In the commercial sphere, Axolotl’s work has brought personality with purpose to a diverse range of projects.
Looking Ahead: What’s Hot for 2025
TRANSFORM LIGHT AND TEXTURE WITH AXOLOTL FORMED GLASS
Trends have a way of coming full circle, and few are as exciting to see back in the spotlight as Formed Glass. Once a hallmark of Victorian, retro and nineties design, this textured glass is enjoying a well-deserved resurgence. This time with a modern twist that balances nostalgic charm with contemporary sophistication.
Whilst Axolotl is renowned for innovation, our team deeply values the preservation of specialised crafts. One such tradition is the kiln-firing process, where flat glass is transformed into sculptural surfaces. Here, light and shadow dance together, creating a dynamic aesthetic that harmonises perfectly with today’s trends of layering textures and designing warm, inviting spaces.
From the understated sophistication of Faiba and NoZone textures to the striking presence of TidalZone and SoftZone, each design offers its own unique dialogue between privacy, light filtering, and depth.
The Modern Alternative to Fluted Glass
With its organic aesthetic, Formed Glass is quickly becoming the preferred choice over traditional fluted or reeded glass. Its softer, more flowing textures provide a gentle elegance that fluted glass cannot achieve, offering a refined alternative for spaces that demand both style and subtlety.
Customisable to Your Vision
Formed Glass is more than beautiful, it’s adaptable. Choose from a palette of flat float glass colours, including low iron, clear, bronze, grey, green, and blue, and with the freedom to customise your vision. Looking for something truly unique? Axolotl Spectrum opens the door to bespoke designs, enabling limitless creativity to suit your project where any colour can be realised.
Handmade for Perfection
Every panel of Formed Glass is meticulously handcrafted by Axolotl’s artisans to meet your exact specifications in size, shape, and thickness. This ensures a perfect fit for every design, giving you the flexibility to explore without compromise.
Carnarvon Courthouse, design Warren Langley, Glass processing Axolotl.
Design tips, here are some of our favourite applications:
Windows (now that homes are so close together, instead of gazing into our neighbours home, use textured glass to allow light and keep privacy)
Shower screens
Wardrobe doors
Furniture
Entry doors
Room partitions
Facades
Glass splashback
Let light do the work for you. When used strategically, Formed Glass filters natural light to cast intricate patterns that shift throughout the day, adding a new layer of interest to your space; your very own artwork in motion.
Elevate your next project with the organic beauty and versatile potential of Axolotl Formed Glass. Contact us to order a sample today.
VERDIGRIS - DESIGNING WITH COLOUR AND NUANCE
The allure of verdigris is that it can take decades to form naturally, shaped by the elements over time. Yet, with Axolotl’s mastery of patina, waiting a lifetime is no longer necessary.
In an age where design increasingly seeks to stand out from the crowd, be it with colour and form, a sense of depth and history, or the connection between the indoors and the natural world, Verdigris is emerging as the latest trendsetter.
Part of Axolotl’s core patina range, this renowned finish captures the beauty and essence of weathering when copper, bronze, and brass metals are exposed to the forces of nature — sea salt and moisture — producing a striking, bluish-green hue. The oxidation process, when left to its own devices, can take years, but Axolotl’s skilled artisans have perfected it, delivering this timeless texture with artistic precision within days, ensuring that each piece is a unique expression of the organic world.
Verdigris brings a sense of depth and antiquity, making it a compelling choice for contemporary spaces. Whether applied to doors, facades, or bespoke furniture, Verdigris introduces an understated yet captivating touch of colour - its green-blue tones both grounding and evocative of nature’s own palette.
Aged bronze doors become art pieces, delicate lighting fixtures gain a refined pop of colour, and even joinery takes on a textured beauty. Verdigris, with its nuanced approach to colour, is a perfect companion to neutral materials like stone, timber, and concrete, lending a timeless patina that evolves with a distinctive character and charm over time.
Beyond its visual appeal, Verdigris offers functional advantages. As metal oxidises, it forms a protective layer, guarding the surface against further corrosion. This makes Verdigris an ideal solution for outdoor applications, where beauty must meet durability. Axolotl has refined this natural process, ensuring that the finish is not only stunning but also long-lasting. Verdigris fuses with the metal surface and, unlike paint, will never deteriorate or peel away.
Each piece, whether used in interior or exterior projects, is a work of art. The patina is hand-applied in our Sydney factory, guaranteeing that every surface is an original. Each project, whether bold or understated, is tailored to your aesthetic and architectural vision.
Explore how Axolotl’s Verdigris patina can redefine your next design concept. Visit our showroom, or contact our team to learn more about customising this exquisite finish for your space.
For more information on our innovative treatments and how they can elevate your next project, we welcome you to visit our showroom or explore our website. Our team is always ready to guide you through the possibilities and help you discover the perfect door solution for your project. You can also contact us directly by calling our office at 02 9666 1207.
LUSTRE GLASS: RADIANCE REDEFINED
At Axolotl, our mission is to continuously push the boundaries of innovation and design, creating materials that inspire and endure. Lustre Glass is a shining example of this ethos.
We created this product many years ago, which quickly made its way into our core glass surfaces range, and into our hearts as a favourite.
The magic of Lustre Glass brings solid colour to life with a luminous glow. It’s a material that is so versatile in the art of playing with textures that Lustre Glass can be the jewel of any space, making a bold statement or serving as a complementary material that supports and enhances other finishes.
Lustre Glass is available in many configurations, from our standard colour range to custom colours, patterns, and artwork using our Spectrum process. You can elevate your design further by creating your own hybrid Axolotl surface by incorporating options such as ‘Spectrum Emboss’ to apply a 3D emboss printed texture such as linen, or, ‘Veil’ to carve a logo, or ‘Link’ inlay of any metal, concrete, or terracotta to created a mixed media artwork. The choice is yours.
Architects, designers, and artists often seek materials that offer both aesthetic appeal and practical functionality. Lustre Glass fits this bill perfectly. It’s ideal for a wide range of applications, including high-traffic commercial spaces, luxurious residential interiors, and even as a medium for stunning artworks, Lustre Glass adds a touch of sophistication and a sense of depth that makes any space feel larger and more inviting.
One of the standout features of Lustre Glass is its low-maintenance nature with lasting beauty. A simple wipe-down is all it takes to retain its pristine, luminous finish. This ease of care, combined with its ability to withstand the rigours of everyday use, ensures that Lustre Glass remains as beautiful as the day it was installed.
Nina Maya, an esteemed designer, shared her experience with Lustre Spectrum Artwork:
"The piece looked absolutely breathtaking installed on the wall. It was so ethereal, floating and shifting light as you walked around it. The piece really turned out beyond expectations and is absolutely incredible. Thank you to you & your amazing team, we could not be happier with how it turned out! The client was thrilled!”
Lustre is a single-face glass product that can be glued onto frames or back-to-back. With initially six beautiful colours in the range, Axolotl is now able to create any colourway possible. In addition, the glass panels can be cut to size and carved to any design or backlit to create stunning signage or feature walls.
Incorporating Lustre Glass into your designs means choosing a material that is as resilient as it is beautiful. Its ability to retain its glowing finish over time ensures that spaces remain elegant and inviting.
Incorporating Lustre Glass into your designs means choosing a material that is as resilient as it is beautiful. Its ability to retain its glowing finish over time ensures that spaces remain elegant and inviting.
BIG ON DETAIL, SMALL ON SCALE
Human-centred design has increasingly become a hallmark of quality design in recent decades. For the blind and vision impaired, tactile maps afford a different way to experience architecture and design. Extending on a story told through braille, a tactile map is a dimensional object replicating to scale an object, building, or city, guiding users through a physical journey of scale and perspective.
We are thrilled to announce our collaborations with the skilled team at Modelcraft in producing high-impact tactile maps of the iconic Sydney Opera House and The Sydney Hyde Park Barracks, both honoured as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Sydney Opera House, the tactile map was made by Modelcraft to a scale of 1:800 and finished in handcrafted Axolotl Applied Aged Brass. Assembled from nine seamlessly fused components, the model features a sophisticated array of textures, creating a distinguished and intuitive experience. The hand-polished and aged Axolotl Applied Brass surface was selected to reflect the brass accents featured throughout the landmark building.
In partnership with Sydney Living Museums and Vision Australia, Modelcraft and Axolotl created a tactile model of The Sydney Hyde Park Barracks. As with all of their models, Modelcraft has utilised cutting-edge technology and 3D printing to create this model, providing visitors with a tactile narrative of this heritage site's storied corridors.
Although miniature in size, these models boast an impressive level of intricate detail and are a true testament to the skill, precision, design, collaboration, and most of all inclusivity required for their production. The three dimensional representations provide the opportunity for a wider audience to appreciate the buildings' forms, cultural significance, and design as a whole.
The versatility of Axolotl Applied Metal knows no bounds. With less than 1mm in thickness, the Applied Bronze metal surface adheres to each grain, curve, step and crevice, allowing the 3D models to achieve the strict guidelines for braille and tactile maps whilst referencing the grandeur and history of this iconic building.
Not only are these artefacts for the visually impaired, but they also bring a sense of connection to architectural scale and detail to all viewers, fostering a deeper appreciation for design. Viewers observe a previously unrealised perspective of a building, inviting them to stop and assess their surroundings, and personal sense of scale in the world.
These models are on public display now at the Sydney Opera House and The Sydney Hyde Park Barracks for everyone to admire these landmarks in an inclusive manner.
A TIMELESS PORTAL
At first glance, one might not even realise that this monumental mural conceals a set of double doors. The mural is a masterful collage, capturing the client’s childhood and landscapes of his upbringing, forming a visual symphony of personal and cultural significance. Axolotl was commissioned by a private client to complete the mural artwork, bronze surface and door fabrication for their palatial home in Saudi Arabia.
This piece was a first of it's kind for Axolotl, which truly epitomises the transformation of an entryway into a narrative-driven masterpiece.
Spanning across four full-height panels and doors, the client's vision of a seamless integration of art and architecture, reminiscent of ancient cast bronze doors, was realised. Axolotl wove together various personal images supplied by the client into an intricate tapestry translated into a digital format for 3D printing.
Each layer contributed to the intricate tapestry of the artwork, building depth and dimension with every pass. The crowning moment came as the pieces were bathed in bronze, meticulously hand-polished and aged. This transformative process bestowed upon them the weighty presence and timeless charm reminiscent of traditional bronze craftsmanship while maintaining a remarkably lightweight finish.
More than an entryway, this door is a temple of memories, a testament to the client’s past, and a beacon of innovative design. It exemplifies how modern technology and craftsmanship can create something extraordinary, inviting us to consider the possibilities when imagination, technology, and tradition coalesce, leaving us with a first impression that will last a lifetime.
INTRODUCING GRID GLASS
Stained glass windows have been used for centuries, and hundreds of years later have been imagined in modern designs created by architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright.
Now, modern technology developed in-house by Axolotl allows a contemporary spin on a traditional aesthetic and unlimited potential in customisation. Any pane of glass, be it a fixed window, screen, or door, can be transformed into a translucent artwork.
Including all characteristics of being completely bespoke in linework, metal finish, glass texture, glass colour, and options for framed and frameless, Axolotl Grid Glass will always be tailored to your project across residential, hotel, hospitality, commercial, and more.
The beauty of Axolotl Grid Glass lies not only in its visual appeal but also in its versatility. . Whether it's a combination of etching, carving, kiln forming, or 3D printing, you can leverage Axolotl's diverse range of processes to bring your vision to life in stunning detail.
The beauty of Axolotl Grid Glass lies not only in its visual appeal but also in its versatility. Our team of artisans create each piece entirely in-house including carving the grid pattern into the face of the glass and inlaying any of our signature metals into the glass itself. Resulting in a single pane of glass ready to install.
Unlike traditional stained glass windows or metal-framed screens, Axolotl Grid Glass is available in expansive panel sizes up to 3000x1800mm and uses glass thicknesses 6, 8, 10, 12mm and monolithic glass 15mm thick. Any panel can be made to suit your design, including cutouts for hardware or finger pulls. Grid Glass can be toughened or laminated to Australian Standards depending on your requirements.
In an era where clean lines and tailored spaces reign supreme, Axolotl's Grid Glass emerges as the epitome of refined elegance, offering a modern interpretation of a classic art form.
A selection of Grid samples can be viewed in our showroom in Matraville, and custom samples can be manufactured and purchased to order.
EMBARK ON A DOOR DESIGN REVOLUTION
First impressions are everything, as they say, so let's make it memorable.
Your front door, whether it's your home or business, is the entrance to your domain and the first opportunity to sweep your guests off their feet.
For almost 30 years, Axolotl, renowned for its hero product, has long been a symbol of boundless possibilities for homeowners, business owners and professional designers.
Offering an unparalleled range of high-end bespoke surfaces and designs for both doors and garage doors that breathe new life and significance into the concept of doors; from humble functional partitions to statements that embody security, hospitality and the essence of the architecture and interior design.
The 3D printing evolution at Axolotl opens the door, both figuratively and literally, to groundbreaking technology, allowing your door to be a blank canvas and your imagination to be realised. Consider an abstract embossed mural style artwork coated in an aged Bronze as your artistic masterpiece, or a delicate linen fabric texture finished in a lustrous polished Brass to hint at the interior aesthetics; perhaps it's a bold geometric pattern in aged Nickel to really make the door pop.
For those seeking a robust and modern finish, our Applied Concrete and natural Applied Terracotta, both available in multiple colour shades for internal and external use, can be customised with routed, embossed, debossed and etched features enabling an industrial and chic finish.
These two surface types are filled with benefits and challenge everything we know about the existing capabilities of these materials.
Axolotl glass doors, renowned for their versatility, transcend traditional boundaries by incorporating various materials to create a unique statement; they can also feature intricate designs by kiln firing, carving, 3D printing and inlaying with metals, concrete, and terracotta. This innovative approach allows for endless possibilities in design, making each door a true work of art that combines beauty with functionality.
For more information on our innovative treatments and how they can elevate your next project, we welcome you to visit our showroom or explore our website. Our team is always ready to guide you through the possibilities and help you discover the perfect door solution for your project. You can also contact us directly by calling our office at 02 9666 1207.
IN CONVERSATION WITH NINA MAYA PART 2
