Built to withstand the harsh conditions of the Australian bushland, Tasmania’s Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre by Cumulus Studio morphs stalwart materials with its natural surroundings through the perfect use of COLORBOND® steel in the Basalt® colour.
At the doorstep of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the centre acts as a welcoming gateway to the region. Home to the Pakana (Tasmanian Aboriginal people), the park is well-known for its varied and breathtaking landscapes, including time-honoured rainforests shrouded in moss and deep river gorges that flow from snow-capped mountain peaks. To accentuate these geographical wonders, the structure works with the formation of the rocks and shadows of the trees.
The building has a uniform monolithic colour treatment that sets the tone for the site but also allows the natural hues of the land to stand as heroes. Spectacular displays of yellows, oranges and reds across the mountain slopes in autumn pull focus from the edifice, while in winter, the colour Basalt® gently recedes into its natural environment.
Cumulus Studio principal Peter Walker says the roof design is very much inspired by Cradle Mountain geology. “There are a lot of processes going on underground,” he said. “Plates are being folded and pushed through each other, forming into angular rocks that protrude through the Earth’s crust. The building alludes to those shapes in the way it forms, lifting and falling with the landscape.”
Characterised by its standing seam style and flat pan design that facilitates efficient shedding of water and snow, Walker chose the Snaptray 45 profile from Structuur (formerly known as Kliptray 45).
“We wanted something that was as flat as it could get,” explains Walker. “So we went with the standing, seam-style arrangement with a wide, flat pan.”
Walker says the remoteness of the location demanded roofing that was not only durable but also required low maintenance over its lifetime. COLORBOND® steel represented a robustness and durability that would ensure resilience in the severe winter conditions of a remote location with minimal upkeep.
With such ease of use and its ability to match with other systems and colours, Walker says he couldn’t have achieved the same result with anything other than COLORBOND® steel.
To learn more about this innovative, boundary-pushing project and discover more about COLORBOND® steel and the BlueScope family of products, check out the latest edition of STEEL PROFILE®, brought to you by BlueScope.
COLORBOND®, STEEL PROFILE®, BlueScope and ® colour names are registered trade marks of BlueScope Steel Limited (ABN 16 000 011 058). All rights reserved.
Photography by Adam Gibson