AURA by Aqualand is a mixed-use development at 168 Walker Street, North Sydney, with 386 luxury apartments above a retail and commercial precinct. Built on the idea of architecture as sculpture, its undulating façade reads as four separate towers with staggered peaks, and the building narrows at a level-nine "waist" where the residents' community centre sits.
The challenge
That sculptural form is the whole point of the building, and it is exactly what makes it hard to access. Staggered peaks, an undulating façade and the pinched waist meant standard access would not reach every surface. The building needed systems designed around its geometry so crews could reach all external and internal façade elements, including glazing.
What we delivered
Karabiner contributed the design, engineering and installation of façade access and height safety systems that let maintenance contractors reach every area of the structure, from ground level to the top of the towers. The systems support inspection, cleaning, maintenance and replacement of façade components, including glazing, inside and out. Where the shape defeats a machine, our rope access crews cover it, backed by engineered height safety installation.
The result
Every surface of a genuinely complex building can be reached safely, protecting both the façade and the sculptural form the design is built around. Have a building with challenging geometry? Talk to our team.
