Mandalay
Case study
The iconic Mandalay apartment building overlooking Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne's St Kilda was refurbished to revive its striking Art Deco colours and protect it from seaside weather conditions.
Project overview
Project: The Mandalay
Location: The Esplanade, St Kilda
Project works: Full exterior repaint and internal stairwells
Products: Dulux paints, Dulux Acratex® and Dulux Protective Coatings.
Painting contractor: Programmed Property Services
Body corporate manager: Gough & Associates
Year: 2022
Background
Mandalay is an iconic Art Deco apartment building boasting an elevated beachfront location in Melbourne’s celebrated St Kilda. Perched on the Upper Esplanade directly across from the vibrant foreshore, the complex offers uninterrupted views across Port Phillip Bay.
Built in 1935, Mandalay represents an era when middle-class Melburnians embraced apartment living. The building’s architecture, decorative geometric patterns and bold colours are typical of the period’s dominant design style, Art Deco. However, by the 1990s, the complex had become neglected and was slated for demolition. Thankfully, community action saved Mandalay, which is now heritage-listed.
Renovation experts
Significant expertise and careful consideration were required to develop a proposed system of products to repaint the internal and external substrates as part of the refurbishment. Mandalay’s proximity to the ocean means it is subject to extreme weather, the existing coatings were in various states of disrepair, and the building would be occupied during the refurbishment. Restoring Mandalay’s heritage facade to reflect its 1930s palette and blending the original and new sections of the building were critical aspects of this project.
In 2022, Programmed Property Services was engaged to provide a complete refurbishment of this Melbourne landmark. They engaged Dulux as the project’s leading paint partner due to our extensive portfolio of brands and products and our team’s expertise and respected technical advice.
The challenge
Mandalay’s external facade and internal common areas hadn’t undergone a major refurbishment since the mid-1990s. Over time, the building’s masonry had become damaged and weathered, with severe colour fading. Inside, common areas were showing significant wear and tear from a dated colour scheme. Exterior steel substrates including handrails, poles and balustrades were also flaking.
The rear apartment building, built in 1988, was designed to contrast with the original building. It was constructed using modern materials, including concrete-rendered panels and aluminium windows.
Significant expertise and careful consideration were required to develop a proposed system of products to repaint the internal and external substrates as part of the refurbishment.
Mandalay’s proximity to the ocean means it is subject to extreme weather, the existing coatings were in various states of disrepair, and the building would be occupied during the refurbishment. Restoring Mandalay’s heritage facade to reflect its 1930s palette and blending the original and new sections of the building were critical aspects of this project.
The solution
The Dulux Construction Solutions Property Services team worked closely with Programmed Property Services and Mandalay’s body corporate manager, Gough Partners and Associates, to develop a detailed project specification and proposed colour scheme for the refurbishment project.
Project outcomes
The owners were appreciative that the building was able to be restored and in particular preserved with colours that blend the old and new sections of the building as well as compliment the brick work.
“We’re really proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish with the painting restoration at Mandalay, St Kilda. Working with Dulux on the specification ensured the correct application and methodology appropriate to both heritage listed and modern apartment blocks on site. Collaboration and teamwork has led to a fantastic outcome for this iconic Melbourne property.”
Jack Biggs, Senior Business Development Manager, Programmed Property Services.
Products specified
Carpark, stairwell and surrounding walls (Substrate: Painted masonry surfaces)
Painted textured render (Substrate: Painted cement render)
Carpark gate and balustrade (Substrate: Painted hot dip galvanised steel)
Handrails exposed (Substrate: Painted zinc-coated steel/galvanised steel)
Handrails (Substrate: Painted mild steel)
Door frames (Substrate: Painted Zincanneal®)
Doors (Substrate: Painted timber trim)
Fascia (Substrate: Painted timber)
Timber slatted eves (Substrate: Painted timber)
Windows frames (Substrate: Painted lead-based surface)
Interior common areas (Substrate: Painted concrete block, brick, masonry)
Backing the experts
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