Warm and Inviting Timber Facade
Dandenong Mental Health

Dandenong Mental health was designed as a joint venture between Bates Smart and Group GSA, with the end result setting a new standard for mental health facilities in Australia.
Product
Tongue and Groove Cladding
Materials
Blackbutt
Sector
Health
Architect
Bates Smart and Group GSA
Builder
Kane
Location
Dandenong, VIC
Completion Date
2011
Photographer
John Gollings

A material fit for purpose
Over 50km of Tongue & Groove Cladding was produced for Dandenong Mental Health, all in Blackbutt Timber. Blackbutt was chosen for its durability, being a class 1 timber, which makes it perfect for minimising maintenance on external areas.
The timber cladding also allows the project to blend into its suburban surrounds, rather than disturbing the domestic environment.
Biophilic design
Natural materials like timber provide more than just aesthetics to health projects. The use of natural materials like timber, and including features like plants into a space can have drastic positive effects on the inhabitants of a building.

The good thing about the timber was that it could also blend in with the domestic character of the buildings around it, so it met the planning outcome of fitting this building into its domestic environment, making the people within the building feel good, and to extend architecture’s capacity to create environments that are good for people.
Kristen Whittle
Design Director | Bates Smart
If you put someone into a concrete box and asked them how they were feeling – or measured how they were feeling – and then put them into a garden courtyard with timber, plants and trees you’d get a completely different response.
Kristen Whittle
Design Director | Bates Smart

Advantages of the system
Tongue & Groove Cladding was used extensively on Dandenong Mental Health, and designers and installers alike loved the refined nature of the system. The 138x19mm boards create a texture both internally and externally which gives character to the project. The timber has since been allowed to weather, providing a natural aesthetic to the whole centre.
The installers of this project were Casello, a Sculptform Partner Installer. Partner Installers are experienced contractors who know how to install our products quickly and effectively.


Product Specifications
Tongue & Groove Cladding
Product
Sculptform Tongue & Groove Cladding
Material
Timber
Species
Blackbutt
Size
138x19mm
Profile
Sorrento
Coating
Clear Oil
Like the look?
The following table highlights the specification details for the Tongue & Groove Cladding used at Dandenong Mental Health. Use this as a guide to create your own specification or use our online Price & Spec tool which allows you to quickly envisage, budget, and specify your project. Learn more about our tool below or view this project in Price & Spec.


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