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design
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The concrete panels were cast at Austral
Precast’s state-of-the-art facility in Wetherill Park
NSW.The bamboo pattern is the result of a
rubber formliner that is placed in the base of
the casting form or mould.This is a process
Austral Precast calls PermaForm
®
, part of their
PermaTech
®
suite of precast concrete panel
treatments and finishes.
A remarkable range of standard formliner
patterns is available, from abstract geometrics
to brick, stone and timber and in a variety of
textures, subtle and overt. Custom formliner
designs, including logos, are also possible.
Once the formliner is in place, steel
reinforcement is positioned and finally the form
is filled with concrete.When cured, the concrete
panel is lifted out and the formliner stripped
away, ready for reuse.
The 147 precast panels for the Nepean project
were delivered to site and installed by Austral
Precast.The company is proud to be able to
offer a complete end-to-end service from
design consultation through manufacture and
finishing, to delivery and installation, all with
one contract and one point-of-contact and
total responsibility.
“The design sought to create a building that
fits with the colour palette of the surrounding
environment,” explains Woods Bagot’s principal
Domenic Alvaro.“The copper green colour
and natural patina of the precast concrete
panels has depth and tactility, providing a
unique ‘on weathering’ finish that will continue
to evolve over time.”
While meeting strict budgetary, treatment, and
safety and security requirements, the centre’s
design concept also provides a level of
humaneness and connection to landscape
that will assist the patients on their healing
journey.
The Nepean Mental Health Centre was
officially opened on 31 March 2014.
patterned) are finished in a pleasant coppery
green colour, applied on site using Austral
Precast’s PermaTint process.
The use of the green, patterned walling is most
effective around the building entrance, on the
long street elevation and most especially in
the therapeutic courtyards where the colour
and texture blend happily with the
landscaping.
It’s well accepted that colour has a direct
effect on a person’s wellbeing.You can see it
in our language: colours are judged as warm
or cold and we talk of feeling blue, seeing red
or being in a black mood. Green is the benign
colour of nature and has long been favoured
as a positive colour giving permission and
safety – think green light, green card, green
room, green with envy.
The Nepean green was custom-formulated to
an approved sample.The gold-bronze base is
topped with a non-metallic weathered green.
In certain lighting conditions the metallic base
colour becomes more prominent.