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ImagInk Printed Glass: Bushfire Centre of Excellence
The new Bushfire Centre of Excellence in the small regional town of Nambeelup, Western Australia is a major training and education resource for bushfire management personnel. The Centre features a range of artworks rendered in ImagInk technology by artist Penelope Forlano, who was commissioned to provide public art in collaboration with local Pinjarra artist Karrie-Anne Kearing Salmon.
The Centre was the first building completed in the Shire of Murray’s Peel Business Park, which is set to become an innovative business hub. It is located in the Shire of Murray within WA’s Peel Region, the ancestral home of the Bindjareb people, an indigenous Australian group of Nyungar speakers. The Bindjareb community have given the Centre the Nyungar name Karla Katitjin (‘Karla’ means fire, while ‘Katitjin’ means knowledge). The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) have developed a positive relationship with the local Indigenous community, who provide input into traditional bushfire practices, and are attempting to integrate these traditions into their training programs.
Architect Christian Wetjen form Site Architecture Studio lays out the building’s function. ‘Bush Fire Brigades and bushfire management personnel from across the sector use this Centre, which features a training wing and outdoor spaces for operational and theoretical training delivery, programs and events, and an administration wing for the Centre’s staff.
The building’s glazing is specified to a BAL29 fire rating, significantly higher than the standardBAL19 more commonly seen.
Ensuring compliance with BAL19 requirements
Architect Christian Wetjen form Site Architecture Studio lays out the building’s function. ‘Bush Fire Brigades and bushfire management personnel from across the sector use this Centre, which features a training wing and outdoor spaces for operational and theoretical training delivery, programs and events, and an administration wing for the Centre’s staff.
The building had to comply to tough fire standards – BAL19 at the very least. ‘An even higher BAL requirement was specified for the Centre’s framing, which had to achieve BAL29, Christian points out. ‘To achieve this high BAL rating, we had to be sure these elements would be capable of handling extreme heat together with the clients’ requirements for impact resistance and safety, a goal requiring significant input by the technical team at Cooling Bros.Everything was subsequently peer-reviewed by a façade engineer and a bushfire consultant.’
One layer of artwork was printed on each side of the IGU toprovide that movement effect while fitting within the glazing pocket
Using ImagInk to achieve a dynamic 'moire' effect
TheCentre features a range of artworks by artists Penelope Forlano and Karrie-AnneKearing Salmon. ‘For the decorative glazed panels featured at the building’s entry, I was aiming to capture the spirit of fire, which is ephemeral yetseemingly alive,’ Penelope says. ‘Using ImagInk printing enabled us to provide a dynamic ‘moiré’ effect where the images seem to vibrate and shimmer as youwalk by duplicating the artwork on the two layers of the double glazing.’
The moire effect was achieved by using two panels of glass. One layer of artwork was printed on each panel and assembled into an InsulCool IGU, providing a movement effect while fitting within the glazing pocket.
“Organising a complex artwork within BAL29 glazing required a collaborative effort between Site Architecture, DFES, the Department ofFinance, and Cooling Brothers, who worked closely with us to provide the installation within a very tight timeframe”
PENELOPE FORLANO
Visual Artist
