"timber frame"

Timber features were used throughout the project, with Decortech acoustic panels used to clad both internal and external ceilings. Rondo, in collaboration with BVT Engineering was engaged to provide design assistance for all external soffits/ceilings, internal walls and ceiling framing.

Mass timber is transforming from an innovative new method of construction to a must-have in mid-rise building design, and this RMIT NAS (New Academic Street) project paved the way for Australia to become a leader in mass timber construction. One building in particular, the ‘Garden Building’, designed by NMBW Architects and TCL was a stand out for innovation and creativity. The spectacular design used a 6m mass timber grid and due to the visibility of the structure, glulam was the preferred option to CLT. Victorian ash was chosen as it is an attractive timber, ideal for ‘seen structure’.

It’s hard to imagine a timber better suited to a palette of concrete and pale pink terrazzo than GoodWood Victorian ash. This winning combination is found throughout the space, drawing on clean lines and simplistic furniture to complete the brief. “The main reason we used Victorian ash is because it is a light coloured Australian timber that met the BAL-19 bushfire attack level requirement for the site. Its softness and warmth works beautifully with the project palette” - Atelier Chen Hung.

The University of Melbourne’s (UoM) Biosciences building is the perfect example of how to match a consistent timber throughout an entire space. And not just any timber. Australian Oak Engineered Flooring, cleverly partnered with GoodWood Victorian ash and IronAsh. To coincide with one of HASSELL’s philosophies to ‘continuously improve environmental performance and energy efficiencies as well as create healthier working environments’, the UoM building demonstrates an accurate representation of sustainable design and the connection of nature to increase productivity.

“Having considered both performance and materiality factors, The Winton was designed with a green conscience. Reclaimed bricks provided such an interesting personality to the build, so it was important that the soft character of a natural timber species delivered the contrasting features” - Orbis Construction. Due to Victorian ash’s natural blonde tones, IronAsh has the flexibility to grey off or to be stained to meet any design needs. IronAsh is the combination of GoodWood Victorian ash and unique water-based additives to give a H3 treated exterior timber.

Macquarie University’s Incubator building represents education, technology and innovation. This building may not be the tallest or largest mass timber structure in Australia, but should be equally celebrated for its total commitment to prefabricated timber. The Macquarie University Incubator was a collaboration between Lipman, Architectus, Strongbuild, Taylor Thompson Whitting, Arup and Against the Grain. The design required a prefabricated structure, to enable future dismantle, relocation and reassembly. Through the unique collaboration of the entire team the building was erected in just 37 days and the entire project completed within 6 months.

Forget predictable ‘Hamptons’ beach design, and instead think laid-back beach location with a slight mid-century feel. To compliment the Goodwood Victorian ash, IronAsh cladding and Australian Oak Engineered Flooring were specified to create a continuous flow of design from inside to out. Matching the timber throughout a space creates a harmonious atmosphere that connects each room cohesively. Specifying timber all from the one manufacturer like ASH means you are getting consistent grain and quality products throughout the entire build.

Imagine waking up in this 4-star luxury hotel with panoramic view of the IJ and the city of Amsterdam. Hotel Jakarta: a BREEAM Excellent certified energy-neutral hotel in Amsterdam. Designed with sustainability in mind. Unique for the Netherlands is the 30-meter-high timber structure of the hotel. All columns, ceilings and frames are made from natural, FSC or PEFC certified wood. The south and east façades are covered with 700 m2 of building-integrated solar energy panels (BIPV panels). The glass roof that covers the atrium also contains BIPV cells that, in addition to collecting energy, also function as sun blinds for the subtropical inner garden. The atrium is the center of the hotel and works as a temperature controller in both summer and winter. On each side of the building, rooms have their own covered outdoor space that functions as a structural awning. A custom made revolving door provides access to the hotel where there is a dynamic public area with various bars, restaurants, coffee corners and a wellness center. This transparent revolving door is almost 6 meters high and fits perfectly with the appearance of the facade. In addition, this type of entrance solution is in line with the sustainability requirements of the building.

At Bostik, innovation comes in many forms.Ultraset® 3 in 1 is Bostik Australia's premium timber floor adhesive incorporating Thickness Control™ Spacer Technology, a proprietary feature consisting of recycled, ground-up car tyres mixed throughout the adhesive.When applied, the Thickness Control™ Spacers act like tiny rubber pillars, suspending the timber and maintaining optimal adhesive thickness to ensure superior performance as a moisture and impact sound reduction membrane.For West Side Place, Ultraset® 3 in 1 presented significant time and cost savings vs conventional multi-layer acoustic systems by eliminating the need to install a separate moisture barrier, acoustic underlay and additional layers of adhesive. Efficiencies that flowed directly onto the construction team, supporting trades and ultimately the developer, delivering a high performance solution within budget, ahead of schedule all the while guaranteeing a compliant and comfortable environment.

Collaboration Architect: Rossi ArchitectsBuilder: M+J BuildersMaterial & ApplicationOur ECOTONE Matt and ECOTONE Sharp were applied onsite to the compressed fibre cement (CFC) soffit cladding to bring about a natural timber look aestheticOutcomeWe love our Gol Duhn with black shadow line edge finish on these soffits. It has been a pleasure to collaborate on this community hall to deliver a truly stunning space for local gatherings.

About the ProjectIn response to unprecedented demand, Rouse Garden is filling the void of modern-day homes close to trains, shops & jobs at the most competitive price on the market. Featuring the diversity of 1, 2 & 3 bedroom homes, there’s something for everyone in the most wondrous apartments to grace Rouse Hill. From floor to ceiling glass walls, timber hardwood flooring in your living room and a private rooftop garden terrace complete with BBQ and lounge areas. The quality of design is worthy of being marvelled at. Living rooms have been purposed to allow seamless indoor and outdoor transitions, blurring the boundaries between inside and out and elevating your home to new heights.ChallengeWhen you are building in one of the premier locations in Norwest Sydney, it’s all about the ding to match the lifestyle your new residents demand from your new community.  Presented with tight detail, the look, the feel and the performance of your build time-lines, and expectations of high quality, Hydraseal were tasked with working on Rouse Gardens. Waterproofing both the internals and roof of the building, the builder demanded warranties to match the project requirements and to deliver a quality finish demanded of this high profile project.To streamline this project, availability of stock and ease of application were key product requirements needed from the project, which Tremco were tasked with delivering.Tremco SolutionVulkem H2 Plus, Vulkem NEM, Tremflex50, Vulkem 951Hydraseal partnered with Tremco for a few reasons, primarily trust built up through a longstanding relationship provided the support necessary for the key for the success in this project.The versatility of Vulkem NEM being able to be used for internal wet areas, in conjunction with Vulkem H2, as well as for outdoor areas under Vulkem 951 NF allowed for fast and consistent application of waterproofing on the project, given the tight time frames, all backed with long warranties to match product performance.The combination of Vulkem NEM, Vulkem 951 NF and Vulkem H2 provided the warranties demanded by the builder which resulted in both Builder, and Applicator very satisfied with the job. 

The Harry House was a classic Coburg suburban home that screamed ordinary. The brief was to transform this typical home into a space that represented the client’s Japanese heritage. Straight and stable Victorian ash hardwood was used in a multitude of applications throughout the home. Harry House is the ultimate example of how GoodWood Victorian ash is the perfect hardwood that can be matched throughout an entire space. It not only ticks the boxes for sustainability, product availability and attractiveness, but it is also extremely practicable and affordable.

This design stemmed from the idea of the ‘Halo Effect’ – ‘a natural phenomenon whereby icebergs act as physical refuge for aquatic organisms while simultaneously releasing nutrients to their surroundings and generating a ‘halo’ of energetic life’. The Halo House is the epitome of an Australian modern family home. Breathe Architecture explained “the building reads like a geological feature in a landscape, continually evolving with the passing of time, weather and seasons”. The design represents a ‘breath of fresh air’, using light and natural materials to create a warm and nurturing home.

Rondo worked closely with Wadsworth Contracting providing KEY-LOCK Concealed Ceiling Systems, Panther Access Panels, plastering beads as well as external 92mm framing, soffit framing, internal 76 & 64mm wall framing.

Teaming up with contractor Metrex Wall and Ceiling Specialists, Rondo was given the challenge of providing specification details for external wall framing, low height double leaf balustrade framing and external bulkhead stud wall framing, as well as providing a fully engineered design solution for the external façade.

The word Folia in Greek means nest, and this is precisely what Folia apartments by Mirvac have delivered. Foliage adorns the many balconies, rooftop conservatory and kitchen garden, contributing greatly to the tranquil ambience which feels wholeheartedly organic. The residences are an inviting place to call home for their new occupants. Able to be seen from below are the prominent soffits on floors 5 and 6, lined with our aluminium Click-on Cladding in a strikingly realistic Blackbutt wood finish. The wood finish on the cladding appears abundantly realistic, cleverly achieving the look of real timber in both tone and texture. Our wood finish wrapping is produced in Japan using a state of the art system to ensure that there is no repetitive wood grain pattern present, helping it to achieve the aesthetic variation of real timber. It also features an embossed texture further replicating that of real timber along with the shadow lines which imitate traditional timber cladding.

The tower corridors to the hotel rooms followed a slight curve and the Rondo Technical Services Team were engaged to provide many engineered designs for both internal and external wall framings, as well as internal ceilings and external soffit framings. This included Stud & Track, MAXIframe External Wall Framing System, EXANGLE Finishing Sections and PANTHER Access Panels, all needed to meet the detail required throughout the tower and podium levels.

Using our Tongue & Groove Cladding system, Moloney Architects created this stunning Spotted Gum timber cladding facade which meets the BAL 29 requirements of the project. Clear Oil coating provides protection for the timber while allowing it to naturally grey, blending into the colour palette of the hillside.

Collaboration Architect: Mayoh ArchitectsBuilder: Reitsma ConstructionsDeveloper: Macarthur Anglican SchoolMaterial & ApplicationUsing our CXD process in collaboration with the design team, our ECOTONE team created a specialised wood grain colour finish using ECOTONE Matt Plus and ECOTONE Sharp. The surface colour finish was applied onsite to the grey compressed fibre cement cladding soffits to match in with the internal timber used in the project.OutcomeThe design required a space that was inviting and inspiring to students allowing them to remain in touch with the outside as well as being environmentally friendly. Our long-life ECOTONE finish to cladding replicating natural wood delivered in both design and sustainability. This project also went on to win a commendation award for Learning Environments Australasia Category 2: New Construction / New Individual Facility (or Facilities) Over $8m.TestimonialThe challenge of incorporating feature timber soffits within a bushfire zone was solved by the use of ECOTONE over non-combustible fibre cement sheeting. The soffits were colour matched to the natural spotted gum timber, which was used internally, resulting in a seamless visual appearance and an external soffit that is almost indistinguishable from real timberJonathan Henley, Mayoh Architects

Working closely with SA Master Plaster as the internal drywall contractor Rondo has supplied 64 & 92mm x 0.70BMT and 92mm x 1.15BMT wall studs for the internal wall framing with over 1,000 studs being required per floor. Also the project is utilising Rondo KEY-LOCK concealed plasterboard framing for ceilings and over 2,000m2 of the external Rondo MAXIframe wall system.

Wall types can vary significantly on such a large project, and the Rondo team were required to design a framing system solution that would be suitable for the vast majority of the project. Due to large wall heights to the ballroom areas, Rondo MAXIJamb members were required and specific Rondo engineered design detail was provided for bathroom wall locations, where the Rondo framing was to support stone linings.

This massive project took two years of construction to complete, and Rondo’s technical services team were able to provide design solutions for challenging areas in the project. This included a heavy gauge 150mm Steel Stud Wall Framing System which required alignment with and concealment of the structural frame of the building, and a 6 metre high internal dividing wall that was subjected to higher internal pressures due to the louvres installed.

This hurdle was overcome with the assistance of Rondo’s Technical Team who created unique designs of the external façade framing which pleased Contractor Conrad Linings and Builder, Broad Construction Services. Furthermore, Rondo worked in consultation with Hyder Engineers for a solution of the 150mm MAXIframe External Walls and Framing that required galvanised sheet metal to be installed on top of the framework to prevent any potential water ingress, with Rondo supervising the correct installation.

MP Group were charged with managing the installation and finishing of all internal and external walls and this is also where Rondo offered our support. With the external structural steel framing having been installed 150mm out of position, Rondo’s Technical Services Team came to the rescue and designed an external stud wall system using our MAXIframe External Wall Framing System to ‘fill the gap,’ including design of special header bracing details to support the wall.

Featuring many Alspec window and framing products

Designed with sustainability and a targeted 5-star green star rating in mind, the building has drawn on Alspec products which feature high performance credentials for the floor-to-ceiling glazing and sliding doors. On the façades, Hunter Evo 150mm Double Glazed Flush Framing was used to construct the interfaces between guests and the habitat. The Hunter framing can accommodate up to 40mm double glazed and is well suited to gently curved and faceted façades, such as featured in the dining and kitchen extension.

Alspec door and window framing products capitalise on the leafy surrounds in this new home.

The architecturally designed home uses Alspec door and framing products in its transformation.

These light-filled learning spaces showcase Alspec window and door framing solutions.

Residents benefit from Alspec’s high end acoustic framing, windows and doors

Alspec windows and door framing solutions create an impressive exterior for this entertainment hub

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.

Our superior sliding doors, windows and framing solutions provide maximum durability and protection.

These luxurious apartments integrate products from Alspec’s high performance window and door framing ranges.

Alspec’s high performance window and door framing solutions are showcased in this modern and inviting holiday home.

Alspec’s range of window and door framing solutions are featured in this striking two-tower residential development.