Supawood Architectural Lining Systems  supplied Supaslat Driftwood slatted ceiling panels for the fit-out of the ground floor foyer, function centre and café precinct of a new motel in north Wollongong.

Designed with a maritime theme, the facilities are setting new standards for business meetings and form part of a multimillion dollar residential, accommodation and function centre development aimed at attracting new business enterprise to Wollongong and encouraging industry partnerships with the nearby university campus.

The interiors draw inspiration from the local history of Towradgi Beach with a contemporary interpretation of the local sand dunes. The unique rustic weathered appearance of Supaslat Driftwood slatted ceiling panels was found ideal for the feature ceilings as it complemented the maritime theme and achieved the acoustic criteria required for the facility.

Supaslat Driftwood acoustic ceiling panels are made up of slats of wood prefinished by hand etching and coating a specific grade and species of hardwood timber so that every slat is unique.

Since Supaslat Driftwood slatted ceiling panels were supplied in an acoustic option, they met the designers’ requirement for a suitable acoustic solution to reduce the impact of amplified noise in the wide open areas.

The designers of the motel fit-out wanted the panel finish to be left as rough and uneven as possible with the resulting finish showing every knot, crack and grain in the timber, a characteristic of timber that has been aged by the elements.

However, when integrated with the rest of the décor, the rough white ceiling slats render a refreshingly contemporary appearance while giving the reception and function areas increased dimension and atmosphere – an excellent example of the creative and functional use of this Supawood product.