external wall of a building fixed to the main structural frame but not supporting any part of the building. The Council had obtained comments from Mr Maron himself during the assessment process, and Mr Maron had noted that many architects had enquired about the construction and detail of the metal cladding for application in their buildings nationally, but that the curtain wall was a one-off design “we invented and developed from the and it could not easily be copied as the ‘ground-up’ sections were specially adapted for He went on to state that curtain walls us.” are not new in the world but the former AAA Building, while looking like a curtain wall, is actually unique in that the aluminium part was independently supported off the end of the slab with the glass between them unlike ‘slung’ traditional curtain walls. Mr Metcalf and other witnesses noted that, in the development of the design of the Building, the architect had considered two alternative façade materials – aluminium and asbestos cement (now fibre cement) and that the association of – metal with the key business may have been the reason that aluminium client’s was chosen. However in Mr opinion, the Building have Metcalf’s “would looked substantially the same if asbestos cement sheeting had been In used.” cross-examination, Mr Metcalf qualified this by saying that his opinion related to the Building when from Northbourne Avenue, which is one of the “viewed primary ways to look at this building, not close up because close up you would tell.” The Tribunal cannot easily accept the opinion of Mr Metcalf that the appearance of the Building would have been the with either asbestos “substantially same” cement or aluminium cladding. Mr Metcalf thought it unlikely that the materials and methods of construction would need to be changed were the façade to be covered in fibre cement sheeting. Mr Queale noted that and aluminium “curves cladding are direct and skilful to the functions of the Australian references” Automobile Association. He also stated that the façade is a ‘aluminium sheet creative a type of material that allows an economic, solution…as ‘space age’ seamless treatment of the exterior skin and its unique The curvaceous form”. Tribunal doubts that the sleek sensual façade and frameless glazing achieved by
external wall of a building fixed to the main structural frame but not supporting any part of the building. The Council had obtained comments from Mr Maron himself during the assessment process, and Mr Maron had noted that many architects had enquired about the construction and detail of the metal cladding for application in their buildings nationally, but that the curtain wall was a one-off design “we invented and developed from the ‘ground-up’ and it could not easily be copied as the sections were specially adapted for us.” He went on to state that curtain walls are not new in the world but the former AAA Building, while looking like a curtain wall, is actually unique in that the aluminium part was independently supported off the end of the slab with the glass ‘slung’ between them unlike traditional curtain walls. Mr Metcalf and other witnesses noted that, in the development of the design of the Building, the architect had considered two alternative façade materials – aluminium and asbestos cement (now fibre cement) – and that the association of metal with the client’s key business may have been the reason that aluminium was chosen. However in Mr Metcalf’s opinion, the Building “would have looked substantially the same if asbestos cement sheeting had been used.” In cross-examination, Mr Metcalf qualified this by saying that his opinion related to the Building when “viewed from Northbourne Avenue, which is one of the primary ways to look at this building, not close up because close up you would tell.” The Tribunal cannot easily accept the opinion of Mr Metcalf that the appearance of the Building would have been “substantially the same” with either asbestos cement or aluminium cladding. Mr Metcalf thought it unlikely that the materials and methods of construction would need to be changed were the façade to be covered in fibre cement sheeting. Mr Queale noted that “curves and aluminium cladding are direct and skilful references” to the functions of the Australian Automobile Association. He also stated that the ‘aluminium sheet façade is a creative solution…as a ‘space age’ type of material that allows an economic, seamless treatment of the exterior skin and its unique curvaceous form”. The Tribunal doubts that the sleek sensual façade and frameless glazing achieved by
212_northbourne_pty_limited_v_act_heritage_council_anor_administrative_review_2016_acat_30.docx