Architecture

Prized for its natural warmth and reliable performance, timber flooring represents a quarter of the flooring market. Within this category, engineered timber flooring has emerged as a preferred choice due to its superior stability and durability, and a natural look that is almost indistinguishable from solid timber. Not all engineered timber flooring performs the same however; product type, species, composition, installation method and the climatic conditions of the install environment all affect performance and stability. In today’s market, sustainability and health requirements must also be considered.
With the growth of engineered timber products on the market, it is critical for architects, designers and specifiers to know what to look for when choosing the solution best suited to their intended application. Leading timber supplier Big River Group has released an informative guide to specifying engineered timber flooring for architects and specifiers titled, Australian Native: A Specifier’s Guide to Engineered Flooring.
Engineered timber vs solid timber
Engineered timber is comprised of a decorative surface layer of timber, called a veneer or lamella, bonded over a timber substrate. By comparison, solid timber floors consist of planks made out of solid pieces of wood and is the more traditional style for flooring. The processes of layering, compression and lamination used to manufacture engineered timber provide additional stability and durability to the end product. Every board is created by bonding together layers of wood, creating a solid core board. The core is then covered with a real wood top layer or lamella. This construction makes engineered timber less susceptible to warping and bowing while maintaining a high degree of structural integrity.
The impact of the install environment
Australia has a diverse range of climates across the country and the location – climatic conditions and the specifics of the interior space – is critical to successful timber flooring specification and installation. Heat, cold and humidity fluctuations may cause timber to shrink, expand and/or swell, causing the floorboards to move and warp. Solid timber flooring is more susceptible to movement than engineered timber, which is more resistant to climatic changes provided it is specified correctly.
Design considerations

Stability – Enhanced stability is a key advantage that engineered timber has over solid timber. However, not all engineered products perform the same in this regard. For example, three-ply and multi-ply products have different structural characteristics that will impact their suitability for an application. The composition and species used in a board should also be considered whereby some engineered timber products have a core that is a different species to the face lamella and the face lamella may have a different density to the core.A core that is the same species as the face lamella results in a product that has superior balance and stability. One of the most stable engineered floors in Australia and New Zealand is Big River Group’s Armourfloor; its base board is the same species as the face veneer, providing optimum balance and stability.
Durability – The durability of engineered timber products is influenced by several factors such as surface finish, thickness of top layer, timber hardness and the quality of installation and maintenance.
Quality of lamella – The lamella can be made of any species of wood. A stable lamella is essential for a high quality engineered timber floor. The main options for cutting the solid wood lamella layer are dry, solid sawn, rotary cut or peel and sliced cut or peel.
Aesthetics – High quality engineered timber retains the aesthetic of real wood. Different species and manufacturing methods will result in different looks. Engineered timber flooring also tends to have more stylistic variations than solid timber flooring. As a natural product, engineered timber is subject to some degree of colour variation and there will be natural variations in knots, grain and sap marks.
Installation method – Engineered timber flooring is installed using either the floating or glue-down installation method. The choice should be determined by the species of the flooring product, cost and time constraints. All installations should follow the manufacturer’s specifications and guidelines.
Sustainability – Sustainable product certification and Chain of Custody (CoC) of forest products help specifiers identify timber products that are sourced and produced in a sustainable manner. Buying local manufactured engineered timber products is more sustainable than importing products in the same category.

Armourfloor engineered flooring
Manufactured in Australia, Armourfloor is a stable timber floor. The product is manufactured using a five-layer, cross-ply construction – a quality that enables Armourfloor to perform to expectations in all geographical locations. No expansion is required through the floor unless the area exceeds 15 meters in length and width, although perimeter expansion gaps are still required. The rotary-peeled lamella on Armourfloor opens the grain, giving a distinctive flowing appearance and is unique in appearance compared to conventional back sawn products. As a raw uncoated product, Armourfloor must be coated in-situ, enabling the use of different finishes to be applied to produce desired sheen levels. Finishes, such as polyurethanes, oils or wax, can be chosen based on the specifics of the application.
Engineered timber technology has improved greatly over recent decades, resulting in superior performing flooring materials that boast high levels of inherent stability and durability, and greater resistance to temperature and moisture than solid timber. Leading quality products, such as Armourfloor by Big River Group, also offer a natural look that is almost indistinguishable from a solid plank floor.
All Big River engineered flooring and plywood is milled from managed regrowth and plantation forest hardwoods. Big River hardwood is Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) certified.
Big River’s pre-finished engineered flooring comes with a lifetime warranty against warping, buckling or bond failure and a 20 year limited warranty for the finish against wear-through under normal residential usage. More

Ten new splashback collections have been carefully curated to offer homeowners and designers an array of styles and design options. From the simple sophistication and elegance of natural stone and delicate watercolours through to a range of daring and eccentric statement pieces, DecoSplash’s latest collections offer the chance to create a stand-out kitchen, bathroom or laundry.
DecoSplash’s unique splashback sublimation technology allows for a completely customized splashback option, turning any high resolution image or photograph into a one-of-a-kind splashback masterpiece.
“Our latest DecoSplash design collections really push the boundaries, offering an eclectic mix of classic, bespoke and contemporary design options for 2022. There is something in there for every person and style,” said DecoSplash product manager Meika Doonan.
“Our innovative technology also means that we have been able to replicate looks and styles of some of the most popular splashback products on the market, like marble and tiles, without the associated hefty price tags, all whilst providing the durability and ease that is associated with aluminium splashbacks.”
Also new to the range is DecoSplash’s Chrome Effect, an exclusive finish that can be applied to select splashback designs to create a moody, metallic vibe – the perfect fingerprint-less alternative to mirrored splashbacks.
Not just limited to kitchens, DecoSplash is the perfect option for bathrooms and laundries,with a dedicated collection for these spaces, and can also be used for outdoor kitchens or any other area that requires a durable lining with a creative or custom design.
Made from a 2 mm solid aluminium flat sheet, and coated in a durable and low maintenance powdercoat finish, DecoSplash is the only aluminium splashback of its type available in Australia. It is safe to use behind both gas and electric cooktops, and is lightweight and easy to install, requiring only double-sided tape and silicon to secure it directly to the wall surface. This makes it great for DIY renovations or cabinet makers who don’t have time to wait for glass or tile installations.
DecoSplash is available in large 3600 × 1500 mm sheets and can be cut to size to suit any space. Designs can also be set across multiple panels with absolute precision and seamless joins. More

Carrara and Artista aesthetics, together with the Sparkling Granita, take design in new directions, incorporating high performance and high-level beauty. Sparkling Granita has translucent, sparkling particles that create an effervescent effect in a fresh white surface to convey energy and visual depth. Artista Grey is an enduring grey, freshened with an intricate vein pattern within […] More

Detailed designs have been revealed for the $891 million Cockle Bay office tower and retail proposal that has long been a bone of contention for Sydney planning authorities.
A state-significant development application has been submitted for the Cockle Bay Park Redevelopment, which is designed by Danish firm Henning Larsen together with Architectus and McGregor Coxall.
The application calls for a 183-metre tower accommodating 75,000 square metres of office space along with 14,000 square metres of retail at the base of the tower. Henning Larsen was selected as the design architect in 2020 through a competitive design process­­ after a concept design by FJMT, Tony Caro Architecture and Aspect Studios was approved by the New South Wales Independent Planning Commission in 2019.
Henning Larsen’s design director Viggo Haremst said the design was focused on the eye-level view and the public realm.
“We see Cockle Bay Park as agreen village within the dense CBD of Sydney, a place of discovery, work, recreation, wellness and relaxation,” he said. “Architecture is fundamentally about staging human interaction, and we see Cockle Bay Park as an opportunity to emphasize the best of what Sydney can be.”

View gallery

Cockle Bay Park Redevelopment by Henning Larsen with Architectus and McGregor Coxall.

The four-level podium, occupied by shops, restaurants, bars etc, will be “woven into” a surrounding public park, with the tower standing in the middle.The tower’s facade will be defined by a curtain wall system composed of triangular glazing and shading elements. A section of porous metal cladding on a triangulated steel frame will form the crown of the tower, serving as a “bridge between the tower and the sky.”
­­­The development was decried by the City of Sydney when it was first proposed, particularly because of concerns that it would cause overshadowing of the council’s planned Town Hall Square.

View gallery

Cockle Bay Park Redevelopment by Henning Larsen with Architectus and McGregor Coxall.

The state government, meanwhile, has consistently championed the development, which is being led by GPT and AMP Capital. Announcing the public exhibition of the proposal, planning minister Rob Stokes emphasized the new public space it would deliver, including two new public parks which would form a landbridge across the Western Distributor between Darling Harbour and Darling Park.
“The Western Distributor rips through the heart of Sydney, but this proposal seeks to resolve that with significant new public space to create new pedestrian connections between the city centre and one of Sydney’s most popular tourist destinations,” he said.
The proposal is on public exhibition until 12 December. More

Setting the pace for design trends and unique product development, Littlehampton has made a completely unique range of 50 mm slim bricks and slim clay pavers. Discerning architects, designers and luxury builders are improving their projects by creating striking linear lines with these unique building materials. Littlehampton currently has an award-winning range of slim clay […] More

An office tower proposed for Melbourne’s CBD is aiming to set a new benchmark for sustainability with a “solar skin” that will generate 20 percent of its electricity needs.
The $1 billion development at 435 Bourke Street designed by Bates Smart will be one of the first office towers in the world to have energy-producing panels integrated into its facade, although, other types of buildings in Melbourne already do this. For example, the University of Melbourne’s Alan Gilbert Building, designed by Metier 3, has photovotaic panels integrated into its facade and the project won an award for sustainable architecture at the 2002 Victorian Architecture Awards; and in 2017, RMIT University began a project to retrofit the Design Hub, designed by Sean Godsell Architects, with solar technology in line with the original proposition of a “smart skin” facade.
Bates Smart director Cian Davis said the solar façade of 435 Bourke will be “made up of translucent, vertical glass photovoltaic panels.
“People working in the building will be able to look out the window and see where their energy comes from. This collected energy coupled with all-electric operations will help the tower save 430 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. The building will also reduce its embodied carbon by 30 percent through the use of finely tuned materials.”

View gallery

435 Bourke by Bates Smart

The “solar skin” is expected to generate around 20 percent of the electricity needs of the base building while the remainder will come from off-site renewable sources. The building is designed to achieve net zero carbon in operation and is targeting 6-star Green Star New Buildings rating as well as a Platinum WELL certified rating.
A previous development application for the project was approved in January 2020, but it has been redesigned since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“With the onset of the pandemic, we were not content to rest on the laurels of our first DA and strove to future-proof the design of 435 Bourke to bring workers back to the city and respond to an ever-evolving Melbourne workforce with a greatly enhanced focus on sustainability, wellness, collaboration, connection to the public community, nature and productivity,” said developer Cbus Property CEO Adrian Pozzo.
Davis added that the building has been redesigned to accommodate “a diverse ecosystem of workspaces.”
“We know that the relationship between the work we do and where we do it has been forever transformed,” he said. “We didn’t want to design a building that would be outdated by its completion. Instead, it will cater to any work setting and scenario, engage with its surroundings, be open to the neighbourhood at the ground, and achieve the best tall commercial tower performance in Australia. When it welcomes its first tenants, it will be Melbourne’s most flexible, sustainable and, frankly, human commercial building. It is architecture designed for the future, which is already here.”
A new development application has been submitted to the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP). Construction of the project is expected to begin in 2022. More

A “green artery” of trees, cooling plants and green walls will run through the hottest and most barren parts of Adelaide’s CBD, with the state government promising $5 million for a range of greening programs.
The money will be split between greening projects led by the state government agency Green Adelaide, and grants and rebates for property owners.
There will be $2 million spent on the Greener City Streets Program and another $1 million for a project to create a “cool corridor” of planted streets and laneways through the city. There will also be $1.5 million in grants for green walls and roofs and $500,000 in water rebates for greening projects.
To be delivered over four years in partnership with the City of Adelaide and SA Water, are aimed at creating a “cooler, greener, wilder and more climate-resilient CBD.”
SA’s environment and water minister David Speirs said the Greener City Streets Program would be targeted based on heat and tree canopy mapping put together through joint state and local government investigations.
“Heat mapping data has been used to determine the warmest areas of the CBD and we will partner with the City of Adelaide to make a focused effort to green and cool these areas through planting trees and other plants and building green roofs and walls,” he said.
“The ‘cool corridor’ is a vision for a green walkway through the heart of the city through multi-use paths, shade and greenery that creates a more attractive and cooler city space for everyone to enjoy.
The “Wild Walls and Roofs” grants will provide CBD building owners with up to $50,000 to build green walls and roofs on commercial and residential dwellings, and the “Green Water Rebates” will trial the application of discounted water rates for new projects that are designed to cool and green Adelaide’s CBD.
“Green walls and roofs are an effective and alternative way to improve the visual amenity of the city, which improves wellbeing and encourages people to spend more time in an area which helps stimulate our economy,” said Speirs. “They are also a way to reduce heat impacts where there is little space for street trees and parks.”
The state government agency Green Adelaide is currently leading a push for Adelaide to become the next “National Park City, submitting its application to the London-headquartered National Park City foundation. Green Adelaide board presiding member Chris Daniels said, “These inner-city areas can play a valuable part in conservation, with trees along Leigh Street in the city already supporting the largest known roosting aggregation of native tree martins in South Australia.” More

The New South Wales planning department has approved a state-significant application for the $250 million redevelopment of the Griffith Base Hospital in the north-western Riverina region, on Wiradjuri Country.
There are currently more than 30 buildings at the hospital site “of various ages and condition,” according to planning documents. Most of these will be demolished to make way for the new hospital.
Designed by DJRD Architects, the hospital will deliver all clinical services under one roof in “a new, purpose designed building with logical zoning that incorporates contemporary models of care.”
The four-storey building will provide capacity for an expanded emergency department along with more aged care and rehabilitation beds, operating theatres and medical inpatient units. It will also boost capacity for maternity, medical imaging, paediatrics and outpatient services.

View gallery

The new Griffith Base Hospital by DJRD Architects.

The Griffith Base Hospital occupies a key part of the town plan of Griffith, which was designed by Walter Burley Griffin in 1914 using the same approach he employed for Canberra.
In planning documents, DJRD Architects explains that the city’s distinct radial pattern of tree-lined ring roads offers an ideal setting for an integrated health precinct. The entire D-shaped block where the hospital is located was earmarked for a hospital in Griffin’s original masterplan. Since then, three lots have been subdivided for private ownership and now contain St Vincent’s Private Community Hospital, a pathology centre and a medical centre.
“Griffin masterfully established the potential for a health precinct while at his drawing board but his radial road planning has also enabled a hospital site with potential for multiple access points. A hospital in the round,” the architects state. “The site area of 6.4 hectares and wide street verges presents as a regional hospital in a parkland setting.”
The new clinical services building will be located on the elevated northern portion of the site, capturing southern views across the Griffith city centre and beyond while also allowing for services and clinical linkages to the private hospital. The design aims to embrace the parkland setting and open the hospital up to the community by extending walking paths through the site.
An internal courtyard will “provide maximum daylight opportunities, district and nature views, provide clarity of wayfinding and reduce potential stress associated with hospital visits.”
A non-clinical service building, also being delivered as part of the redevelopment, was recently completed. Works on the main hospital are expected to begin in 2022. More