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VISION 25 — BOUNDARY RIDER
Vision’s Peter Hyatt discusses the rise of a low-profile
beauty with Theo Kerlidis of K20 Architects:
PH How
tough is it to design with such a broad committee
of clients?
TK We needed to satisfy all of them and ensure no-one lost
out. There were multiple clients including council, the AFL,
VFL and community groups. It was tough, we had to work
our way through a lot of issues to satisfy all of the parties.
I think our design is robust enough to meet the competing
needs and in the end why it works. It caters for a really
diverse range of functions yet doesn’t reflect competing
needs in its appearance.
There is often confusion that quality will be seen as
an extravagance or excess. You make a point about
budgetary restraint.
This is built for $2,400/m2. We value-managed project
construction with design efficiencies that enabled
a high level of design innovation without the cost.
What are some examples?
The design solution around this high efficiency build
included an open trussed ceiling, an open ceiling grid
system incorporating customised lighting and off-the-shelf
items. Many of the materials serve multiple purposes such
as the perforated wall feature panels that double
as acoustic treatments.
How do locally sourced materials and suppliers feature
as part of the sustainability chain?
That was definitely central to our approach and why
we selected so many locally sourced materials. Viridian
was definitely a key part of that solution. Obviously we
demand that materials meet stringent standards and in this
instance, Virdian’s ThermoTech™ with ComfortPlus™ Clear
formed the double-glazed units and really animate that
great south facing-window wall that overlooks the ground.
The other bonus is the levels of natural light that reduce
reliance on artificial light.
Any other sustainability features of note?
The building construction methodology adopted
sustainably sourced timber—a high carbon sink material
and designed to provide high levels of local content and
local labour. Timber is used throughout the structure and
and together with the cladding are designed to provide
cost effective outcomes using standard, off-the-shelf,
locally sourced materials and components. There was a
lot of contaminated soil re-use on site and re-blended to
clean fill status. Soil was relocated to other parts of the
VIRIDIAN WAS
DEFINITELY A KEY PART
OF THAT SOLUTION
Theo Kerlidis, Architect