contemporary face

Original plans for a brick exterior on the Saint Kentigern Jubilee Sports Centre were replaced with the concept of a dramatic prepatinated zinc facade. The sculptural surface was designed by Architectus and then fine-tuned by Metal Design Solutions (MDS).

Sales and marketing manager Daniel Forsyth says MDS was asked to fabricate and install the facade due to the level of expertise required.

"The facade, tapering subtly towards each end of the wall, is composed of 1000 individually measured and numbered zinc panels," says Forsyth. "Linked together, they present a wall of concave and convex triangles pre-aged to an attractive, yet understated grey tone."

The panels are linked with secret fixings to avoid puncturing the metal, instead creating a weatherproof seal across the building frontage. In all, the multifaceted face covers 650m².

MDS also supplied and installed the zinc vertical angle seamed lower face at the front and rear of the sports centre.

"This was another precisely engineered element, fitting so snugly that a garage door in the same material appears to open out of the wall from nowhere," says Forsyth. "Again, secret fixings ensure the zinc is uncompromised and the exterior is completely weatherproof."

An industry leader in New Zealand, MDS has completed over 700 projects from residential units to large commercial developments, including Elephant Hill winery estate and the redesigned Auckland Art Gallery.

METAL DESIGN SOLUTIONS (MDS)

PO Box 33, Drury, Auckland 2247Phone (09) 640 0009 Fax (09) 268 6968www.metal-d-s.co.nz daniel@metal-d-s.co.nz

Story by: Trendsideas