Designed by Pac Studio with thermal modelling overseen by VIA Architecture, the form of the Hub is based on an architectural shed with a design that mixes practicality with beauty, resulting in an artfully finished building that still allows for the hands-on nature of the business.
For a company that leads the way in terms of sustainable building, it was important for Dunlop Builders to practise what they preach when creating their own headquarters - and material choices contributed greatly to their ability to do so.
Well versed in the benefits of Abodo timbers, having built the Cardrona Cabin and other projects using cladding and screening, Dunlop used Vulcan timber extensively for their Hub. The thermally modified timber is used for the exterior rainscreen and interior window framing, ceiling, shelving and decking.
Custom made furnishings also make use of Vulcan including the boardroom table, a book case (made from offcuts) and a handmade light feature crafted to reflect the contours of nearby mountain ranges. In efforts to work within a circular economy, Dunlop has taken the off cuts from the Vulcan rainscreen and used these to create shelving brackets inside.
Vulcan is also used for the stiles, mullions and frames of the substantial curtain wall that is a feature on the street-facing side of the office, an application that clearly exemplifies the company’s trust in the stability of the product.
Read more about this project here.
