A vision in COLORBOND® steel. Sierra Hawthorn stands as a striking addition to Hawthorn’s Burwood Road - a landmark development that seamlessly combines luxury living with practicality. Featuring five COLORBOND® steel colours, these carefully selected hues reflect the changing seasonal tones of Hawthorn's iconic tree-lined streets.
At the heart of Sierra Hawthorn’s design lies a bold ‘S’ shaped architectural form that maximises space and creates a sense of flow. This unique curvature gives the building its distinct character while framing two large landscaped courtyards. These spaces offer residents a leafy retreat, connecting them to nature and enhancing the building’s overall sense of community.
The apartment building features varied facades that reflect their specific function and the surrounding environment. The street-facing facades boast sleek, modern materials like shimmering glass and steel, creating a bold urban aesthetic. In contrast, the quieter residential areas at the rear feature a more traditional townhouse-inspired design, ensuring harmony between the building and its neighbourhood.
A palette inspired by nature
The facade is brought to life with Interlocking Panel - installed by Industry Cladding & Roofing - featuring five COLORBOND® steel colours: Cosmic® in a Metallic finish, along with Succulent™, Fresh Green™, Mangrove®, and Pale Eucalypt® in a Classic finish.* These carefully selected hues reflect the changing seasonal tones of Hawthorn's iconic tree-lined streets.
Sierra Hawthorn demonstrates how colour can enhance a building’s connection to its surroundings while expressing individuality. From the earthy greens that tie the building to its natural environment to the metallic finish of COLORBOND® steel Cosmic®, each colour choice enhances the project’s visual impact.
Central to the project’s success was the use of the COLORBOND® steel Studio, a tool that allows architects and designers to explore over 200 COLORBOND® steel colours. With features like colour matching through RGB or HEX values and the ability to identify complementary shades from uploaded images, the Studio provided the resources to develop a cohesive and modern palette.
Three of the five colours chosen for Sierra Hawthorn’s facade - Succulent™, Fresh Green™, and Mangrove®* - were selected from the COLORBOND® steel Studio range.
“The COLORBOND® steel Studio gives designers and developers incredible flexibility to match colours to their vision,” says Grant Wright, Managing Director of Industry Cladding & Roofing. “This flexibility allowed the project to be built using hues that harmonised with the local landscape and enhanced the project’s contemporary aesthetic. It empowers designers to unleash their creative potential in unprecedented ways.”
Enduring quality in every detail
Sierra Hawthorn is more than just an architectural statement - it’s a thoughtfully designed, community-centred development offering modern amenities such as a rooftop garden terrace with sweeping views of Melbourne’s CBD, a gym, and a 22-metre indoor pool.
The use of durable materials like COLORBOND® steel ensures the development’s distinctive design is matched by enduring finishes that require minimal upkeep over time. “Material choice plays a huge role in the design of any building, whether it is a university, a hospital, or a high-end residential development like Sierra Hawthorn. It’s not just about aesthetic appeal - it’s about ensuring durability for long-term performance,” says Wright.
Bringing the vision to life
Industry Cladding & Roofing’s manufacturing division, Industry Metals, played a key role in the Sierra Hawthorn build. They fabricated the Interlocking Panel facade at their Bacchus Marsh facility, ensuring quality control and enabling the delivery of the product to a high standard.
“We pride ourselves on offering a comprehensive solution, from manufacturing the profile through to installation,” says Wright. “This approach allowed us to maintain strict quality control standards throughout the process and provide technical expertise.”
Effective collaboration between the architect and on-site trades was crucial to translating the design into a physical structure. Wright adds, “The architect’s vision needs to align with the practical knowledge of tradespeople to address challenges and make adjustments. Our approach fostered clear communication, minimised errors, and contributed to the timely and cost-effective completion of the building.”
A testament to COLORBOND® steel
Sierra Hawthorn is a prime example of how a carefully curated colour palette can elevate modern urban design. With its durability and enduring style, COLORBOND® steel enabled a facade that is both visually impactful and seamlessly integrated with its surroundings.
“The use of Interlocking Panel cladding made from COLORBOND® steel creates a facade that is not only visually striking but also functional,” says Wright. “It helped transform Sierra Hawthorn into a building that people want to live in, offering lasting aesthetic value and long-term performance. With the right team and materials, the possibilities are endless,” he concludes.
Discover More
Ready to elevate your design? Learn more about the COLORBOND® steel Studio and explore over 200 COLORBOND® steel colours – visit colorbondstudio.com
*Succulent™, Fresh Green™, and Mangrove® are available in the COLORBOND® steel Studio range. They are subject to a specifier’s enquiry, with longer lead times and minimum order quantities applicable.
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