Dekton makes possible the largest urban waterfall in the southern hemisphere
SJB Architects & Waterforms International
Location
Sydney, Australia
Client
Crown Group
Architecture / Design
SJB Architects
Application
Façade | Cladding
Material
Dekton
Color
Kelya
Quantity
680 m2
Thickness
12 mm
Collaborators
Waterforms International
Interior Designer
Baron Forge | Prime Marble
End date
2020
A 22 metre engineering and design challenge
Unique, breathtaking projects, such as this stunning 22 metre urban waterfall made entirely of Dekton, arise when design and technique are embraced. The project is the result of the collaboration between Cosentino and the Australian design team Waterforms International, a company specialising in architecture and engineering of all types of water related facilities.
Inspired by the lush tropical landscapes of Indonesia, the waterfall is located on the main façade of a luxury residential building and serves as a starting point for exploring an urban garden with over 5,000 tropical plants. “Just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be. That is our philosophy”, says Kate Deakin-Bell, Marketing Coordinator for Cosentino Oceania.
A 22 metre engineering and design challenge
Unique, breathtaking projects, such as this stunning 22 metre urban waterfall made entirely of Dekton, arise when design and technique are embraced. The project is the result of the collaboration between Cosentino and the Australian design team Waterforms International, a company specialising in architecture and engineering of all types of water related facilities.
Inspired by the lush tropical landscapes of Indonesia, the waterfall is located on the main façade of a luxury residential building and serves as a starting point for exploring an urban garden with over 5,000 tropical plants. “Just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be. That is our philosophy”, says Kate Deakin-Bell, Marketing Coordinator for Cosentino Oceania.
“There is a growing interest in how design and urban planning can bring us closer to nature. We love that Dekton plays such an important role in this type of project”.
Kate Deakin-Bell
Marketing Coordinator Cosentino Oceania
From granite to Dekton
The project was initially going to be made from granite. However, when the designers brought the sketch to reality, technical difficulties surfaced, such as the weight of the material and its high maintenance cost. In addition to these difficulties, the poor aesthetic result of the joints created between the granite pieces led the Waterforms International team to realise that a different material was needed.
“One of the most attractive aspects of Dekton is the size of the slabs. The large format means fewer joints and a more refined aesthetic result”, explains Dirk Slotboom, Managing Director of Waterforms International. “Dekton is lightweight, maintenance-free and water-proof, making it ideal for this project. Furthermore, it has the exact texture we wanted here”.
“Dekton is a superior product. We will use it again in future projects”.
Dirk Slotboom
Waterforms International
Limitless designs
Dekton is the chosen material for designers and architects working on projects with different technical difficulties: from urban environments where maintenance is key, to high-traffic buildings where the material must be both resistant and versatile.
“This is not only a beautiful waterfall, it also plays an important role in the sustainable revolution taking place in urban planning in Australia”, explains Kate Deakin-Bell. Classified as a Carbon Neutral product, Dekton is not only manufactured in a sustainable way: its technical features make it perfect for projects that seek energy efficiency but not at the expense of beauty.