5 Benefits of Perforated Metal for Urban Planning
Australia’s cities are growing and changing fast, which means greater challenges for architects and urban planning designers. How do you create spaces that keep up with rising populations and demographic trends while being sustainable, inclusive, and visually striking?
Perforated metal is fast becoming a practical and innovative solution. From urban facades that reduce energy use to ensuring inclusive design and accessible transport infrastructure, perforated metal is a versatile material that meets the evolving demands of modern urban planning.
Here are five key benefits of perforated metal for urban planning, exploring how it helps create healthy, sustainable, and inspiring spaces with some of our project examples.
1. Multi-functional, Space-Saving Design
With Australia’s population expected to hit 30 million by 2030 and more people living in major cities each year (PIA/Urbis Foresight Report 2024), urban areas need to make the most of every square metre. Perforated metal is a space-efficient, multi-functional solution, with many urban architects and designers relying on it for building facades and screens as it provides natural ventilation, light, shading, and aesthetic design in one, easy-to-incorporate material.
2. Climate Change Resilience
According to the PIA/Urbis Foresight Report, climate change is one of the most urgent urban planning challenges. Ensuring buildings and public spaces can combat urban heat, including extreme heatwave events, is critical. Perforated metal facades and screens enhance resilience by deflecting solar heat, reducing heat gain, and mitigating urban heat island effects whilst creating shaded, well-ventilated spaces for cooler, safer, and healthier environments.
3. Creating Sustainable Spaces
Sustainability is another critical urban planning goal that perforated metal helps to achieve. As a recyclable material, it’s a circular economy success. And through its natural ventilation and lighting abilities – customisable through the perforation design – perforated metal also reduces reliance on energy consumption, contributing to project sustainability targets while minimising resource usage. Its durability and strength make it a long-lasting choice for sustainable urban infrastructure.
4. Supporting Social Inclusivity
Perforated metal is a material that can foster inclusivity and a sense of identity just through its design. From panels featuring culturally significant patterns to designs celebrating local history and heritage, perforated metal can be customised to transform buildings and spaces into visual landmarks that encourage social interaction and well-being.
5. Spaces Accessible to All
Urban spaces need to be accessible to all users and demographics, and perforated metal is a top choice, particularly for public transport projects where safety and accessibility are key priorities. Whether it’s balustrades, walkways, footbridges, or underpasses, perforated metal provides strength and durability, creating spaces that are not only functional and visually appealing but also welcoming and accessible for all.
Perforated Metal in Urban Planning: Arrow Metal Project Examples
Hurlstone Park Pavilion – New Community Facility
Our perforated panels formed the ideal cover for Hurlstone Memorial Reserve’s award-winning public pavilion. With the need for a facade and roofing solution that offered shading, weather protection, light flow, ventilation, and visual appeal, perforated metal ticked all the boxes, creating a new, open, multi-functional space that invites the community to come together. The new pavilion has won notable accolades, including the Small Project Award in the 2024 NSW Architecture Awards and a Gold architectural design prize in the 2024 Good Design Awards.
Denistone Train Station – Inclusive Accessibility
Denistone Station is one of several NSW Transport for Access Program upgrades to specify our perforated screens to improve accessibility. But Denistone Station’s perforated metal – used for the platform, concourse, and footbridge – is particularly special, enhancing accessibility and fostering inclusivity. We custom-perforated a Blue Gum design to reflect the Wallumedegal people, the traditional custodians of the land on which the station sits, with panels given a green-coloured finish to complement the station’s historic features, which are especially meaningful to the local community.
Other Transport for Access Program projects that incorporate functional and inclusive perforated metal design include Stanmore Station’s lift foyers, which features the artwork of First Nations artist Maddison Gibbs, and Towradgi Station, where nature themes were thoughtfully integrated into the new perforated footbridge, canopies, and stairs in consultation with Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation and local designers. Denistone, Stanmore, and Towradgi infrastructure projects are great examples of the versatility of perforated metal in achieving functional, aesthetic, and inclusive urban planning goals.
Archibald Residences – Customised Building Ventilation
At urban development Archibald Residences in Bondi Junction, perforated metal keeps building service machinery sustainably cool while paying tribute to local history. We perforated the ventilation screens with historic photographs of Sydney’s trams, which used to cross the area, ensuring the screens captured all the details of the images without compromising airflow.
Rockdale Park – New Amenities Building
Rockdale Park is one of the oldest public spaces in the Bayside area, treasured amongst the community as a picturesque location for celebrations and gatherings. So the new amenities block – part of a significant upgrade by Bayside Council – needed to blend in seamlessly. Our perforated panels were specified for the building’s new roof in a creative and eye-catching cantilever installation that required customised punching and cutting. The roof has transformed what would be a functional building into a beautiful architectural feature of the park that meets project planning goals.
Paramount on Parkes – Public Artwork
Public art installations are a big part of urban planning, helping to create inspiring places. Take a look at our latest art project at Paramount on Parkes, one of Parramatta’s newest mixed-use developments. Named Confluence, the installation honours the water flow in the local area, cleverly using our perforated metal panels to mimic the currents. The result is a multi-sensory experience that encourages exploration, inviting visitors into the new complex day and night.
Perforated Metal for Urban Planning: Project Support & Advice
For perforated metal solutions to your urban planning challenges, chat to our expert team on (02) 9748 2200or email sales@arrowmetal.com.au. We will advise the best type of metal and pattern to achieve project and planning goals, with free sample packs available on request.
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