An environmentally sound product

Jamie Oliver’s very first Ministry of Food, located in Ipswich, Queensland, is all about getting people cooking again by teaching them the basics: how to cook, how to shop, and how to enjoy food in a way that benefits not only individuals, but also their families.

Despite the abundance of reality cooking shows on television, and the apparent availability of food education, obesity in Australia is epidemic. The entire premise of the Ministry of Food project is to combat this growing problem.

Providing a functional environment for food education and preparation was key, as was ensuring the kitchen design and construction mirrored the Ministry of Food’s values.

In designing the kitchen there has been a clear focus on the responsible use of recycled, re-used, and rescued elements that have gone together to create the perfect cooking and educational environment.

As a clear reflection of the continuing work and passion Kennedy’s dedicates to recycled timber, having been recently awarded the 2010 ENERGEX Innovation in Sustainability Award, Kennedy’s was proud to supply the timber benchtops used in the first Ministry of Food kitchen here in Australia.

To look at the beautiful Spotted Gum and Ironbark benchtops, the first thing that comes to mind certainly isn’t recycled power poles. It is a fact though; this is precisely their origin.

Retired power poles from around Ipswich were used to fabricate the benchtops, no mean feat given the expertise and skill required to bring the timber up to Australian standards for food preparation surfaces.
Kennedy’s have invested substantially in the know-how and processes required to provide such incredibly high quality recycled timber products.

The Ministry of Food project is a typical demonstration of the work Kennedy’s does in transforming previously employed timber and repurposing it into a public use, heavy wear, and environmentally sound end product.

Links:

www.ministryoffood.com

www.greenerkitchens.com.au

showcasing an extensive use of recycled timber

Australia’s newest and largest pub was officially opened on 2nd April 2011. The outstanding development was the inspiration of the environmentally conscious family owned Comiskey Group. Australia’s “Monster Pub” has 100 beer taps surpassed in Queensland only by Suncorp Stadium and The Gabba!

Development commenced in the midst of the global financial crisis. Robert Comiskey of the Comiskey Group stated that he had confidence in the area and decided to take a “leap of faith” by getting the project underway, “GFC or not!”

The hotel, which is set to employ an estimated 150 staff, is without a doubt built to impress. Sprawling some 7500sqm, the hotel includes four levels, eight bars, and a 2500 person capacity rock arena. Project architect Keith Hudson said they had focused on “trying to get away from that air conditioned, sealed box” feeling typical in buildings like this, by “introducing more of a subtropical Queensland architecture.”

In keeping with this architectural design intent, Kennedy’s timbers were the natural choice. Premium Classic Aged Timbers were chosen specifically and used extensively throughout the development.

Timber employed included over 18,000 lineal metres of decorative timbers and over 2000 lineal metres of structural feature timbers, faithfully supporting the architects vision, while maintaining the client’s budget. Impressive design and the extensive use of recycled timbers have created a range of spaces that are comfortable, stress free, and very typically Queensland.

Beautiful hardwood cladding lines the ceilings in parts, accompanied by rich Spotted Gum Eco Lay flooring, creating wonderfully relaxed spaces undeniably meant for dining and enjoying the company of others.
Feature posts and beams, crafted from redundant power poles, enhance open air spaces and continue the thoughtful use of natural elements throughout.

Kennedy’s K-FAB laminated timber provides beautiful robust and functional main serving bar tops and dry bars throughout the hotel.

At every turn, Kennedy’s handcrafted tables (internal, external, and coffee), all fashioned from hand selected recycled timbers with superbly rich patina and warm colour palettes, enhance the relaxed and hassle-free décor of this quintessential Queensland pub.

A central feature of the hotel is an enormous 150-year-old Fig tree. Thousands of dollars were spent saving the tree by building around the old Fig. No more impressive than from the rooftop bar where it steals the show.

The development will also feature a world class function facility. Stage two of development includes a planned 120-room accommodation tower along with a large shopping precinct anchored by a major supermarket.

Links:

www.kparchitects.com.au
www.eatonshillhotel.com.au

a passion providing a new lease on life

With an increasing focus on environmental awareness and sustainability, the use of recycled timber is becoming an increasingly attractive option among builders, developers, architects, and the like.

Kennedy's has a great passion for providing a new lease on life to recycled timber. Being able to recognise the remarkable potential and beauty in such a unique commodity is at the very heart of the Kennedy's business.

The thoughtful and often stunning employment of Kennedy's timbers can be seen in many award-winning commercial and residential developments across Australia.

Kennedy's was recently contacted by Matt Chaplin, of Sumich Chaplin Architects in New Zealand, to provide a range of recycled timber to exacting specifications. These products were earmarked for use in a landmark residential development located in the picturesque South Island township of Wanaka.

Sumich Chaplin were commissioned to design a magnificent chalet situated on Lake Wanaka to take full advantage of the wonderful vistas afforded by the surrounding lake and hills.

An extensive search took place, both locally and internationally, for a supplier who could provide the architectural timber required for a project of this calibre.

This search ultimately led Sumich Chaplin to Kennedy's. So impressed with the quality of the timber, notable product knowledge, vast skill set and expertise offered by Kennedy's, Sumich Chaplin placed further orders including a request for architectural truss timbers.

Using real time photos and electronic links the clients were able to hand select the timbers from the impressive range Kennedy's had to offer without having to visit.

The hand selected bespoken and richly patinaed timbers were prefabricated by the Kennedy's joinery team to the very detailed architectural and engineering design requirements.

Once fabricated, photographed, labelled and recorded the trusses were disassembled, labelled and flat packed for delivery to New Zealand for a quick and easy installation on-site. In all, deliveries of timber to the project site have totalled 2 X 40ft and 1 X 20ft shipping containers.

This signature architectural project will be showcased in a future edition of AGAINST the Grain

Architect: www.sumich.co.nz

kennedy's creates calm

Located in the inner city suburb of Kedron, the new Queensland Emergency Operations Centre (QEOC) is a world-class, best practice, management facility provisioning all coordination and communication for the State's emergency and disaster response efforts.

With staff often faced with highly charged and stressful situations, the incorporation of cutting edge technology within an environment promoting calm, organisation, and efficiency was a primary goal for architects, and principal consultants, Architectus.

In any workplace that relies heavily on technological infrastructure there is always a danger of the environment becoming sterile, with a focus on efficiencies over aesthetics. This is not the case for QEOC however.

Architectus, well known for excellence in design and construction, chose Kennedy's timber for use extensively throughout this development.

QEOC has been designed with a 'campus' style feel featuring a number of courtyards composed of generous timber decks. These spaces provide an important 'retreat' for staff away from the Centre's operational spaces.

The recycled hardwood used for timber screens and decks was not only a strategy for sustainability, but also provides for a calm and enclosing feel which was seen as important to these break out spaces. All timber used throughout the development was of Class 1 durability (graded to RFG1).

Internally, timber lined pods create a sense of warmth while also providing effective noise dampening. From the quiet meeting rooms to the open, flow through spaces, workers enjoy encompassing vistas enriched by the tranquility rendered by Kennedy's recycled timber.

The end result is a building that exudes a unique organic feel, providing nurturing and humanised spaces appropriate to the look and feel of the subtropical environment of South East Queensland.

The QEOC also boasts extremely high environmental standards having been awarded a 5-star Green Star design certification rating from the Green Building Council of Australia.

Incorporated systems include full water recycling, on-site power generation, and several energy reduction initiatives including displacement air conditioning, task air and task lighting.

Feature Timber:

• All timber Class 1 durability recycled hardwood RFG1 grading
• 7.5 kilometres of precision profiled K-Battens
• 850 square metres of pre-fabricated recycled hardwood screening
• 1230 square metres of precision profiled commercial decking
• A selection of purpose built exterior seating
• A wide selection of seasoned structural timber

Project Details:

Client: Queensland Government, Department of Community Safety

Location: Kedron, QLD

Approx. Value: $50m + $25m ICT

Area: 6200m2

Links:

www.architectus.com.au

www.hutchinsonbuilders.com.au