Urban renewal

Attention to detail characterises all the joinery within the Lumiére Residences from the entrance lobby panelling to the kitchen fit-outs in the apartments. Joinery specialist UTJ Interiors, one of the largest joinery companies in Australia, was responsible for the fabrication and installation of 108 apartment kitchens, and extensive panelling in the entrance lobby.

UTJ Interiors chief executive officer Michael O'Neill says the entrance lobby incorporates 11m-high elliptical wall panels with a high-gloss polyurethane finish. Similar panels fabricated and installed by the company feature on the front of reception, and on the wall that accommodates the mailboxes.

"The shape of the curved walls in the reception area, foyer and mailroom was developed from architects' CAD drawings, which were converted into CNC programs to replicate the complex curved shapes required," says O'Neill. "UTJ was chosen as a manufacturer able to meet these requirements, ensuring the architects' vision could be completely realised."

UTJ Interiors also fabricated and installed the curved Corian benchtop in reception.

O'Neill says one of the major challenges of the project was sourcing the stone products that feature throughout the apartment fit-outs. The white onyx, which features in the kitchens, was mined in Iran, cut and laminated in Italy, and distributed through London. To achieve the desired sheen, reflective quality and strength, the onyx was laminated onto glass sheets.

"The kitchen fit-outs were complicated by the tight tolerances, which required precise measuring and fabrication to retain the required high standard of finish."

Cabinets have a high-gloss polyurethane finish, while the kickboards and edging are in stainless steel.

For more information, contact UTJ Interiors, PO Box 1186, Unanderra, NSW 2526, phone (02) 4271 5522, fax (02) 4271 6620. Email: info@utjinteriors.com.au. Website: www.utjinteriors.com.au.

Story by: Trendsideas