Nettletontribe’s design capabilities are showcased with Covet products in the ground-floor lobby.

Upon approaching their 50th anniversary, the renowned architecture and design firm, nettletontribe, decided to give their Sydney studio a makeover. The aim was to showcase the quality of their work to clients and better express their design focus. “We wanted to showcase what we do as architects and designers, and so the products that we chose had to represent that, as well as the corporate culture we wanted to express as part of the new fit-out,” says Jeremy Bishop, Director of nettletontribe.

The ground floor lobby was instrumental as part of this vision. “The lobby is a street-level showcase for us,” Jeremy explains. “With reception on level one, what people see on the ground floor has to speak for itself and make a statement about who we are.”

The Challenge

Early on, a bold decision was made by Nettletontribe to stay in the offices whilst completing the renovation. Solutions needed to be simple and fast to install without compromising the impactful dynamic of their vision and design. The fact that the lobby was also functioning as the building's main fire exit added another element of challenge to the project. It meant that any products used had to be non-combustible to ensure staff could exit the studio in a safe and timely manner in the event of fire. “Even though as architects we love certain looks - like warm timber finish - we couldn't use real wood because it's combustible,” says Jeremy.

The Solution

The best solution for nettletontribe was quickly found to be Kabebari Ever Art Wood timber look aluminium battens. Fire-resistant and easy to install, its photorealistic genuine timber look ensured the product had the perfect combination of qualities to meet the studio's needs. "Kabebari Ever Art Wood battens allowed us to get that organic timber look finish without having to use real timber," says Jeremy and adds: "It's also a very durable product which is important for that space - we receive a lot of deliveries so we had to ensure that whatever we used in the lobby would be durable and could be easily replaced in case a part of it gets damaged."

The deep dark of Burakku Erumu finish on the battens created a captivating contrast to the floor, which also featured Covet's range of products.

With a concrete warehouse look desired, Pietra 10mm Concrete Terrazzo Overlay with 6mm Koonunga Hill Dove Marble was selected and installed in an exceptionally short time frame. Time constraints meant the team was reluctant to rip the existing floor tiles off so selecting a product that could be laid over the existing surface was pivotal.

“The beauty of Covet Concrete Terrazzo Overlay is that it can be laid over the existing floor tiles - provided they're sturdy enough,” Jeremy explains the appeal of the product. “Once the inspection was done, and the existing tiles were deemed strong enough to overlay the product, it took just one weekend to pour the topping.”

The colour choices in the lobby were designed to complement the rest of the interior without being too literal, the rest of the office fit-out being a combination of dark, black panels and light timber. The result speaks for itself. A true expression of nettletontribe's design capabilities, their brand's culture - and the quality of the finished product they deliver personified in an exceptional space. “We've had lots of positive comments from clients,” Jeremy mentions enthusiastically. “They often ask what the product is, showing particular interest in the possibilities for commercial applications.”

Cladding profile

Ever Art Wood Aluminium Round Kabebari Battens

Ever Art Wood

Burakku Erumu

Fire rating

Performs well when tested to AS/NZ 1530.3 (spread of flame / index 0) and AS/NZ 3837-1998 (result / Group 1)

Concrete surface

Concrete Overlay 10mm

Concrete Colour

Pietra

Aggregate Colour

6mm Koonunga Hill Dove Marble

Surface Finish

Exposed aggregate

Photography: Provided by Covet