Blue Skies Ahead at Port of Melbourne

The Short Road Port of Melbourne Maintenance Facility is a stunning large contemporary building highlighted by a bold material palette that includes blue Danpalon panels for natural lighting.

Danpal is pleased to have been part of the process, collaborating with Spowers Architects and 2Construct to help deliver the agreed project outcomes. Providing comfortable natural daylight was a key part of the project, and this was achieved using colourful translucent highlight windows to the warehouse and office facilities of the Port of Melbourne and Bhagwan Marine organisation.

Numerous technical challenges had to be addressed as part of the specification development, including resistance to the aggressive marine environment and the need for some areas to be lightweight yet self-supporting over large heights to meet structural and aesthetic criteria.

The larger height areas feature bespoke structural aluminium RHS framing supporting a neatly-framed window-like solution to suit the exposure of these areas closer to ground level. Overall cost effectiveness was maintained with the use of simpler detailing over more conventional framing for the areas at roof level.

The 10mm blue Danpalon panels in long lengths with no exposed aluminium joints externally provide a visual reference to the nearby ocean, as well as providing an interesting contrast to the less colourful adjacent cladding materials. Danpal solutions such as this are often chosen for their uniquely vibrant visual effect and resilience in harsh conditions, as well as greater cost effectiveness when compared to more conventional glass-based daylighting options.