An ingenious use of customised SUPAWOOD timber slats forms a stunning ceiling feature in the new food court at the Mandurah Forum shopping centre at Mandurah WA.

The design brief envisaged a complex ceiling structure resembling a bird’s nest. To bring the concept to fruition, a custom slatted product was required. It was also essential for the product manufacturer to work closely with the build team to ensure the installation was well-executed and on time.

SUPAWOOD was able to supply a full design and construct service, providing accurate shop drawings and all the components required for a smooth installation.

The Bird’s Nest feature ceiling is made from loose SUPASLAT at 145mm wide and 18mm thick in various lengths and finished in a Melamine Milano Walnut on both faces. The slats are suspended in spaced rows on black rods, each slat staggered in a complex arrangement to achieve the effect required.

SUPAWOOD’s Design and Construct service produced detailed shop drawings for the ceiling area and ensured the custom slats were efficiently installed.

The whole structure was like a huge Meccano set with 2415 linear metres of slats, each slat labelled and drilled with the appropriate holes needed for its placement. Additionally, 750 rods were supplied with the necessary fixings required to assemble them with the slats.

The redevelopment of the Mandurah Forum encapsulated a major refurbishment and expansion, which almost doubled the Centre’s original size. The new food hall forms a central hub and endorses the client’s brief to achieve a relaxed retail experience for their patrons.

Photography courtesy of Mandurah Forum