Interview with Lara Architects
Approaching every project with imagination and sensitivity, Lara Architects transforms residential, civic and commercial spaces. At DECO we’ve been honoured to work alongside the team at Lara, on one of their most recent projects, 22 Albert Road, South Melbourne. We spoke with Lara Architects to discover what inspired them on this project and how they achieved their design goals utilizing DecoClad® and DecoBatten® products.
1. Can you tell us a bit about the 22 Albert Road project, it’s key objectives and Lara Architect’s role in the project.
While the existing building at 22 Albert Road is in great shape overall, the building amenities needed an upgrade as is natural with the progression of time. In that light, the building is going through important internal changes, with upgraded lift lobbies, new top-notch End of Trip facilities and an upgraded main entry lobby at the ground floor designed by KHID. It was then a natural step that the building’s external appearance underwent an upgrade, and this was when we were brought in as the architects. The main entry upgrades included an accessible entry, revised and upgraded planter beds, new landscaping, new lighting and a revised canopy.
2. What was the key design idea behind the main entry upgrade and how do you think it changes the way people experience the building?
From a functionality perspective, making the new DDA lift work required that we redesign the canopy, which was too low for the new access. This was a key factor in shifting our thinking towards a more wholistic design, where all elements of the frontage needed rethinking. From an aesthetic point of view, a seamless experiential transition between the external and the interior elements was key. As we navigated the design, we identified other elements that were not obvious at first. Items such as the canopy, planter beds, stone cladding all are first in mind… looking deeper we identified other key elements such as the gas meter room and its surroundings as an area of improvement, where the screening with the timber battens becomes an important aesthetic feature.
3. What factors influenced your choice of materials for the entry, canopy and landscape elements to create a seamless connection between inside and outside?
The building frontage at ground level is clad in a dark reflective stone and the design intent was to use this cladding as a background for new elements in lighter and vibrant colours. Internally, the lobby includes a large number 22 in bronze finish and we used the same finish for all the external metal elements. The planters were reclad in a lighter grey stone for contrast and to better match the bluestone pavers being introduced to the nearby footpaths. Timber features heavily in the upgraded ground floor lobby and we wanted to bring the warmth of the timber finish to the external elements, for continuity but also to create a welcoming environment for the tenants and the community as they walk past the new entry.
4. Why did you choose DECO’s timber-look aluminium for the façade cladding and fencing?
It was paramount to achieve clean and realistic timber finish for our project. The ground floor lobby renovation by KHID featured beautiful timber panelling and the DecoWood® Coastal Spotted Gum provided a wonderful colour match to create a seamless integration of the external and internal elements. We worked closely with the DECO team who were sensational in providing support, from assisting us in choosing the most suitable product for the different components of our project, up to advising the builder on best installation methods.
Non-flammable components were a must, where the canopy is a façade component and the screening surrounds a gas metre room, therefore the DecoWood® cladding and battens were the perfect fit from both the technical point of view as well as for the design intent and its aesthetics.
5. How does this material choice support durability, low maintenance and long-term appeal in a commercial setting like 22 Albert St?
Timber is a beautiful material and we always try to incorporate timber elements in our projects. In this case, it was crucial to match the timber used in the main entry lobby to ensure a seamless indoor–outdoor transition. Externally, timber elements require continuous maintenance and it is very unlikely to be favoured in a commercial setting. We wanted to ensure to bring the warmth of timber to our project and at the same time ensure compliance with fire rating. The timber look aluminium will not lose its colour and allows us to ensure that our client has a low maintenance, fire rated element that at the same time brings beauty and user appeal, reaffirming the building’s identity and presence.
If you’re keen to learn more about this project, read it here.
