Dekton Lunar leads the renovation of an iconic building in Melbourne's financial district

The Argus Centre is a postmodern-style office skyscraper located at the corner of La Trobe and Elizabeth Streets, Melbourne. It was designed by architect Nonda Katsalidis while leading AXIA Pty Ltd for the client Ryssal Three and was built between 1991 and 1993. Hence, it required a comprehensive renovation and façade update, conceived, according to Gray Puksand studio, “as a contemporary intervention that respects the existing building while significantly enhancing its urban presence, durability, and long-term performance within Melbourne's financial district environment.”

The studio's greatest challenge was “renovating an existing façade while minimising disruptions, integrating new materials with the preserved structure, and achieving a contemporary aesthetic that enhanced the building's positioning without overshadowing its original architecture. “To this end,” they continued, “the original granite and other natural stone or composite cladding options were studied. These were ultimately discarded due to their weight, long-term maintenance considerations, or offering less flexibility compared to Dekton's performance, uniformity, and fixing options.” This is how Dekton Lunar came into play.

Dekton Lunar has been applied to this ventilated façade, replacing the existing granite panels. The material provides a contemporary and refined expression, as well as greater uniformity, reduced weight, and improved long-term performance compared to the original stone façade. “Dekton was selected for its technical performance, durability, and suitability for ventilated façade systems, as well as its subtle, mineral-inspired aesthetic and concrete-like appearance. Dekton Lunar aligns with the project's contemporary architectural language and meets the demanding conditions of a commercial façade in the heart of the financial district.”

The choice was based on a combination of technical performance and aesthetic qualities. Its excellent mechanical properties, resistance to UV rays, freeze-thaw cycles, abrasion, and stains, among others, as well as being a non-combustible material, make Dekton the perfect material for any façade project. Additionally, Cosentino offers a 25-year warranty for this application and a commitment to sustainability with its Carbon Neutral certification. The Lunar finish, in turn, provides a sober and industrial tone that complements the building's new identity.

“Dekton is a high-performance ultracompact surface for façades, offering resistance, durability, and precision. Its low porosity and behaviour against environmental agents make it particularly suitable for ventilated façade applications in urban environments.” Regarding maintenance, Dekton's non-porous surface facilitates cleaning, reducing long-term costs and requirements, and helping to preserve the value of the real estate asset.

Working with Dekton allowed the design team to achieve a clean and modern appearance, with large-format slabs, a high level of precision in details, and very rigorous quality control. The material's dimensional stability and chromatic homogeneity reinforced the architectural intention to create a serene and uniform façade across all elevations.