Bringing your vision to life with customised perforated metal
Architecture is more than designing a structure to exist in space. With perforated metal, you have the opportunity to take a drab building front and turn it into something inspiring, unique, and architecturally interesting.
With the right perforated sheet metal partner, you can bring your vision to life. Let's explore how that's possible and why you may choose perforated patterns over any other material.
Processing perforated metal
Perforated metal doesn't occur organically, and must go through a process to achieve your architectural applications preference. It's a type of sheet metal that may resemble mesh or a grid and has been stamped, fabricated or punched to create the hole shape, size and design.
You can choose from a variety of metals from aluminium to mild steel to fit in with the structural needs of the building and the weather conditions it may come in contact with.
While the limitations are few for what and how to construct your facade, there are structural needs that must be considered. For example, a fabricated metal sheet with large holes will need a thicker piece of metal to ensure better structural integrity. Or, in the case of a building that may come in frequent contact with seawater, you may choose to work with aluminium.
As a general rule of thumb, the thickness of the metal sheet should not be greater than the size of the holes or the width of the bars (the spaces between the holes). Metal can be as thin as tin foil or as thick as an inch and a half perforated stainless steel plate.
Why perforated metal instead of glass?
Most buildings (think skyscrapers in Sydney) are covered in floor to rooftop glass. The energy it takes to cool these spaces can run up rent costs and require expensive window covers, no view of the outside and forced AC.
Perforated metal products can offer several benefits that work in conjunction with a glass building or any other type of structure:
- Ventilation
- Sun cover
- View to the outside
- Privacy
- Separation between spaces
- Corrosion resistance
A custom pattern can do all of the above with an on-brand design.
Locker is your design partner
In 2018, Locker worked for the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning. The Institute wanted a strategic perforated pattern design partner that could deliver a facade that was inspired by the innovation and creation happening within the building. They chose to work with Locker because we had both the material and the technology to create the design they envisioned: Something both aesthetically natural looking and with a five-star Green Star Design and As-Built Rating.
What resulted was a six-star Green Star Rating and an incredible perforated metal facade and awning.
We also took on the Moda project. For this project, Moda wanted custom-designed colour and hole-sized metal with the business name stamped on the outside. With Pic Perf software, we were able to deliver exactly what the client wanted, with the colour and dimensions they were looking for.
Using Australian-sourced sheet metal, we plug designs into the Pic Perf system so that when the metal goes through the perforation process, the design is programmed into the template. This allows the software to process highly-customised designs that perfectly align with the client's vision.
This project and so many more have the capability to look and function in all new levels with perforated panels. If you're ready to up-level your next project, reach out to a Locker perforated metal professional today to get started.
