Custom Clad, VIC and QLD–based cladding specialist, supplied and installed the complex curved brick façade at 17 Bennetts Lane.
Custom Clad
Rising 20 storeys above the narrow rhythm of Melbourne’s CBD, 17 Bennetts Lane demonstrates what is possible when technical façade engineering and vision align. At street level, this ambition is expressed through a highly intricate curved brick façade, where horizontal and vertical curves intersect to form a seamless, sculptural surface.
Curving brickwork in a single direction is already complex. At 17 Bennetts Lane, the challenge was amplified by the need to curve across both horizontal and vertical planes simultaneously. Every deviation, no matter how small, had the potential to compound across the façade. This combination of geometry and material behaviour is rarely attempted, not because it cannot be imagined, but because controlling it in practice demands an exceptional level of planning and expertise.
It was within these constraints that Custom Clad’s end-to-end cladding approach became critical. by bringing design, manufacture, supply and installation together as a single, coordinated process.
As part of this integrated scope, Custom Clad supplied a complete lightweight wall cavity system combining steel framing, non-combustible insulation, breathable sarking, and metal battens. The brick slip cladding extended across both the internal and external faces of the front entry, reinforcing the continuity of the curved form. Custom Clad also installed vertical feature cladding made from recycled Oregon timber salvaged from the demolition of the original structure on the site.
“This project began long before fabrication, with a fully modelled 3D steel framework developed by the team at Hacer Group”, said Michael Slowey, Director of Custom Clad. “The 3D model allowed our team to visualise every curve and detail of the building well in advance. Both the primary steel frame and the brick façade sub-frame were fabricated directly from this model, ensuring every line aligned with the intended architectural vision.”
From the 3D model, Custom Clad manufactured precise jigs for accurate setout on site for the specialised curved light gauge steel framing. These jigs ensured consistency across all curved sections, allowing the framing to form perfectly around the intricate window and wall shapes.
Every steel frame was manufactured in Custom Clad’s Hallam facility and delivered to site ready for installation, sorted and labelled for efficient assembly. Managing the logistics of delivery and coordination was crucial given the site tight access in the CBD.
Custom Clad’s ability to manufacture in-house and supply complete system helped reduce downtime on site and maintained consistent quality across every stage of the project. Working closely with Nubrik, Custom Clad ensured that the variations in natural clay pressed materials were managed carefully so that the finished façade achieved both structural and visual harmony.
During installation, multiple cladding installers worked simultaneously to erect the steel framing and lay the brick slips precisely according to detailed shop drawings.
Brickwork was installed progressively before mortar was applied, allowing the curvature to be refined and checked throughout the process. Particular care was taken to ensure brick and mortar colours aligned with adjacent façades and neighbouring buildings, reinforcing visual continuity at street level.
“It has been incredibly fulfilling to push the limits of cladding innovation again with Hacer Group, setting a new standard for what can be achieved with modern construction tools, exact setout and a collaborative approach”, said Slowey.
The finished result appears calm and effortless, a seamless curved brick façade that conceals months of planning, coordination and technical discipline.
At 17 Bennetts Lane, complexity has not been eliminated, but resolved, demonstrating how careful modelling, material understanding and craftsmanship can bring ambitious architectural forms to life with precision and elegance.
For more information contact Custom Clad, phone 03 9791 2904, email info@customclad.com.au, website www.customclad.com.au
