The dramatic steel canopy pictured here would be at home at an upmarket hotel or resort. In fact, it is the rooftop carpark of an industrial-commercial complex at Norwest Business Park in suburban Sydney.
Used in this project
Builders and developers Presida Constructions wanted a point of difference to the blandness of the usual light industrial development, with its concrete apron, warehouse entrances visible from the road and mezzanine offices to one side.
Presida managing director, John Paini, said he wanted a " boutique resort" style of office. "People spend so much time at work they should have an office environment that is a pleasure to arrive at and work in," John said. Accordingly, he asked the architects for a design with a bit of inspiration.
Architects Cameron Chisholm & Nicol (NSW) - now part of GHD - responded with an innovative design that turns the traditional industrial-office complex inside-out. Managing director, Nando Nicotra, said the design was based on industrial complexes in Singapore and was probably the first of its kind in Australia.
"We moved the office components of the development to the perimeter," Nando said, "so the building frontage facing the road presents as a typical office development. All the warehousing is hidden within the building, with an open courtyard in the centre for delivery, loading and unloading activities."
The rooftop carpark became a highlight of the design. " Instead of a flat roof, we suggested a playful and dramatic solution," Nando said. "The surface needs a fall, anyway, so why not curve it?"
The canopy includes skillion roofs of Stramit Speed Deck Ultra® concealed fixed decking adjacent to the offices, while the main area of the carpark is covered by a series of wave-form canopies of prefabricated RHS steel sections clad with spring-curved Stramit® Corrugated cladding manufactured from COLORBOND® steel in a High Gloss finish.
Roofing contractor Glidevale manufactured stainless steel box gutters and flashing to drain the curved roofs. Stramit also supplied Half-Round Gutters and Downpipes.
John Paini liked the tropical resort feel of the strata development so much, he decided to located the Presida offices there.