Perth DFO
Glulam White Cypress and shopping haven
Timber Specifications
- Glulam: GL10 Glulam White Cypress
- Curved Posts: 240 x 85mm GL10
- Internal Posts: 450 x 85mm Gl10 Column
- Rafters: 600 x 85mm
The new Perth DFO is a major complex combining over 100 fashion retail tenancies with various food and beverage options, outdoor alfresco areas, interior gardens and a destination play space. In total, covering in excess of 24,000m² in close proximity to Perth Airport. The DFO provides a key discount apparel destination for WA.
The majority of tenancies are internal to the building in a ‘racetrack’ configuration, providing wide central circular pedestrian walkways for ease of movement through lots of young fashion, quality merchandise at a bargain price.
As we move to the Food Court area, we find ourselves under two giant mushroom-like structures which provide a refreshing organic break from the industrial-look, exposed steel ceilings in the walkways between the shops.
A white curved plasterboard bulkhead provides the edge of the mushroom cap, the gills are made from large Glulam White Cypress Beams (600x85mm) whose natural colours contrast wonderfully with the white cap edge and white supawood gill infills. These beams are made to flow naturally into the angled (450x85mm) Glulam White Cypress posts via a Cypress gusset that is neatly rebated into their joins.
Eighteen of these posts form an octa-decagonal glazed structure which encases a delightful terrarium like garden. A place of beauty and natural streaming light from the oculus above. The natural timbers, living gardens and streaming sunlight provide a natural relief from your shopping excursion. The out-facing view from there to the children’s “Adventure Play” playground and alfresco area enhances this relaxed feeling.
This alfresco / play space is pleasingly defined by the layback skyward seeking pairs of Glulam White Cypress (240x85mm) posts joined with a spacer between and a bolt pattern that displays visual strength. Again, we see Glulam timber being used to create that extra “living-feel” to a public space.
