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Location: Wollongong, NSW
Design Partner: GroupGSA
Paint Used: Taubmans Pure Performance Semi-Gloss Trim, Armawall Texture Coating
Student accommodations have come a long way. Take Bangalay, a contemporary building more akin to an upscale apartment complex than traditional student accommodation.
For the University of Wollongong’s latest accommodation, GroupGSA has designed a building with high-quality finishes throughout. Bangalay’s design scheme is striking for its homely yet refined ambience, with a hotel-like reception area, thoughtful communal spaces and efficiently planned apartments that boast a thoroughly modern aesthetic.
“Material choices were critical for Bangalay because the project has to withstand lots of wear and tear,” says Lisa-Maree Carrigan, a Director of GroupGSA. “The quality and durability of the finishes were also important, and that’s why we chose to use Taubmans’ paints throughout the interior.” Additionally, finding a hygienic solution that guards against mould was also a crucial consideration.
Deep, rich blues bring a striking contrast to the communal areas, complementing the soft greys and warm creams of the apartments and corridors. These elegant finishes were achieved using water-based paints with low volatile organic compounds (VOC), ensuring minimal odour and a smooth, long-lasting result. For added durability, Taubmans Pure Performance Semi-Gloss Trim was applied to the doors, while Ceiling Flat provided a seamless, refined finish overhead.
Taubmans Pure Performance is especially well suited to the project as it’s engineered with Microban® antibacterial protection which inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria, mould, mildew and fungus. For a humid climate like Wollongong, the benefit of using this particular water-based paint is not to be underestimated. If the interior finishes needed to be hardwearing, then the exterior ones doubly so. “Bangalay is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) and has a 36-year handover period, and so its whole-of-life cost and life cycle was a significant consideration,” explains Carrigan.
In specifying the Armawall texture coating system for the external surfaces, the architects ensured the building’s durability and long-term protection from the elements. Interestingly, the three-coat system’s topcoat features excellent dirt-shedding properties, which will maintain the building’s outward appearance over time. It all adds up to a fitting finish for a truly impressive building that will provide exceptional facilities for the University of Wollongong’s students for years to come.
