Curved aluminium façades provide architects with greater design freedom while maintaining the performance expected of modern cladding systems.
The Walkinshaw Group Headquarters in Dandenong South is a great example of how careful planning, precision fabrication and close collaboration can deliver a complex façade and transform it into a striking building.
Designed by Watson Young, constructed by FDC and installed by Alclad Architectural, the project features AODELI Solid Aluminium Panels (SAP) finished in Enigma Black using a high-performance three-coat PVDF coating system. The building demonstrates how solid aluminium panels can be fabricated into complex curved forms while delivering the durability and precision required for commercial architecture.
The Challenges of Curved Aluminium Façades
Unlike conventional flat façades, curved aluminium panels require a higher level of coordination throughout the design, fabrication and installation process. Every panel must be manufactured to precise tolerances to ensure smooth transitions, consistent sightlines and accurate alignment across the building envelope.
Close collaboration between architects, fabricators, installers and suppliers from the earliest stages of a project is essential for successful delivery. Early coordination also supports panel layout, fixing methods and sequencing, helping to minimise on-site adjustments and ensuring the finished façade accurately reflects the original design intent.
Why Solid Aluminium Panels?
Material selection plays an important role in the successful execution of curved façade applications.
Solid aluminium panels are particularly well suited to complex architectural forms because they can be fabricated into tight curved profiles while maintaining their strength, dimensional stability and long-term durability. Manufactured from premium 5052 marine-grade aluminium, AODELI's Solid Aluminium Panel (SAP) system offers excellent corrosion resistance and is designed to perform in Australia's demanding environmental conditions.
The material's workability gives architects greater flexibility to explore complex geometries that would be difficult to achieve using many alternative façade materials.
The Importance of High-Performance Coatings
When specifying aluminium façades, coating performance is as important as panel fabrication.
The Walkinshaw Group Headquarters incorporates AODELI's Enigma Black finish using a high-performance three-coat PVDF coating system. While the finish creates a bold contemporary appearance, it has also been selected to provide long-term colour retention, gloss stability and resistance to Australia's harsh UV conditions.
This is particularly important for darker colours, where coating quality plays a significant role in maintaining a consistent appearance throughout the life of the building.
Delivering Complex Façades with Confidence
Projects such as the Walkinshaw Group Headquarters demonstrate what can be achieved when design, material selection and fabrication expertise are considered together from the outset.
By combining precision fabrication with high-performance solid aluminium panels and durable coatings, curved façades can deliver both architectural freedom and long-term performance, making them an effective solution for contemporary commercial buildings.
Project Details
Project: Walkinshaw Group Headquarters, Dandenong South, VIC
Architect: Watson Young
Builder: FDC
Installer: Alclad Architectural
Product: SAP - Solid Aluminium Panel
Finish: Enigma Black