Barangaroo House, a free-standing, three-storey  restaurant, has become one of the first projects in Sydney to utilise Accoya wood cladding, the world-leading high performance, sustainable wood product, and the distinctive Japanese charring technique, Shou Sugi Ban. Situated in the heart of Barangaroo, a dynamic commercial and residential urban renewal project on the edge of Sydney Harbour, Barangaroo House opened in December 2017 and is the latest venture by one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, Matt Moran.

The Barangaroo project has sustainability at its heart. With a commitment to becoming the first global precinct that is carbon neutral, the 22-hectare historically significant harbourside site is concerned with creating zero waste emissions, being ‘water wise’ and contributing to the overall well-being of the community. As a result, the internationally recognised mission celebrates design excellence, natural beauty, world-class eco-living and its aboriginal history to preserve the project for future generations.

Inspired by the potential of creating a building in the round, the unique split level restaurant was designed by architects, Collins and Turner, taking on a remarkable organic form clad in charred Accoya. Supplied by leading timber experts, Britton Timbers, 45mm of Dowelled Accoya and 45mm of Half Dowelled Accoya were laminated into a series of predetermined radii with a Shou Sugi Ban (medium char) finish applied to create a striking charcoal appearance.

To further enhance the project, a layer of “Anthractite” a WOCA coating from Denmark was applied to compliment the overall design aesthetic. Due to Accoya’s superior dimensional stability, this coating will last twice as long in comparison to typical timbers, and will need minimal maintenance. The Accoya wood cladding was then screw fixed to specially made aluminium anodised brackets to ensure the dowels were evenly spaced throughout the stable structure.

Located on a prominent water front site, Accoya was the the ideal choice for this stunning project thanks to its exceptional durability, reliability and stability properties. With a guarantee of 50 years above ground, Accoya wood can withstand the harshest of external environments while resisting distortion and warping over its lifetime.

Andrew Elston, Commerical Specifications Account Manager at Britton Timbers, commented: “In the Australian sun and surrounding elements of wind and salt air, we knew Accoya was a material we could really rely on. It provided complete peace of mind with regards to its performance, its stability and its durability factors.”

Huw Turner, Director of Collins and Turner, said: “It was wholeheartedly agreed that Accoya would be the best solution for a long term outcome due to its hardwearing, versatile nature. Utilising Shou Sugi Ban was an ideal way to create a unique, striking building form which references ancient craftsmanship and traditions in a very contemporary way. Along with the low maintenance requirements, the sustainability factor of Accoya also significantly appealed to us and our client.”

The Barangaroo reserve is no stranger to Accoya. The R7 Tower, a landmark building within Barangaroo used Accoya wood cladding to create decorative external boxes on the façade of the buildings. Accoya was selected primarily for its high performance factors and resilience but also for its ability to enhance the visual appearance of the building.

Furthermore, Accoya was the material of choice for outdoor seating within the heart of the Barangaroo oasis. Aesthetically pleasing but also exceptionally durable and rot resistant, the benches suit the natural surroundings while being perfectly capable of withstanding the extreme Sydney climate.

PROJECT STATISTICS

Sector: Commercial project

Architect: Collins and Turner

Client: Lendlease

Developer: Lendlease

Principal contractor: Lendlease

Structure: Arcadis

Facade: Aurecon

Contractor: Onsite Group

Specialist subcontractors: ITC Eco and Brittons Timbers

Timeline: December 2017

Accoya Application: Charred Accoya cladding