It was in many ways relieving to visit a site of public architecture where the exposure of construction techniques is celebrated and embraced as opposed to being hidden behind decorative facades. Prior to visiting this site I was not a huge fan of the Federation Square complex, however analysis of its designer's approach and elaborate design have led to an appreciation of its unique form.
From www.labarchitecture.com:
"industrialisation no longer equates to standardisation, but instead allows for unique differentiation through material variety and surface figuration. only three cladding materials; sandstone, zinc (perforated and solid) and glass have been used within a modular basis established by the triangular pinwheel grid. this fractally incremental system uses a single triangle, whose proportion is maintained across the single tile shape, the panel composed of five tiles and the construction module of the mega-panel composed of five panels."
Detail showing an example of the complex connection points of the inner shell
Exterior glass facade with exposed steel framework
Detail showing sandstone cladding fixed to structure through steel brackets
Triangular sandstone and zinc cladding panels
This photo shows the corrugated iron ceiling with light wells
