When architectural practice Flightpath was contracted to design a new 2049 square-metre senior school to join an existing middle school at Victor Harbour they opted for the new COLORBOND steel Matt finish when choosing cladding.
James Plunkett, a Senior architect at Flightpath, said: “The new senior school has a bold form which is reassuring yet modern and sets the tone for an open learning environment based on collaboration, creativity, integration and communication. Our brief was to help showcase excellence in education and that starts with a well-designed building.”
It is the first time this new COLORBOND steel Matt finish has been used on a major Australian project and for Plunkett it was the premier choice for the job.
“My preference was for the COLORBOND steel Matt finish because it’s subtle, yet attracts your eye and makes a statement. I wanted to use it as cladding because it gives the impression of continuity and makes the building seem all the more deeply embedded within its context,” said Plunkett.
The two-level structure is the first thing that parents and other visitors notice when entering the campus by the service road and makes a soft architectural impression in the small coastal town with its understated form and robust materiality.
Harnessing new paint technology to deliver a naturally inspired finish that diffuses light for a soft, textured, designer look, COLORBOND steel Matt is available in Surfmist Matt, Shale Grey Matt, Dune Matt, Basalt Matt and Monument Matt.
Tested for over a decade, COLORBOND steel Matt has been designed for Australian conditions. The result is a product, which maintains its Matt finish, looking even better for longer. COLORBOND steel Matt is also manufactured in Australia and is compliant with relevant Australian Standards.
COLORBOND steel Matt incorporates BlueScope’s unique Thermatech solar reflectance technology which is designed to reflect more of sun’s heat on hot sunny days. It also benefits from BlueScope’s industry-leading metallic coating incorporating Activate technology to provide enhanced corrosion resistance.