SPATIAL SOLUTION

Glass reinforced concrete (GRC) panels, designed to suggest the shape of Aboriginal stone tools and the packing crates of the city's Docklands, clad the base of Axa Centre's podium.

Upgrade Commercial Interiors worked from the concept work of artist Jonathan Jones to manufacture and install more than 300 glass reinforced concrete panels. Altogether, the project took eight months from concept to installation, says Steve Fennell.

"To make the panels, we combined sand and cement and then sprayed chopped fibreglass into the mix. The result is a lightweight material that is strong and durable," he says.

The GRC panels clad all four elevations. They vary in shape and size, ranging from 2m x 200mm to 2m x 2m. Each panel is angled in section as well as elevation a profile which creates the illusion of depth and accentuates the sun's shadows. The surfaces of the panels are smooth and incorporate a suggestion of purple, from the purple oxides in the mix.

To obtain the precision needed for installation, the team created 5mm-thick templates, tested them on site and used them to form moulds. Epoxy resin and stainless steel rods were used to fix the 10mm-thick panels in place, with a 5mm gap between the panels and walls to allow rainwater to drain away.

For more information, contact Upgrade Commercial Interiors, phone 0412 118819, fax (94) 297 002. Email: steve@upgradeinteriors.com.au, or visit the website: www.upgradeinteriors.com.au.

Story by: Trendsideas