A new, 15-storey residential building in the heart of Perth’s CBD has pushed the boundaries in its use of concrete as a cost-effective structural and aesthetic element. Designed by Perrine and Birch Architecture and Design, the BOX Building features precast sandblasted and polished concrete exterior panels while inside precast concrete flooring finished with in situ concrete toppings has been utilised.
According to architect Jean-Mic Perrine, the choice of precast concrete panels on the exterior of the building was based not only on aesthetics but smart economics, with construction costs coming in at about $220 a square metre. The design team worked closely with the concrete supplier to achieve the most cost-effective and flexible concrete mix solutions.
Perrine says he began to seriously explore the potential of concrete when building his own home five years ago. Since then he has continued to investigate and experiment with the material, culminating in the achievement of the BOX Building. “This project is at the forefront of what can be achieved with concrete in both its structural and aesthetic form,” he says. “We’ve got to a point where concrete is not just an economical structural solution, it can take on virtually any finished form the architect uses. Today it’s defining the agenda for design.”
Further information on the use of concrete in architectural projects can be obtained from the Cement and Concrete Association of Australia.
Source: Building Products News.
