infolink Building Products News, March/April issue

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MAR APR

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No. 2

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steel roofing solutions

SOFTWARE FOR SPECIFIERS

SketchUp – putting the ‘design’ in CAD since the year 2000 HEATING & INSULATION

Print Post Approved PP100007333

Meeting ambitious energy-efficiency targets with exemplary products ENVIRON

Mushrooms sporing into construction as self-growing insulation

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editorial t won’t come as surprising news for many readers that research from government agencies suggests architects have been moving away from architecture practices in droves into more highly paid positions in other businesses (news page 4).

The Creative Industries Innovation Centre says the trained architects are going into roles in construction, professional services and manufacturing. Figures from 2006 to 2011 track a pretty solid trend, with more than a quarter of the total number of architects moving across.

Like a lot of public record figures though, by the time we get wind of them they are quite dated. Since the latest, in mid-2011 – now almost three years ago – the impact of this trend must be significant.

As you can tell from reader comments on the story – curated

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MAR APR

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No. 2

On the cover: steel roofing solutions

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SOFTWARE FOR SPECIFIERS

‘design’ SketchUp – putting the2000 in CAD since the year HEATING & INSULATION

Print Post Approved PP100007333

ciency Meeting ambitious energy-effi products targets with exemplary ENVIRON

into Mushrooms sporing g insulation construction as self-growin

Trades North, West Coast Institute of Training by JCY Architects and Urban Designers.

Photography by Damien Hatton.

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from our website – it’s a hot topic (page 4). It makes sense to report on this from a Building Products News perspective because of the important question of how design decisions are made and the impact on the products eventually chosen for application.

Regardless of the above, the reckoning of the design solution’s success will always be told by a building’s end-users. In the case of the Mackay Base Hospital project (page 8), these considerations saw architects carefully rethinking all uses of materials, to create a more personable environment than has been the case traditionally in health projects.

Speaking of breaking with tradition, this month’s Environ article examines developments in mushroom-derived building products, including exciting new composite

David Wheeldon editor@architectureanddesign.com.au

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Regulars

Features

NEWS Architects earning more in other industries ........ 4 Australand completes first industrial green star building .............................................................. 4

ENVIRON How mushrooms are the latest in construction .. 6

PRODUCT SHOWCASES General ............................................................ 26

construction materials that range from fibreboard, acoustic tiles, insulation foam and panelling through to materials with termite and insect repellent properties.

Another major innovation we feature in this edition is centred on the potential of simple software to create quick and easy 3D designs with popular, proprietary building products. We tell the story of SketchUp and how designers are utilising it as an initial design platform and how an increasing number of manufacturers are stepping forward to help provide easily accessible digital models.

HEALTHCARE DESIGN FITOUTS Making design work for the patient .................... 8 HEATING & INSULATION Products working towards energy efficiency .... 12 5 Favs .............................................................. 13 KITCHEN DESIGN & COMPONENTS Functional kitchen comes from design............. 16 5 Favs .............................................................. 17 STEEL ROOFING A steel solution for every roof ........................... 18

22 Publisher Martin Sinclair E-mail: martin.sinclair@ cirrusmedia.com.au Editor David Wheeldon E-mail: david.wheeldon@ cirrusmedia.com.au Sub-editors Lisa Rapley Phone: 02 8484 0688 E-mail: lisa.rapley@ cirrusmedia.com.au Geraldine Chua Phone: 02 8484 0759 E-mail: geraldine.chua@ cirrusmedia.com.au

Graphic Designer Louis Santos Phone: 02 8484 0724 E-mail: louis.santos@ cirrusmedia.com.au Key Account Manager Margaret Clarke Mobile: 0448 058 927 Fax: 03 9386 5760 E-mail: margaret.clarke@ cirrusmedia.com.au Account Manager Tom Acton Phone: 02 8484 0677 Mobile: 0423 265 410 Fax: 02 8484 0633 E-mail: thomas.acton@ cirrusmedia.com.au

SOFTWARE FOR SPECIFIERS Is SketchUp the next big thing? ....................... 22

Production Director Troy Stevens Phone: 02 8484 0748 Email: troy.stevens@ cirrusmedia.com.au Production Co-ordinator Jackie McCarthy Phone: 02 8484 0945 Fax: 02 8484 0633 Email: jackie.mccarthy@ cirrusmedia.com.au Subscription Rates: AU (surface mail) $80.00 including GST, NZ A$90.00, OS: A$100.00 For subscription enquiries call customer service: 1300 360 126 ISSN 1039-9704

Cirrus Media Tower 2, Level 3, 475 Victoria Ave, Chatswood, NSW 2067, Australia Locked Bag 2999 Chatswood Delivery Centre NSW 2067, Australia Phone: 02 8484 0888 Fax: 02 8484 0633 ABN 80 132 719 861 www.cirrusmedia.com.au © Copyright Cirrus Media 2013

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All rights reserved. No part of the publication can be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

Utmost care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the editorial matter. Product specifications and claims are those of the manufacturers.

Opinions and viewpoints expressed by interviewees, writers and columnists in BPN do not necessarily represent those of the editor, staff or publisher of the magazine.

Printed by Bluestar Print 83 Derby Street Silverwater, NSW 2128 Phone: 02 9748 3411

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M A R/A P R 2014

INFOLINK-BPN 3

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News

For the latest news visit architectureanddesign.com.au

Reader comments “The answer is in the question! The reason documentation levels are reducing is because fees are being squeezed so much that architects, even on their ‘reduced’ incomes, in practices simply cannot allocate the time. You get what you pay for.”

ABR on A&D

“$1160 and $1126 as average weekly earnings goes to show how pathetic the remuneration is for just about everyone with a professional background in architecture. These figures are both below average weekly earnings for all types of employment which is rather obscene given that architecture requires a degree of 5-6 years in duration. The inadequate documentation mentioned in the article is already excessive given these woefully poor rates of pay!”

Donab on A&D

“ABR is correct about architects being squeezed. It used to be that if you liked an architect you used his/her services and paid for them. Now almost every project we are approached about, there are a couple of other architects bidding against us. We like to pride ourselves on producing very high quality documents. Our reputation in a niche market depends on it.

We just resign ourselves to a lower hourly rate than we would hope for.

ARK on A&D

“What do you think caused sub-standard documentation in the first place? Answer - developers and builders who squeeze architects by paying less, but demanding more - resulting in lesser hours any architectural practice can devote to the task and lesser means to employ experienced architects and job-train graduate architects.”

GD on A&D

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Pay lures architects to other industries

By Lisa Rapley

he number of architects working outside of architecture practices has grown, possibly lured there by higher earnings.

According to a report from the Creative Industries Innovation Centre, architects working outside of practices in other areas such as construction or professional services have grown by 28 per cent since 2006.

Additionally, they are being paid 11.5 per cent more, on average, to work outside of architecture in ‘embedded’ industries, such as construction and manufacturing.

These ‘embedded’ architects are earning a weekly average of $1160 compared to $1126 for those working in firms.

By 2011, the most recent data available, shows there were a total of 34,620 architects employed in Australia with 13,546 employed in other industries, mostly construction.

Speaking to the Australian Financial Review, Brisbane-based architect Richard Hadgraft, who works as a

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design manager for builder Watpac commented he jumped over to the construction industry, or as he called it, “the dark side”, 10 years ago.

He says building contractors increasingly need to hire architects so the documentation received from consulting architects is of the standard to use in construction.

“There is a general deterioration of the skills. The standard of documents being produced by architects and engineers today is just going down all the time. If they don’t have good documentation, it costs us a lot of money,” he says.

Additionally the report showed the number of mid-size architectural firms have shrunk between 2009 and 2011.

The number of mid-size firms – those employing between 20 and 199 people – dropped to 308 from 352 in just two years.

Larger firms - those with more than 200 employees - increased in number from 11 to 23, with non-employing firms – those with a sole architect – rose five

per cent. New entrants boosted the number of practices at the smaller end.

But size does not necessarily equate to turnover.

The number of architectural firms earning in the brackets of $50-200,000, $200,000-2m and over $2 million fell in the same period. While the number of firms earning in the lowest bracket - $0-50,000 increased by 12 per cent mainly due to new entrants in the market.

Overall, the industry experienced an average annual growth of 3.3 per cent between 2003 and 2011 for the number of business.

Fast Facts

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The world’s largest architecture firm Gensler opened an office in Sydney this month. Gensler employs 1468 architects and reportedly took more than US$600 million in fees income last year.

First industrial Green Star - Performance building in Australia shows off sustainable solutions Australand’s Keysborough Spec 1 development at the Key Industrial Park in Melbourne’s east has become the first industrial facility in Australia to register for a Green Star – Performance rating.

The 27,000sqm facility is targeting a 4 Star rating using the Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA) new Green Star – Performance rating tool.

The development includes naturally ventilated warehouse spaces, fixed shading to prevent glare, and laserlite sheets for high daylighting levels.

Passive design strategies were the basis of the design to minimise the need for artificial lighting and mechanical systems. Water and electricity will be metered and monitored for all major uses, while rainwater tanks will supply WCs and irrigation. Solar hot water and water efficient fixtures have also been installed

to ensure sustainable water solutions.

Timber used was sustainably sourced, while common use PVC products were reduced by 90 per cent. Low VOC paints, sealants and adhesives were also used.

Completed in 2011, the development is the largest 5 Star Green Star industrial project in Australia, achieving a 5 Star Green Star – Industrial Design v1 rating in 2012. It was also the 500th certified Green Star project in Australia.

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Leveraging our 50-year history as the world’s largest supplier of thermal imaging technology to military, government, and commercial customers, FLIR introduces a new line of test & measurement products built upon our commitment to innovation, quality, and reliability.

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To learn more about FLIR Test & Measurement products and to see a video go to www.flir.com.au/bpn or contact FLIR Systems Pty Ltd. AU: 1300 729 987 NZ: 0800 785 492 Email: info@flir.com.au

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environ

I spore with myco little eye Over the years we’ve covered some rather nonconventional building materials in Environ, like rice, hemp and straw. A year ago we mentioned the emergence of mushrooms into the construction realm.

Intrigued, Warren McLaren wanted to know more. Here’s what he unearthed.

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o get off on the right foot, it’s not really mushrooms we are interested in. More their maze-like roots, known as Mycelium. Mushrooms are merely the fruit of such roots.

Australia’s own Great Barrier Reef is often considered the world’s largest living organism, but if you’re measuring such things by area, the mycelium of the Armillaria solidipes or ‘honey mushroom’ of Oregon’s Blue Mountains covers 10sqkm.

This vast unseen mycelium is where all the action is happening, often a metre underground.

It grows in the absence of light, which is a huge environmental bonus, but the beauty of Mycelium is that it can be harnessed.

American mycologist (a fungi botanist) Paul Stamets can be considered the pioneer of modern uses for mushroom roots. This former logger, and author of Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World, has developed not only prototype medicinal applications from fungi, such as small pox, HIV and malaria treatments, but also a multitude of other innovative uses.

Importantly for the building industry, Stamets has also harnessed the power of a fungi which is entomopathogenic, that is it can kill insects. In particular carpenter ants, fire ants, and wait for it, termites. Yes, Stamets applied for a patent on a non-sporing mycelium that attracts termites. After they eat it, the tiny mushroom roots continue growing inside the insects, to the point where they die and become mummified. Ever

Ecovative’s building materials made out of mushrooms, which are currently under development.

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better, mushrooms then sprout through their bodies and emit spores that repel other nasties. As Stamets puts it, “You have a near-permanent solution for re-invasion of termites.”

Exciting as Stamets’ work may be, his is not the only game in town.

Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre were mechanical engineering students when they first came up with the idea of biodegradable packaging manufactured from mycelium, which is the basis for their business, Ecovative Design.

First launched in 2009, Ecovative’s mushroom foam packaging starts with a low cost, locally sourced feedstock, such as rice hulls or corn stalks. Once cleaned, this agricultural waste product is inoculated with mycelium. The mushroom roots spread out quickly metabolising plant lignin. Any substrate that isn’t munched simply becomes like the aggregate in concrete, with mycelium binding or gluing it all together in one unified composite.

Remember Oregon’s 10sqkm of mycelium? It is estimated that has been forming for between 2,000 and 8,000 years. Fortunately, Ecovative have been able to scale down the timeframe. Its mushroom foam completes growth in just five days, when it is bunged in a heating chamber to stop the growth process.

Ecovative reckon its mushroom materials use 80 per cent less energy to produce the expanded polystyrene (EPS), or what we commonly refer to as styrofoam. Yet it costs the same, whilst enjoying equal performance characteristics.

But packaging has been but a gateway product. As of November 2013 at the Greenbuild Expo in the USA, Ecovative announced a raft of construction materials they say will be market ready within two years.

First might be a product they once called Greensulate, but which now goes by the name of Ecovative Mushroom Material. It’s an insulation foam produced in much the same manner as its packaging. Except in this case, a building’s walls provide the mould. The mycelium allows the

insulation to be grown in-situ bonding between the inner and outer walls with sufficient strength to negate the need for studs or noggins, thus reducing the thermal bridging affect.

It’s an insulation that practically grows itself, is made from cheap agriwaste, is fire retardant, has high insulation value, yet at the end of its useful life, is completely compostable.

Hence, Ecovative’s intended roll out of a family of built environment products, including a formaldehydefree, tree-free alternative to fibreboard, dubbed Myco Board; Mushroom Insulated Sheathing: continuous insulation suitable for retrofits or new construction; as well as structural insulated panels (SIPs), and acoustic tiles.

Obviously the company sees great potential for mycelium production in the construction industry. McIntyre hints at why their work is generating so much interest. He cites research by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which found that by volume, expanded foam products and materials occupied 20 per cent of United States landfills.

It’s an insulation that practically grows itself.

Not surprisingly, the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, an endeavour of renowned architect William McDonough has awarded Ecovative Mushroom Material its prestigious Certified Gold score.

It might be hard to conceive of mushroom building materials. But who thought Australia would have one million solar rooftops, that the once banned urban rainwater tank would become almost mandatory, or that councils would approve houses made from bales of straw?

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projects& products HEALTHCARE DESIGN FITOUTS

Beyond facade skin deep: MATERIALS RETHINK PUTS PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF HOSPITAL DESIGN Geraldine Chua finds out how the products specified for the Mackay Base Hospital redevelopment by Woods Bagot helps reconnect user needs to design and aesthetics.

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reating an attractive building is a big hurdle to cross for healthcare projects, but the true test for architects is to ensure that the architecture and design of these spaces cater to the needs of its occupants.

It is on this basis that the Mackay Base Hospital Redevelopment in central Queensland is set apart.

Designed by Woods Bagot in collaboration with Billard Leece, its needs (i.e the needs of its staff and patients) have been successfully realised through a ‘design intelligence’ strategy, whereby all design decisions are underpinned by due diligence and research.

On a larger scale, the development of a new acute hospital and refurbishment of existing hospital buildings were necessary to meet the demands placed by a growing population in Mackay. As with most public buildings, the building design had to be cost effective and efficient, ultimately achieving value for money in capital and recurrent costs.

On a narrower scope, the redevelopment would also have to provide high quality and appropriate environments for all users of the facilities. Staff recruitment and retention was crucial, as was access and egress into, around and out of the hospital.

Mackay Base Hospital Redevelopment

by Woods Bagot in collaboration with Billard Leece Photography by Daryl Wright

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specialist bathroom solutions Carekit™ accessible toilet solutions The Carekit™ range provides complete accessible bathroom solutions which comply with AS1428.1-2009 and the Building Code of Australia. Eight different kits available offering:  S or P trap toilets

 Selection of basins

 Thermostatic or non-thermostatic tapware

 Selection of grab rails

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A uniquely designed floor standing toilet pan dedicated to assist bariatric users (150kg + or Body Mass Index of 40+)

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 Dimensions of this Enware pan allow a bariatric commode chair to be placed over it unobstructed

 Supplied with a dedicated toilet seat  Ergonomically designed for children between 3 and 6 years old

INFO@ENWARE.COM.AU WWW.ENWARE.COM.AU ADDRESS: 9 Endeavour Road Caringbah NSW 2229 POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 2545 Taren Point NSW 2229 PHONE: 02 8556 4000 FAX: 02 8556 4055

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projects& products HEALTHCARE DESIGN FITOUTS

roofing nail strip is fixed vertically on the façade of the central spine.

At the same time, all buildings are grounded on a masonry base of glazed PGH Bowbre Blue bricks forming a continuous plinth 500mm high. This solid base upon which all the buildings are founded allows the structures to have a direct relationship to the ground line.

According to Vikstrom, these products were chosen for their longevity and durability – crucial factors for a hospital that has consistent, long-term value.

Moreover, the site’s sub-tropical location meant the products had to be able to withstand all elements, including cyclones, floods and 40 degree days.

Both the big picture aims and more specific goals have been met. With a $400 million price tag, the three stage program managed to carry out less refurbished works than was planned, deliver a 20 per cent reduction in the original construction program, and create greater alignment with the intended model of care and services.

“The project provided an opportunity to deliver a redevelopment which has a positive impact on Mackay as a whole” says Andrew Vikstrom, an associate at Woods Bagot.

“Most importantly the hospital should foster the best possible healing environment for patients.”

A considered approach was taken by the team, so that aesthetics and purpose did not run disparately, but were closely aligned.

Central to this is cohesion. The hospital has 10 buildings housing 40 distinct departments, all connected by a central communication spine. The wide deviation of services on offer could lead to a disjointed campus, with each department operating on its own, but the site has been united by good planning.

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Internally, the design was developed to transform the traditional hierarchybased workplace to a fully flexible, knowledge sharing environment with mobile elements and less inter-departmental barriers. Again, congruity is key. There is not a single office in sight,

Bluescope Lysaght Azure Critical clinical departments have been stacked on top of each other, with departments with the highest volume of public contact located on the ground floor.

Vibrant facades also play a role in melding harmony between the buildings.

“The overall approach was to design the façades of the total group of buildings as a family of buildings which relate strongly to each other in regard to the selection of external materials, finishes and type of façade systems employed,” says Vikstrom.

“By varying colours and materials you also assist in way-finding and a sense of ownership for departments.”

Bluescope Lysaght Azure with a pre-painted finish was used on the primary façade, and Fielders’ steel

The primary façade of Mackay Base Hospital features Lysaght Azure, a façade design that offers an elegant two-dimensional simplicity while adding to the buildings’ personality.

Designed for easy and precise installation, Azure’s interlocking panels are screwed to the lightweight supporting structure that is the basis of all BlueScope Lysaght facades. The profile can be specified in a variety of depth, height, length and joint width dimensions, and the façade components can be installed in slanted, curved and corner configurations.

BlueScope Lysaght’s environmentally friendly facades are manufactured in Australia from steel and other recyclable materials.

and a single shared administration and management hub (the first of its kind) encourages collegiality.

A dedicated staff base with gym, relaxation and recreational spaces, and overnight accommodation for medical overnight stays have also been created to enhance staff experience of the building.

Within the hospital, the interiors support patient care by placing the patient at the centre of the design philosophy rather than at the periphery. Communal external balconies on inpatient units, sensitively designed bedroom interiors, low window sills and the softening of harsh sunlight glare at the building perimeter are some of the simple moves made to improve the patient journey.

Compact laminate for wall protection, door entry portals and joinery provide a long-lasting finish without compromising on aesthetics. Spotted gum timber veneer and laminate for feature walls, key hospital joinery and bed heads provided a warmth which assisted in breaking up the sterile, otherwise emotionless nature of some clinical areas.

The more common vinyl flooring was also used, favoured for its ability to adhere to infection control and durability requirements. However, Bronwyn McColl, leader of Interior Design at Woods Bagot’s Brisbane studio, notes that the team pushed the boundaries by utilising colour to provide visual cues to staff, patients and visitors in identifying departments, public areas and private zones.

Crypton backed custom fabric from Instyle Fabrics was specified for all inbuilt joinery seating and patient room seating, adding to the hospital’s design identity without compromising on infection requirements and health care environment performance expectations.

“Our design aim was to rethink the use of materials in health projects to establish a less austere, clinical environment, and a more residential and personable feel,” notes McColl.

Well-defined and responsive, the Mackay Base Hospital Redevelopment supports both employees and patients with its intelligent design, proving that design, like beauty, should always be more than skin deep.

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projects& products HEATING & INSULATION

The cost of sustainability: HOPKINS STREET AFFORDABLE HOUSING

BY XSQUARED ARCHITECTS Geraldine Chua explores how heating and insulation can play a part in lowering both construction and running costs, while achieving maximum energy efficiency for buildings.

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he Hopkins Street Affordable Housing Development, situated in the heart of Moonah, Tasmania, pushes the boundaries of sustainable living while remaining cost-effective in the long run.

Designed by Xsquared Architects, the project had an initial brief to create a purely functional development for 30 independent units. In alignment with the Government’s Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan, there was also a requirement for a 6 star NatHERS rating for all units, and the use of energy efficient lighting and hot water systems.

It was within this brief that the architects recognised the opportunity of creating a development that would set an example for public housing on the performance levels that could be achieved. As a result, they established an ambitious target that went above and beyond expectations.

What has been achieved by Hopkins Street since is a 5 Star Green Star Multi-residential design rating,

Photography by Ray Joyce

the first and to date, only such rating for the state.

However, this outstanding result is not without its challenges. Wanting to boost a building’s energy efficiency is admirable, but often comes at a price, although sometimes that price is higher than what can be managed.

“The biggest challenge for us in the Hopkins Street Affordable Housing project is inherent in its title – ‘affordable housing’. We were given a brief and a budget for a ‘business-as-usual’ development from a heating and insulation perspective,” says Peter Scott, director of Xquared Architects.

“But [we] developed an enlightened and performance-leading exemplar of public housing within this budget, which has enabled our client to pass on this benefit to the managing organisation and tenants.”

The affordability of Hopkins Street

Pink SonoBatts Acoustic Insulation Made from high density and resilient glasswool, the Pink SonoBatts Premium Acoustic Insulation is an ideal alternative to rockwood for timber framed wall cavities, ceiling overlays and between floors for use as sound absorbing materials. It is designed to provide excellent thermal performance, and give the assurance of effective sound absorption and reduced noise transfer between rooms.

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therefore runs parallel to the design inspirations of the project, one of which is the maximisation of energy efficiency via efficient heating, hot water systems and effective insulation so that running costs are as low as possible for occupants with a limited disposable income.

According to Scott, many tenants now pay half or a quarter of the amount of their electricity bills as compared to previous homes.

Every unit achieves an energy rating of at least 7.3 stars, with three of the apartments achieving 8.1 stars. This standard is made possible by an effective insulation strategy, whereby the suspended floors have a R2.65 100mm RMAX Isolite SL grade expanded polystyrene, and the windows and doors are the AWS Vantage 517, 541 and 548 series, fitted with clear, double glazed IGUs. These products were selected because they are produced locally, which reduces the greenhouse gas emissions of transport. Furthermore the Vantage glazing suites enabled the team to achieve large expanses of glazing without incurring any significant heat loss penalty, while defining the openness and ‘feel’ of the development.

As a result, many of the units have floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall glazed northern facades.

The ceilings (including those between units) are insulated with R4.0 Pink Batts ceiling insulation, and the walls are insulated with R2.7 Pink Batts Sonobatts Silencer acoustic bulk insulation, “It is unusual to incorporate this style of insulation for its thermal properties, but we wanted to maximise the performance of the external envelope of the building, and this relatively high density product can be accommodated within a traditional 90mm cavity, so we

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in profile

Photography by Jonathan Wherrett

designed the external facades to suit its use,” notes Scott.

Each unit is also fitted with a single reverse cycle heat pump.

Depending on the size of the flat, Mitsubishi SRK35ZIX-S, SRK50ZIX-S and SRK60ZIX-s packaged units were specified.

Although these heat pumps are usually utilised for commercial applications, Scott says they were selected on the basis of being amongst the most energy efficient units available according to the Federal Government’s Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) energy rating database.

The heat pump units also only use non-ozone depleting refrigerant, and are deemed to be highly reliable, so that tenants were unlikely to be left with no heating due to an appliance failure.

The heating and insulation products chosen for Hopkins Street Affordable Housing therefore meet the architects’ ambitious energy efficiency targets and are beneficial for its occupants, without skyrocketing the costs of construction and all future running costs.

AUSTRALIA

Peter Scott is one of the directors at Xsquared Architects, and Chair of the Australian Institute of Architects’ National Sustainability Committee.

Why architecture?

My father was chief designer in an industrial catering equipment firm and I was familiar with drawing from a very young age. I used to draw cars and buildings on the spare drawing sheets that he would bring home and sometimes we would drive out into the countryside and draw farmhouses and barns together. Architecture seemed a natural progression of this interest.

What tools and software did you use for Hopkins Street?

The initial design concept for the Hopkins Street Affordable Housing project was prepared with a 4B pencil that I bought in a Tokyo stationery store on some skinny in economy class in the middle of the night. Project architect Alex Newman then developed this idea using Sketchup, which has been a useful tool to illustrate ideas in 3D to the project team and the client group. Once the concepts were firmed up we transferred documentation to Bentley Microstation v8.

If you could change one thing about the architecture & design industry in Australia, what would it be?

I have got to know lots of great people within our industry. My biggest regret is not working with them more often. Sometimes we end up on competing teams, other times we just end up focussing on work in different areas or different states. Avenues that allow great people to work together more often should be encouraged. We face some very significant challenges as an industry, such as the environmental impact of the projects that we contribute to, and the establishment of avenues to address these together, with societal support, would be a great thing.

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Peter’s top 5 favourite products

1. RONEL JORDAAN’S FELT PEBBLE CUSHIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH EMILY ZIZ STYLE STUDIO The hand-made, hand-dyed felt pebble cushions have such a lovely feel and density. They are produced in an environmentally friendly way and by local communities in a non-exploitative way. They come in a wide range of colours but I find the rock-like ones work the best for me, usually in a group of two or three or more, and in a range of sizes to give an informal feel.

Image courtesy of Emily Ziz Style Studio

2. BRIDGE FITTING BY DARK OUT OF BELGIUM The Bridge fitting is designed by Georges Seris, and comes in a variety of sizes) and finishes, I have used the two lamp fitting with dark Perspex ‘mokka’ panels most frequently, and hung the fittings on long flexes so that they sit low over coffee tables, side tables and bars. The coffee colour of the Perspex really compliments moody Photography by Jonathan Wherrett atmospheric interiors.

3. DUPONT’S CORIAN Originally used for kitchen benches and the like, we have used DuPont’s Corian as a sculptural object – using software to model it as a 3D object and then providing cutting patterns to fabricators to model it out of solid or hollow assemblies.

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HEATING & INSULATION

4. AWS THERMALHEART RANGE OF DOOR AND WINDOW FRAMES They are available locally but backed up by a national organisation, provide good insulative performance and take double glazed IGUs, whilst being dimensional stable and maintenance free.

The full range of door and window typologies available within the suite gives us the opportunity to ‘chunk up’ the Image courtesy of Xsquared Architects appearance of the frames if we want to. From a design perspective, they can be constructed with a different colour inside and out, which makes for a lot of fun.

5. LIVOS ARDVOS UNIVERSAL WOOD OIL #266 We like to use timber in our projects, but part of the trick to showing them off to full advantage is the use of appropriate finishing products. Where we have used timbers such as Blackbutt, Tasmanian Oak or myrtle, we particularly like using Livos Ardvos Universal Wood Oil #266. Properly applied, it really brings out the natural colours and features of the timber.

Livos also makes very comprehensive efforts to limit potential allergic or other reactions to its products. This oil contains food grade ingredients and the most harmless organic solvents and off-gasses its natural VOCs within a very short time frame, with no further off-gassing once the product is dry.

Read more online: Photography by Ray Joyce

www.architectureanddesign.com.au

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projects& products KITCHEN COMPONENTS & DESIGN

Food for thought: FOCUS ON WORKFLOW, SPACE AND MOTION CREATES HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL KITCHEN A highly functional kitchen was created for this residence in Myponga, South Australia, which uses Dynamic Space principles.

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o have a kitchen that was not only functional, but also looked good was the brief for this residence in Myponga, SA. As the owners did not want to build again, they knew what they wanted.

Goolwa Kitchens and Wardrobes (GKW) helped design a kitchen that would satisfy their wish list consisting of more space, more drawers and less cupboards, better flow, and high quality fittings that would last the next 15-20 years.

GKW director Mike Schirmer says the kitchen was designed by adhering to ‘dynamic space’ principles developed by Blum.

This meant the workflows and storage spaces in the kitchen were optimised, with motion assistance supporting enhanced comfort.

“Dynamic space and design is pretty important when we design a kitchen and the problem, when they haven’t been done correctly, is that you’re running from one end of the kitchen to the other, looking for different bits and pieces,” Schirmer says.

With this in mind, the solution for this large room turned to an island kitchen with the cabinets, oven and range-hood on the back wall and a large island to break up the space.

Through the design process, this back wall was turned into a feature wall with the use of the bright splashback.

“With a galley-style you’ve just got cabinets on the back wall and an island with the bench, so you haven’t got any dead corners, which makes it very easy to design a functional working kitchen,” Schirmer says.

An island kitchen with cabinets on the back wall and an island bench with cabinets ensured no wasted corners,

The kitchen in the Myponga, South Australia residence. Photography by Blum.

enabling the design of a functional working kitchen with the ability to include drawers instead of doors for all base cabinets providing access to all of the cabinet contents.

In addition to the ability of having drawers, the clean lines of the design continue to the overheads with the

Aventos lift system, allowing the inclusion of a Robinhood canopy rangehood; with the feature wall created with the use of a firecracker red glass splashback, made from opti-white glass.

Schirmer explains that this type of glass is very clear, truly representing the paint colour on the wall; which in this case was firecracker red.

A large island topped with a Caesarstone bench in Night Sky, complete with an Oliveri kitchen sink created the workspace, as Schirmer says, “When you’re working, you’ve got plenty of room to spread out and do you serving.”

Hidden to the side of the kitchen is a separate pantry, along with the fridge; helping to maintain the beauty and style of the kitchen design, whilst keeping all

consumable items out of the way.

The Blum Tandembox antaro drawer system enables drawers to pull out completely, so the back of the drawer comes to the front of the cabinet, enabling you to see exactly what is in the drawer, Schirmer says.

The kitchen features Silk White metal drawer sides with higher drawer fronts made by Nova Doors, part of GKW, in Arctic White.

Additionally, all drawers were combined with Servo-Drive – electrical motor support – which opens drawers with a simple touch, eliminating the need for handles.

Aventos HF lift systems were used for the cabinets on the back wall, instead of cupboard doors; which allows full access to the entire cabinet when open. Servo-Drive also powers the overhead cabinets.

A final finishing touch to the kitchen was the inclusion of hidden inner drawers making full use of the space within cabinets. Orga-Line fittings within the drawers, kept utensils and other contents in place.

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projects& products

ICON VS IMPORT

in profile

Mike’s top 5 products to use:

Mike Schirmer is the director and designer at Goolwa Kitchens and ter and Wardrobes (GKW). Schirmer started in the kitchen industry in 1977 as a carpenter joiner. He later moved into kitchen design and manufacturing, beginning his own business in 1985. While Schirmer designs, his business partner Ben takes care of the manufacturing, scheduling and running of the factory. GKW have won numerous awards for design and manufacturing.

Why kitchen design?

The reason I got into the industry is because I always loved wood work at school and worked for local builders in my school holidays as a carpenter’s assistant.

Another project that we are currently working on has a six metre long concrete finished island bench with water fall ends which will look sensational when complete.

What is your personal design/style approach?

My personal design style varies as I do not like to be a designer that gets stuck in the same old routine. I travel around and see different ideas and concepts and I like to incorporate them into my designs.

A couple of years ago I travelled to Sri Lanka and noticed that they used concrete for kitchen benchtops with very few cabinets, mainly due to cost. So I have tried to incorporate that concept into my designs now. You see this in a lot of kitchen magazines.

When I was in Milan at a trade show I was inspired by the use of shadow lines under bench-tops and mitered panels on corners instead of butt joins. Even mitered end panels where they return onto drawer fronts – I use them in my design as a point of difference.

What is the favourite part of your day?

The favourite part of my job is when my clients see their kitchen or cabinets turn from drawings into reality. The look on their faces is priceless.

What interesting upcoming work do you have?

Most of our work is interesting as most of our work is custom design. However, we have just finished doing an Art Wine Tasting Centre at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills with the owners architecturally designed house on the same site. It came up a treat and the clients are very happy, which is my favourite part of the process.

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1. Larder pantry unit – a tall, two-door cabinet up to 1000mm wide with five Blum intivo inner drawers. It is the perfect pantry unit for today’s kitchens, Schirmer says.

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2. Blum Tandembox intivo or antaro drawers with Blum Servo-Drive, if the budget will allow.

3. Stone or acrylic bench tops. Such as the Caesarstone bench top used in the Myponga, SA house.

4. LED lighting under overhead cabinets and mood lighting.

Image courtesy of Blum

Caesarstone Supernatural 5000 in London Grey.

Image courtesy of Caesarstone

5. Pull-out rubbish bin drawers on Blum soft close drawer runners.

For the full profile, visit architectureanddesign.com.au

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Image courtesy of Blum

S

the SKY is the LIMIT

" "

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STEEL ROOFING

Three steel roofing products THAT HAVE ALL YOUR BUILDINGS COVERED Lisa Rapley looks at three of the latest offerings in the steel roofing market which exhibit the current state of play, including the latest technology and product developments.

Feilders Aramax FreeSpan was ideal for the roof of the new cruise terminal facility at White Bay, Sydney, designed

by Johnson Pilton Walker.

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s part of the building envelope, the roof protects a building from the natural elements.

Some roofing products even go all out by providing a complete solution for roof, insulation and ceiling.

Steel roofing plays a part in this all-in-one solution, while, at the same time, allows flexibility for interesting shaped roofs.

Fielders One of the key product offerings from Fielders is the Aramax FreeForm profile, which was formed and created

by Wade Blazely around 22 years ago.

With an innovative V shape and a unique profile, Aramax is a cold formed steel structural product. It is manufactured in standard 800mm cover width, but varying cover widths can create ‘fan-shaped’ and other odd geometrical roof shapes, such as the White Bay passenger terminal. It is waterproof and can accommodate cantilever overhangs of up to six metres, depending on internal span geometry.

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So why should designers chose Aamax for their projects? A very unique aesthetic look of the profile can provide a modern, cutting edge to any building.

Fielders general manager of sales, marketing and engineering Matt Lloyde says, “More and more designers have been opting for this profile not only because of its excellent spanning capabilities and aesthetic, but its ability to save costs, which is vital in an unpredictable market.”

Additionally, with being produced on a mobile roll-former, Aramax can be rolled onsite anywhere, reducing construction time and improving project efficiencies.

Aramax caters to large spans of

up to 20 metres without the need for purlins or girts, eliminating cost and complexity of building other structural elements by 30 per cent.

So where next for Aramax? Lloyde says future developments include the integration of a thin film of photovoltaic technology to capture solar energy, mainly on underutilised areas of the roof so as not to impact on design.

Working with Johnson Pilton Walker, Fielders provided Aramax to Sydney’s new $57 million cruise terminal facility at White Bay.

Aramax FreeSpan 1.2mm perforated ceiling, and a 1.2mm aluminium roofscape in Mill finish made up the 7152sqm of roofing used on the new facility.

It was selected as it allowed the complex curved wave shape of the roof design, along with its long spanning capabilities, and resistance to corrosion due to the close vicinity of the ocean.

The terminal was recently awarded the ‘Transport Winner’ at the 2013 World Architecture Festival.

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STEEL ROOFING

Bondor Bondor offers SolarSpan - a threelayered system with insulation wrapped in Colorbond steel.

SolarSpan is an insulated composite roofing product which offers long-spans, low pitch and high thermal efficiency.

As an all-in-one insulated roofing solution, it offers a ceiling, insulation and roof sheet in one product.

If features a Colorbond steel exterior, an expanded polystyrene core with fire-retardant, and a pre-painted Colorbond steel underside.

It is faster to install than conventional roofing, while the need for traditional trusses, mesh, sarking, insulation and plasterboard are all eliminated.

Bondor general manager Geoff Marsdon says, “This saves a significant amount of building material, it also means the whole system is installed in half the time of a traditional roof.”

Key advantages include blocking heat, reduction in build time and cost, and is low maintenance while providing comfort all year round.

SolarSpan is specified because of its greater spanning capabilities over traditional roofing, which allows designers to create large, dramatic open spaces with plenty of airflow and light, Marsdon says.

Additionally, the insulating core is bonded to the steel facings, so it does not crumble, sag or deteriorate over time, giving consistent insulating quality over the building’s lifetime.

As one of Bondor’s key products, SolarSpan has been incorporated into the InsulLiving home, which has proven energy-efficiency ratings.

Bondor’s SolarSpan product is part of the InsulLiving display home in Wilton, NSW.

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InsulLiving was Bondor’s step towards a zero energy housing and combines the InsulWall and SolarSpan products to create a complete thermal envelope, which currently exceeds the thermal efficiency requirements set out by the Building Code of Australia.

Several InsulLiving homes are now in Australia, with the latest being the display home in Wilton, NSW. Built by Hampshire homes, and using Bondor’s SolarSpan as the roofing, the display home is an eight-star energy-rated home.

Marsdon says the InsulLiving system has proven successful across Australia and has significant potential for the New South Wales residential building sector, for architects and builders, through to homeowners.

The original prototype house built in Burpengary, Queensland earned an ‘as designed’ energy rating of eight stars, which then achieved a ‘real life’ energy rating of 9.5 stars after a year of independent study by Queensland University of Technology.

The curved steel roofs of Trades North in Western Australia designed by JCY Architects are made from Colorbond. Photography by Daniel Eaton, Damien Hatton

Bluescope Colorbond - what would steel roofing in Australia be without it? Many other steel roofing products use Colorbond as the basis, as already mentioned with Bondor’s SolarSpan.

Bluescope have just recently updated Colorbond with several major changes including adding six new colours to the range.

The biggest change is probably the new Activate technology - a metal coating found underneath the painted surface - which has made the roofing more corrosion-resistant.

Additionally, new paint technology has increased the colour durability and gloss retention of all colours when compared to previous-generation Colorbond steel.

The new generation of Colorbond is better suited than ever to Australian conditions. BlueScope marketing manager - building markets Ashley Whitter says, “Colorbond steel is developed for, and therefore more resilient to, the intense sunlight and temperatures typical of Australian environments.”

Additionally, Bluescope’s efforts to reduce Colorbond’s environmental footprint have been rewarded with positive results.

An independent comparative environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) has shown the latest version of Colorbond outperforms its predecessor consistently in 18 categories, which measure impacts on air, water, land and human health.

According to the LCA, this reduced impact is the result of the new metal coating formulation.

As the new Colorbond is so new, there are currently no projects utilising the new generation.

However, a recent project using the previous generation of Colorbond, which still has similar properties of the new generation, is Trades North, West Coast Institute of Training.

The design of the building was to respond to the harsh climate of Western Australia, particularly as the long elevation directly faces the western sun.

Designed by JCY Architects and Urban Designers, Trades North features split, curved roofs, which was only possibly using steel.

Colorbond was used on the roofing, walling, flashings and trim. It provided flexibility in creating the curves and allowed them to be made in a single piece. This meant less maintenance and leakage of the roof system.

Ultimately, Colorbond was the most cost-effective solution for what JCY wanted to achieve at Trades North, as well as offering the flexibility they were looking for.

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SOFTWARE FOR SPECIFIERS

CLICK, SAVE, SPECIFY THE BENEFITS OF SKETCHUP AND 3D MODELS Geraldine Chua finds out if SketchUp is simply a 3D modelling software for amateurs or a platform that architects and designers can take advantage of from design to delivery.

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ave a quick browse through the computers at any architecture practice today (without getting thrown out) and you’ll surely come across the programs Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD or ArchiCAD. Synonymous with computeraided design (CAD) and Building Information Modelling (BIM), these systems are the virtual cornerstone of buildings; a shared knowledge resource about a facility.

So where does SketchUp, a 3D modelling software that claims to be the “antidote to complicated, expensive CAD software”, fit in?

SketchUp was originally developed by startup @Last Software as a generalpurpose 3D content creation tool, envisioned as a program that would allow users to emulate the feel and freedom of working with pen and paper.

The idea was that if architects, designers, builders and engineers were not unnecessarily bogged down by figuring out how to work the interface, they could focus on what they could create with it.

Attracted to its Google Maps plugin, Google bought SketchUp in 2006 and helped the program grow in size and scope, so that by 2012 – the time of its acquisition by surveying and navigation equipment company Trimble – it had approximately two million active users every week.

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CAD plans and photos, and even develop communication and planning deliverables.

But, despite the improvements, the core of the program is unchanged: simplicity and accessibility of SketchUp sets it apart from other BIM software.

“The beauty is how quick and easy it is to use,” notes design principal at Tropman & Tropman Architects Tasman Storey, who says the platform is a great initial design tool that can generate a whole series of interiors and exteriors, elevations and fly-throughs.

“You have some ideas and you can put them down on SketchUp in conjunction with some AutoCAD drawings. You can add to it quite quickly,

Question: Do you use SketchUp and related 3D models?

“I sure do. For example, this morning I plugged in an Enzie stair into a tricky, tight space in a SketchUp model and was immediately able to resolve how the space could work. It makes life much easier.” - Andrew Maynard of Andrew Maynard Architects

and if you’ve got the skill to apply a render, within hours you can have the design solved,” he says.

Intuitive and easy to use, SketchUp does not require the skills and learning time needed of most other programs.

Virtual Libraries Balancing SketchUp’s design tool is the SketchUp 3D warehouse, an online repository where users can create, find and share collections of 3D models.

Promoting collaboration between users, the website not only includes geo-located 3D buildings and 3D people to inhabit these buildings, but also encompasses collections of ‘real’ products – from Fisher & Paykel fridges to Alucobond wall panel systems.

However, the SketchUp 3D warehouse is not the only online library available, particularly when it comes to building products.

Probably the biggest multi-format BIM ‘supermarket’ in Australia is RubySketch, which does not host generic representations, but works directly with Australian product manufacturers to draw and add products to rubysketch.com.

“We will do research on a company and make an informed decision on how the product is related to the architect,

in what context the model will be used, and how it will be searched,” says Andrew Dwight, CEO of RubySketch.

“We then collaborate with the product manufacturer to find out definable characteristics of the product, for instance, sustainability, visual properties, costs and weight of the product and other pieces of crucial information.”

Each downloadable model on the website contains specific information about the product. The main benefit of RubySketch is similar to the advantages of SketchUp’s 3D library or a real-life centralised warehouse: easy access to a whole host of products.

With RubySketch, there is no need to scan the web for 3D content as it is all in one spot. On the website specifiers can search through the models by typing the name of the product or item

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code, choose a preferred model and download it.

Full rooms complete with tiles, floors, PC items and fixtures can also be downloaded.

“Having this type of information freely available to the design and construction community in one location, with all products having built in contact information, basically saves the architect time researching, the builder time sourcing, the estimator time quantifying, and the client trying to figure out what it is they are getting into before they actually get on to construction phase, where cost comes into play,” explains Dwight.

Within the design process, this translates to having 3D models of potential products; architects and builders can quickly visualise how a product will fit and perform in a project.

This ability to preview can minimise potential design re-work. It also helps the project team gain a deeper understanding of how the design and products will work together.

3D libraries like RubySketch are therefore essential in bridging the gap between architects and manufacturers during the design phase.

“From our point of view as a manufacturer, we realise that the architecture industry is using these tools, and we want to make sure we have the resources available for them,” says Richard Michael of Steel Select, which has been integrated into Bluescope Steel’s steel.com.au.

“We make components and we make products for a range of software, but we leave the choice up to the architect and designer on how they want to create their models and building designs.”

Bluescope is one manufacturer that jumped on the SketchUp 3D products bandwagon early on, providing free downloads of its roofing products, including both renders (flat colour swatches) and textures (roofing and walling profiles), from its website.

While there is certainty in the fact that these online libraries allow architects and designers to ‘test’ and compare their design ideas before moving on to construction, the burning question for manufacturers is whether these products actually get specified in real life.

Here’s a list of 3D products that you can easily source online & use in sketchup 1

110,000

The number of texture downloads Bluescope Steel has had since it started providing files for the industry in 2005

Sketched In Real Life?

For Michael, the answer is a simple yes.

“No matter what marketplace you’re in, if you can get a product used, then you’re more likely to create a specification for that product. These resources make it easier for people to actually use the product.”

A practice that attests to Michael’s claim is Matthews Architects, which uses 3D models and textures or swatches as a quick and easy way to

AUSTRAL BRICKS Everyday Life Bricks Engage With a range of six fashionable colours and unique textured finish, Everyday Life bricks will complement any modern design.

2

AWS Window Series 466 Awning Window This 102mm thick commercial grade awning window has been designed with bold frame lines and thick sashes that can carry heavy glass, including 24mm thick double glazing.

3

BILLI Square Slimline Filter Using almost no space under the sink, the Filter Tap removes undesirable taste, odours and sediments to dispense a continuous stream of sparkling clean water.

4

BOSCH 5000W 18kW System Boiler With energy efficiency rates of up to 91 per cent, this system has a central heating output and is wall-mounted and compact, allowing users to save space.

SketchUp model of the K3 House by Bruce Stafford Architects

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BRITEX Regency Urinal Manufactured from durable 1.2mm grade 304 stainless steel, Sanistep urinals are hand fabricated and fully welded with sturdy reinforcement to the rear.

It is the most frequently specified stainless steel urinal in Australia.

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The K3 House by Bruce Stafford Architects. Photography by Karl Beath

ECOSMART Fire Zeta The Zeta is a clever fusion of leather, stainless steel and glass. The body of the fireplace is shaped from a high frequency heated aluminium molded into a perfect arching crescent shape.

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SOFTWARE FOR SPECIFIERS

7

EVERHARD INDUSTRIES Excellence Prague With a 45 litre 304 stainless steel square bowl, this 560 x 518 x 870mm laundry unit features a galvanised powder coated steel cabinet and stainless steel micro mesh door.

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explain to the client or design team about the actual impact a particular texture will have.

“Sometimes clients are very specific about the actual effect of some products and for that sort of situation, this is a very good tool,” says Chaminda De Silva, a draftsman at the firm.

Sydney-based Bruce Stafford Architects is another firm that employs 3D models from SketchUp libraries. According to project architect Amandine Cesbron-Logerais, this often translates into specifications of actual products for the built project.

The team will first design the house and discuss potential materials for use. This includes deciding on colours and textures they want to achieve. Next, they will look through past projects and explore SketchUp libraries to find materials or images that look the best.

These images, textures or finishes are then applied to the SketchUp model, and the process is repeated until they are completely satisfied.

“We usually download the 3D products or textures to help our clients get a better idea of the final design. It also helps if we need to provide more information about the finishes to clients and builders,” comments Cesbron-Logerais.

“Our clients are always impressed and happy to see their house in 3D. We also use SketchUp to resolve detail at a later stage.”

An example of a project where the practice has utilised 3D products or textures, and then gone on to specify the product is the K3 House.

Located in Vaucluse, Sydney, K3 House features Red Cedar timber cladding and decking in the internal courtyard – an idea first visualised on SketchUp. It is in this 3D world where the design team downloaded the image into the model, applied it to the walls and floors,

and scaled it to the intended panel size.

However, although having 3D files readily available does increase the chances of product specification, Cesbron-Logerais is quick to point out that Bruce Stafford Architects – as well as many other practices – still insist on seeing the samples before choosing materials or products.

“We will never specify a product for the ‘final house’ without seeing it or showing it to the client.”

Clicked, saved, specified …but a take up or a break up?

SketchUp in its easy-to-use, intuitive glory might not be as well-received as some of the other more sophisticated programs, but it is safe to say that this stigma will fade as a growing number of architects and designers realise the potential.

Currently, it is in between the successful bid of a project and its documentation or drafting stage that architects and designers will find SketchUp most useful, utilising it as a quick visualisation tool for early concept work.

But, as technology improves and the world continues to relocate online, the industry will also become more virtual in its work processes. SketchUp (specifically Pro) might be adopted in a wider variety of ways and in more detail.

New software PlusSpec, an Australian owned add-on, could be a big plus for SketchUp. It will deliver tools to support design, estimating, scheduling, and product selection. Built to simplify BIM and flow seamlessly with SketchUp, it could become a viable BIM solution.

However, only time will tell as to whether SketchUp will develop into something more than the simple, intuitive and illustrative tool it was originally created to be.

10

11

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HUNTER PACIFIC EM-E Ceiling Fan The EM-E is a 38 inches (956mm) four bladed ceiling fan, designed for smaller rooms and tighter spaces. It has its own accessory light kit, which has been designed to complement the lines of the fan.

KLEENMAID Gas Cooktop 90cm Electronic Touch Panel With a 5 level electronic gas regulation, this stainless steel cooktop has a low temperature function, and a programmable long-cooking function.

ROGERSELLER Amelie Freestanding Lucite Acrylic Bath Inspired by a traditional chaise lounge the Meridienne, the 63kg bath is designed to be elegant and sophisticated.

SKYDOME Ventilation STV 102 The SkyTube Ventilation range combines natural light, mechanical ventilation and electric lighting. A number of Skytubes may be connected to the highly effective Superflow 250 roof mounted fan, providing light and ventilation to a combination of rooms.

VERSICLAD Corrolink The Versiclad’s Corrolink Structural Insulated Roof Panels have a corrugated top skin available in all Colorbond colours, and an easy to handle 765mm wide cover panel.

Images courtesy of RubySketch 24 I N F O LI NK - B P N

MA R/A P R 2 0 1 4

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The only GreenTag certified, designer linear grates and drainage systems.

Only by Stormtech.

Design Mark Winner

Australian International

DESIGN AWARDS

Grate Design + Sustainability Create the ultimate environment with Stormtech grates and drainage systems.

Good design shouldn’t be a choice between aesthetics and the environment.

Stormtech is the only drainage supplier and manufacturer that has obtained a GreenTag Certification.

Manufactured in Australia from marine grade stainless steel, Stormtech systems bring the perfect balance of style, durability and sustainability to both indoor and outdoor environments.

View our complete range of Sustainable Drainage Systems and product applications on our website, or call for more information.

Website stormtech.com.au Telephone 1300 653 403

ECO-ARCHITECTURAL GRATES + DRAINS

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Showcases

Index Product

Company

Enq No.

Pg.

Bathrooms and Laundries Slimline Drainage System .....Stormtech ......................... 404AX ..... 29 Caroma Liano Collection .......Caroma (GWA) .................. 410AX ..... 28

Get the information you need Australia’s leading source of new and exciting building and architectural products.

3 ways to use Infolink: 1.

Online:

Visit architectureanddesign.com.au/products and download information and/or enquire directly to the advertiser.

Commercial & Retail Fitouts Aluminium Matting ...............Sterling Supplies ............... 409AX ..... 27 Construction Boards INEX>FLOOR .......................UBIQ ................................ 412AX ..... 29 Doors and Door Fittings Trend thermAL ...........................Trend Windows & Doors........403AX........27 Ezyjamb ...............................Studco Building Systems .... 406AX ..... 26 Floors & Flooring Aluminium Matting ...............Sterling Supplies ............... 409AX ..... 27 Insulation Blockout shutters .................Blockout Industries ........... 405AX ..... 28

2.

Enquiry card: Fill out the supplied enquiry card and fax or mail it back to us and we’ll send you the information.

Kitchens and Kitchen Hardware Convoy Kitchen Cabinets ......Hafele............................... 408AX ..... 30 Steaming Hot Water Taps .....InSinkErator ...................... 411AX ..... 27 Landscaping and Outdoor Slimline Drainage System .....Stormtech ......................... 404AX ..... 29

3.

e-Newsletter:

Walls and Ceilings

Subscribe to the Architecture & Design newsletter and get new products and news sent directly to your email.

HEDAJamb...........................Studco Building Systems .. 407AX ..... 30 Window and Window Fittings Trend thermAL .....................Trend Windows & Doors.... 403AX ..... 27

406AX

EZYJAMB Flush Finish Door Jamb - Even Easier to Install Ezy-Jamb’s flush finish look is simple to achieve now with the all new Ezy Jamb installation video online.

This easy to follow video will guide you through step by step on how to create an architrave-free doorway.

The strong and durable metal rollformed Ezy-Jamb section has pre-punched perforated sides and is supplied in two sections that fit neatly together, making it a fully adjustable door jamb that suits virtually any wall thickness. Once fixed to the lining board, the perforated sides are flush jointed and painted to create the flush finish look that seamlessly blends doorways and openings into internal plaster walls. The Ezy-Jamb system is provided with quality stainless steel hinges and latch plate, offering a complete door jamb package.

Ezy-Jamb is the answer to creating contemporary doorways in modern living and working spaces.

26 l MAR/APR 2014 l INFOLINK

Enquire online at www.architectureanddesign.com.au/products

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397AX

Steaming Hot Water Taps The InSinkErator Steaming Hot Water Taps are elegant and stylish. They enhance the look of a modern kitchen, while providing the convenience of near-boiling water with the push of a lever. The HC3300 and the HC1100 also provide ambient cool water. These taps eliminate the slow to boil kettle, and reduce the clutter of power leads on the bench top.

All of the InSinkErator taps are easy to install with a 2.5 litre tank which fits effortlessly under the kitchen sink. Each tap is also supplied with a 5 micron filter. This filter reduces dirt, odour, chlorine, lead and particulates. The HC3300 has a distinctive single handle with a hot push-lever locking mechanism.

The InSinkErator range of Steaming Hot Water Taps also comes in ‘hot only’ and there are two elegant tap styles available. All taps are available in two colours, chrome and brushed steel.

403AX

Trend Windows & Doors – Trend thermAL Energy Efficiency Range Trend thermAL hybrid window and door systems has increased the energy benefits and comfort elements ideal for buildings that require thermal energy efficiency and higher WERS ratings.

The system combines the strength and security of aluminium with Extruded Rigid Polymer internally, which incorporates a number of innovative properties. Along with 24mm double glazed unit helps achieve these higher ratings and can significantly reduce energy costs.

Trend thermAL is available with over 60 glazing options to suit any situation or climate zone in Australia.

Trend thermAL is available in awning, casement, fixed windows, sliding, sliding stacker, bifold and hinged doors.

Enquire online at www.architectureanddesign.com.au/products

401AX

Aluminium Matting, no recess required Aluminium matting that sets the benchmark but is cost effective.

Six standard colors and five styles, plus the full Ontera range of colours for inserts.

All components anodised to retain appearance.

All mats cut to exact recess size eliminating unsightly infill pieces.

Any shape and size available, limited only by the client’s imagination.

INFOLINK l MAR/APR 2014 l 27

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405AX

Application Specific, High Quality Shutters

Blockout Shutters believe in quality. Our shutters are manufactured using high quality components that are specifically chosen for the project application, building type and environment in which the shutter will be installed.

Blockout Shutters are designed to endure harsh Australian weather such as bushfires and violent wind storms. Shutters will also provide insulation against excessive noise, heat and cold.

Blockout Shutters is a long established company and has earned a reputation for expertise and attention to detail. A thorough inspection of the building is always carried out to determine the right type of shutter for that particular application. Blockout Shutters are available in range of colours that suit both classic and contemporary interior and exterior colour schemes.

Blockout, the shutter company architects specify.

410AX

Introducing the New Caroma Liano Nexus black tapware range Stunning and unique in design, the matte black finish of the new Liano Nexus mixers and bathroom accessories makes a bold statement in any bathroom.

Following the latest interior design trends, the distinct black finish enhances the look of your bathroom, offering a contemporary appearance that complements the complete Liano collection.

The full Liano collection includes toilet suites, basins and both black and chrome tapware and accessories.

For further information please visit www.caroma.com.au

28 l MAR/APR 2014 l INFOLINK

Enquire online at www.architectureanddesign.com.au/products

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412AX

INEX FLOOR FLOOR INEX INEX FLOOR is a high-strength lightweight internal or external flooring sheet with tongue and groove edges.

INEX FLOOR is suitable for domestic and commercial applications and is manufactured to conform to the following requirements and standards.

INEX FLOOR can also be applied to walls to deliver a high impact lightweight framed wall system, with multiple approved coating systems.

INEX FLOOR 404AX

Elegant Drainage Design Meets Eco-Friendly Technology As the inventors of linear drainage in Australia, Stormtech is proud to also be a pioneer in sustainability and “green responsibility” in their market.

Their entire product range of linear drains has recently obtained a GreenTag™ certification. Their products’ design and manufacturing processes have been assessed in rigorous scientific and lifecycle testing. Globally, Stormtech obtained a Gold Eco Product rating. Every single product line of their range has obtained a Greenrate level A certification, which is the highest level of certification for building products.

The GreenTag™ certification is a third party, green building rating and certification system, underpinned by rigorous scientific and Life Cycle

Assessment processes.

Stormtech decided to obtain the certification as it will assist specifiers and consumers to source an architectural drainage system for its environmental credentials. Also, it will assist Green design and procurement professionals and companies requiring certified products for projects involved in the Green Building Council of Australia GreenStar rating, as many building companies decide to obtain a GreenStar certification for their projects in health, retail, multi-unit residential, industrial or public buildings.

Stormtech is committed to support sustainable plumbing design and construction that reduces the damage a plumbing system can cause to the biosphere.

Enquire online at www.architectureanddesign.com.au/products

INFOLINK l MAR/APR 2014 l 29

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407AX

Heda Tough Wall System The HEDA Tough Wall System from Studco is your premium solution for maximizing wall frame design and reducing labour in medium and high-rise construction.

HEDA sections can be used as lightweight steel lintels, heavy duty jamb studs and extra-tough wall studs in extreme walls. Check out some of the advantages of using the Studco HEDA System… TIME SAVING tOP OFFE GPS CPYFE TUVET BU JOUFSOBM PQFOJOH PS EPPSXBZT tOP OFFE GPS CPYFE PS CBDL UP CBDL TUVET JO XBMM EFTJHOT tOP OFFE GPS DPNQMFY MJOUFM BSSBOHFNFOUT COST SAVING tSFQMBDF TPNF TUSVDUVSBM TFDUJPOT XJUI )&%"KBNC tGFXFS OPHHJOT SFRVJSFE JO )&%"KBNC XBMMT tBDIJFWF IVHF TQBOT OPU QPTTJCMF XJUI DPOWFOUJPOBM TUVET t4UVEDP )&%" 5PVHI 8BMM 4ZTUFN JT BWBJMBCMF JO UXP section sizes for design flexibility.

Studco HEDAjamb considerably outperforms substitute products for even greater savings. MAXI STRENGTH, MINI LABOUR – HEDAjamb is the wall frame solution for rough openings and extreme walls.

408AX

CONVOY of stylish kitchen cabinets introduced Kesseböhmer CONVOY from Häfele is a family of seriously stylish cabinets, guaranteed to become one of the favourite features of any home. The CONVOY family is designed to work alongside your fridge, so you have enough room to store all of your dry groceries using one captivating system. But it’s what you don’t see that makes it really special.

The latest addition to the family is the CONVOY Premio. The embodiment of engineered luxury, you’ll be spellbound by the product’s ability to operate silently and automatically. Opening it is an adventure in itself!

Whatever size or shape of your kitchen, the CONVOY family will redefine the way your food is stored.

30 l MAR/APR 2014 l INFOLINK

Enquire online at www.architectureanddesign.com.au/products

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2014-02-24T16:18:16+11:00

Sigma50 A minimalist plate, a rich palette of colours.

Christoph Behling Sigma60 and Sigma50 are designed

by Christoph Behling. Lead Designer for TAG Heuer since 2004.

Christoph is a designer with a vision to combine technology, infrastructure and aesthetics to create the bathroom of the future.

Christoph has been designing Geberit’s collection of mechanical flush plates since 2007.

Colour options

GEB AD_SIGMA50_InfolinkBPN_0314.indd 1

→ geberit.com.au

24/02/2014 10:31 am

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2014-02-27T09:43:47+11:00

“A reported 23% of consumers considering aged care design are now in the 45-54 age bracket”

The Future of Aged Care Bathroom Design An Architect’s Guide Download free copy : www.architectureanddesign.com.au/caroma