Case Study: Webforge Locker’s Pic Perf® Panels at Yitpi Yartapuultiku – The Soul of Port Adelaide

Project Overview

Located on the banks of the Port River, Yitpi Yartapuultiku – meaning “Soul of Port Adelaide” in the Kaurna language – is a landmark Aboriginal Cultural Centre that celebrates the rich heritage and living culture of the Kaurna people. Designed to be a place of storytelling, connection, and community, the centre features a distinctive façade that integrates art, architecture, and culture.

Our Contribution

Webforge Locker was proud to contribute to this culturally significant project with the supply of our locally manufactured Pic Perf® aluminium panels, used to create a visually powerful and contextually meaningful façade.

The panels help bring the architectural vision to life—where pattern, light, and texture are used to express cultural narratives and deep ties to place. The result is a structure that not only honours tradition but also embodies contemporary Australian design excellence.

Project Details

• Product: Webforge Locker Pic Perf® Perforated Panels
• Material: 1.6 mm Aluminium 5005 – H34
• Finish: Interpon D3020 Fluoromax® [8M214A] Red Bush Apple
• Surface Area: 157m²
• Forming: Roll-formed/Corrugated to match Stratco Maximus 33 profile
• Architect: Ashley Halliday Architects
• Client: Cladding & Roofing Contractors

Design & Manufacturing

The Pic Perf® panels were carefully engineered and manufactured in Australia, showcasing our commitment to local craftsmanship and precision.

Pic Perf® is Webforge Locker’s custom perforated metal solution that transforms façades into striking architectural features. The design is created by varying the size, spacing, and pattern of holes in the metal,  not by printing , to form detailed photographic or artistic imagery. This combination of form and function delivers a durable, low-maintenance façade that provides ventilation, shading, and visual impact. Each design is individually engineered to suit the project’s scale and artistic intent, enhancing the building’s identity while meeting practical requirements for light, airflow, and sustainability.

• Cultural Expression through Design: The perforated imagery and patterns within the panels were inspired by Kaurna storytelling and local environmental motifs. The light that filters through them shifts throughout the day, animating the building’s skin and reflecting the rhythms of the surrounding landscape.
• Striking Finish: The Red Bush Apple powder coat adds a rich, earthy vibrancy to the façade. This high-performance coating not only offers exceptional durability but also evokes the natural colours of the Australian landscape, creating harmony with both earth and sky.

Architectural Statement

Ashley Halliday Architects designed Yitpi Yartapuultiku as a place of gathering and education, deeply rooted in its environment and Indigenous heritage. The use of Webforge Locker’s Pic Perf® panels played a vital role in realising this vision—balancing aesthetics, durability, and cultural resonance.

The corrugated panel form, matching the Stratco Maximus 33 profile, adds dimensionality and texture, reinforcing the centre’s tactile relationship with its setting.

Outcome

Yitpi Yartapuultiku now stands as a beacon of cultural expression and architectural innovation. The Webforge Locker façade panels not only provide a durable, low-maintenance exterior solution but more importantly, help tell the story of the Kaurna people in a way that is seen, felt, and experienced by all who visit.

This project exemplifies our belief in architecture as a storytelling medium, and the vital role that material and design innovation play in shaping meaningful public spaces.

Why Webforge Locker?

• Australian Made: Manufactured locally, ensuring high quality and supporting local industry.
• Customisation: Fully tailored design solutions to suit cultural and architectural requirements.
• Durability: Long-lasting powder coat finish suitable for coastal environments.
• Design Integration: Collaborated seamlessly with architects and contractors to meet aesthetic and functional goals.

Conclusion

The Yitpi Yartapuultiku project is a proud example of what can be achieved when culture, community, and craftsmanship come together. Webforge Locker is honoured to have played a part in delivering a space that reflects the spirit of Port Adelaide and the enduring presence of the Kaurna people.