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Apart from the improved transparency
and daylight what are the other benefits?
To make it work as a four star, green-star rated
project is not easy in a retro-fitted building of its
age. There are a lot of sustainability initiatives,
not least remediation of the site contaminated by
industrial use. There was an understanding that the
building could become an asset and a contribution
to the social fabric of Lithgow.
You use a wide selection of glass types from
fritted, acoustic to energy performance. What
was behind that selection?
We had various heritage and architectural issues.
We worked very hard to ensure the right glass ended
up in the right place. The stippled glass relates to
its particular area where we need filtered daylight.
There were also sustainability values and compliance
with Section J of the building code. In addition there
were green-star ratings. We chose performance
glass on west-facing facades where there is plenty of
solar penetration. We didn’t want to rely on an overly
air-conditioned space, so the right glass ensured the
air-conditioning and mechanical systems perform
to their best. Then there are other areas where we
wanted double-glazing for sound proofing from the
street. There is a whole range of specific glazing
responses and Viridian was able to cover every
one of those.
The design is not so much a story of inside or
outside, but about the transitional zone reminiscent
of the traditional veranda. The stippled glass
canopies for instance, perform a similar role to
the veranda that feathers its building edge.
You’re right. Apart from a small, storm lobby that
was it. We’ve added those intermediate spaces that
you really need and I think they’re the places where
people now experience that transition. That glass
canopy provides a lovely inside out quality shelter.
Red steel beam as reference to structure’s
steel-making origins is contrasted by high
end transparency.