Scape Kingsford, Sydney
Scape Kingsford comprises an 18-storey mixed-use student accommodation building, alongside retail and commercial tenancies. The project utilises our Austech Facades Curtain Wall Brick Slip system, featuring integrated planter boxes in the facade system.
“Introducing brand new, state-of-the-art student accommodation that perfectly blends comfort with unique design. Located on the doorstep of UNSW and NIDA, amazing Sydney beaches and the light rail to the CBD, Scape Kingsford features a rooftop terrace with BBQ area, games lounge and an indoor cinema experience,” shares Scape.
Behind the Facade
The Brief
Scape Kingsford is an 18-storey mixed-use development on Anzac Parade – a prominent site as part of a wider revitalisation of the K2K Corridor, and a flagship offering for student accommodation provider Scape.
Our client, Taylor Construction, came to us with the brief to deliver a facade that was both durable and design-led.
The Challenge
After we reviewed the initial plans, we responded with something that Taylor Construction didn't ask for.
We identified opportunities to enhance both cost efficiency and buildability in the podium design. The original concept called for concrete planter boxes, traditional bricks, and architectural features such as fins. We responded by revising the slab design, pulling it back to make way for curtain wall panels that incorporated our proprietary brick slip system. This adjustment not only streamlined construction but also allowed us to integrate a powder-coated aluminium planter box – complete with irrigation and drainage – directly within the curtain wall panel, resulting in a unified and efficient solution.
Our Solution
Instead of opting for a standard glass facade with separately added planter boxes, our team developed a facade that seamlessly combined windows, brick slip panels and planter boxes (complete with vertical stainless steel wires to nurture plant growth) within the same curtain wall system. This innovative approach was a first for us – and one that we were exceptionally proud to deliver for Taylor Construction, and Scape.
The integrated planter box system represents a genuine expansion of what's possible in facade design. It started with a new way of thinking, and a final product we're incredibly proud of.