platt & Reilly.

The Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) now benefit from a highly progressive workspace in their newly refurbished head office on Parramatta Street. The main aim of the refurbishment project was to improve facilities and collaborative spaces for staff and visitors. However, a significant challenge for the contractors was to keep all existing communications rooms fully operational throughout the project. Achieving the Aim: SAS800 Trucell ceilings were installed in the open plan lounges and stairwells of the renovation. Creating a grid of squares, strong lines stretch the length and breadth of the collaborative space. The system gives a decorative feature to the fit-out with the illusion of a much larger space for activity-based working. Comfortable lounge furniture and bright colours have also been chosen to encourage communication and create a flexible working space. Meeting the Challenge: Specified with a lay-in exposed grid, each tile slots in place without the need for gaskets or cutting. With the building in constant use, installation was quick and easy keeping the project on schedule with minimal disruption. Popular in Australian CBD property markets, the refit considers occupant well-being with Grade A ‘end of trip’ facilities. An upgraded lobby area also contributes to the value-added space with an improved experience for employees and visitors alike.

Hospitality and security are often at odds with each other. The challenge is to find the best compromise between Fort Knox and a warm welcome. Telecom company Liberty Global recently carried out a major renovation of their head office in Schiphol-Rijk – the Netherlands. As part of the project, the access security was considerably tightened, without affecting their brand’s desired welcoming appearance. Liberty Global is an international telecommunication and television company. It is also one of the largest internet service providers outside the USA. Liberty Global operates in 14 countries and has 35,000 employees. The head office is based in London and additionally there are central offices in Amsterdam and Denver. Consumer brands that belong to Liberty Global include VodafoneZiggo (50% Joint Venture with Vodafone), Virgin Media, UPC, Unitymedia and Telenet. In the high-quality business park - Schiphol-Rijk, Liberty Global have seven office buildings, which, collectively, employ a total of around 1600 people of 55 nationalities. "We did have manned security at the main entrance, but that solution did not always prevent people from entering our central hall unnoticed," says Simon Kuitert, who holds the position of Corporate Security Manager at Liberty Global. "That is why we introduced a single point of entry for the recent renovation."

Material & ApplicationECOTONE masonry stains applied to brickworkOutcomeThe owner completed some renovations which an extension on their home. Our ECOTONE team were contracted to colour the new brickwork to match with the existing bricks and provided an excellent finish.TestimonialI have just completed a huge extension to my home and struggled finding the exact brick to match.Fortunately, I was given Wayne Duncan's (ECOTONE) number and he set my mind at ease by saying "it will not be a problem as he will come and colour match to our house brick". I couldn't believe this was possible. I couldn’t find the actual brick colour of our home anywhere in this country. Collecting bricks with the shape, size and texture was my goal but they were every colour you could think of, people thought I was mad. I was just amazed at how Wayne and his team worked and created a masterpiece, they have done the most outstanding job but were professional, fast and worked together as a team and made this experience the most pleasurable of the build. People and tradespersons that have seen the before and after are just blown away as you cannot tell the difference. I would highly recommend ECOTONE (Wayne and his team) to anyone. THANK YOU!!!!!! J. Knight - home owner

The first stage of a two hectare urban regeneration development in Docklands opened in 2018 and introduced the city of Melbourne’s first elevated public park. Floating 10 metres above open public space, a spectacular Tongue & Groove Cladding Soffit overhangs 90 metres, providing natural warmth and texture and remaining consistent with the design of the project. Installed by our partner installer Casello, the project is an example of how our expert installers can complete a project on time and on budget. Green space in the CBD Biophilic design principles were a key to the design of One Melbourne Quarter, bringing the warmth and beauty of natural materials to the workplace. The most prominent inclusion is the spectacular Skypark, located directly above the entrance of the building, on the second floor. The Skypark is a perfect ‘suspended oasis’, bringing the uniquely relaxing aspects of a local park to the inner city. A statement through a soffit With the Skypark suspended above street level, the underside presented a perfect opportunity for the architects Denton Corker Marshall to create a unique feature which was consistent with the design ambitions of the project. Behind the look Sculptform Tongue & Groove Cladding provided a beautiful natural aesthetic in spotted gum. The combination of visual features and colour variation contrasts the greys of the Melbourne CBD and contributes to the overall identity of the project. PEFC certified timber was required to meet Green Star Rating, which was then sourced by Sculptform.