The latest innovation from Axolotl, Flyash, creatively up-cycles waste product produced by industrial furnaces to add an environmentally advantageous and premium looking surface to our concrete collection. The diversity of Axolotl concrete is shown in the images here: from large scale feature walls and façades to bespoke concrete benchtops and furniture. The aesthetic of concrete can be achieved with Axolotl's award winning concrete surface without the weight and logistical struggles many clients endure with solid concrete.

Introducing Doric.

We would also like to announce the winner or Concrete Signature Door naming competition. Congratulations to Sarah Walls for her name 'Doric'. Sarah has won a fantastic iPhone case coated in Axolotl Bronze and Graphite 'Viper' snakeskin. A special thanks to everyone who entered.

Axolotl are extremely fortunate to work with some of Australia’s most talented designers and architects. It goes without saying then that we are delighted when their efforts are recognised by both their peers and industry bodies. So far this year several teams have received various awards and nominations commending their efforts across various projects involving Axolotl, with just a few featured here. Philip Chia aimed to redefine the traditional food court dining experience at The Galeries Victoria by creating a highly unique and intriguing environment by delving into experimentation with juxtaposing materials. Axolotl provided several unique surfaces such as concrete coated panels with custom carved design, for the bulkhead and ceiling trim. Bronze Viper panels for the kiosk stations, and Treasury Bronze Pearl feature walls.

Commendation Retail Design - The Uncarved Block For The Galeries Victoria The design concept for the lower ground food court at Sydney's TGV aimed to set this unique environment apart from its counterparts in the CBD and stray from the “a-typical” food court approach. Inspired by the existing mix of avant-garde fashion retailers, the current clientele and location, the food court design draws a link between these key influences and the art of consumption conveyed through unique bespoke design elements, materials palette, texture, lighting and furniture.

Melbourne Central was recognised for it’s creative eclecticism and environmental stance, which also offers a unique retail experience. Given the large size of the space, it was important to create a variety of smaller dining areas for different groups of people. Axolotl was called on to produce a divider wall using screens coated in Treasury Bronze Pearl.

Planning wise, the layout defies the number one rule of food courts where sight lines to all tenancies from anywhere are a pre-requisite. At Melbourne Central, deliberately massed visual obstructions breaks up dining zones and changes the overall visual typography. It relies on people’s innate sense of interest and intrigue to explore this environment.

The conversion of the seating pagoda in Dixon Street to an information kiosk to service Chinatown called for a sympathetic and contextual design. The curved glass feature wall, created by Axolotl, is coated in Graphite which has been applied in a bespoke pattern designed by paper-cut artist Pamela Mei-Leng See.

In honour of the late, great Harry Seidler, this park was created for the residents of North Sydney. A large glass blade, supplied by Axolotl, installed at the centre of the space, details the dedication of the park to Harry and his lifetime contribution to architecture.

Designed in conjunction with Phillip Chia from The Uncarved Block, the Axolotl ‘Pod’ is a bespoke construction based on the blueprint of a shipping container, which we tweaked to our exacting requirements. With sustainability in mind, the reusable structure will be recycled for future exhibitions, reconfigured and transformed into an all new stand unrecognisable from the last. This year we featured several amazing world-first products including Timber LINK, Concrete Lace, Chroma and LINK glass along with many other beautiful finishes.

The “Reptilian Chaise” was designed specifically for Axolotl Concrete Bunker, to demonstrate the versatility of our new concrete coating system. The bespoke fabric, imported from Timorous Beasties, played a pivotal role in the design of the chaise - the pattern of the fabric flowing seamlessly into the concrete, creates a juxtaposition of soft and hard surfaces, whilst illustrating the unique properties of the concrete process.

The annual awards, widely regarded as the most prestigious hospitality design prizes in the business, attracted 620 entries from 60 countries. The awards will be judged by the who's-who of the international design and hospitality industries, including Alberto Alessi from Alessi, Joe Ferry from Intercontinental Hotels Group, and editors from Casa Vogue Brazil, Elle Décor India, Frame China and the UK's Sunday Times Style. The winners will be announced at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London on September 6.

Axolotl would like to extend our congratulations to the winners and look forward to partnering on more award winning projects in the future.

From the creative minds of the talented team at JPDC, comes the latest venue to hit the Sydney bar scene, 'The Bar' at one of the most prestigious Hotels in Sydney's CBD. Axolotl were engaged by Joseph Pang, principle at JPDC, to design and create the feature walls and signage for the moody interior inspired by a vintage timepiece motif.The luminous backdrop for the bar was fabricated by Axolotl employing a combination of processes and techniques to produce a unique and entirely bespoke feature. Laminated MIRO glass with translucent printed interlayer is inlayed with Axolotl LINK in Rust, demonstrating to great effect Axolotl's ability to combine multiple processes and products across our glass and metal ranges to create something truly original. 

Entry to the bar is flanked with a lasercut feature signage wall in Rust which echoes the timepiece concept and materiality running throughout.

Metal LINK

The entry to this Northern Beaches residence is another stunning example of Axolotl LINK combined with laminated MIRO glass. Here we have inlaid Treasury Bronze into both faces of the glass in a custom screen like design to create depth and a multi-dimensional quality. Laminated with a soft white interlayer, the translucent panel retains sufficient privacy whilst still allowing movement and the transmission of light into the space beyond.

Concrete LINK

The latest addition to the LINK range is our new Concrete surface applied onto or inlaid in to glass. With this particular example we have first applied the concrete entirely to the glass surface, then etched through the concrete, simultaneously articulating the design and creating translucent areas through the glass.

DesignEx 2012 was another inspiring and successful event with more than 2000 people visiting our stand over three days. It was really exciting to see it all come together and we loved hearing such a positive response from everyone who visited the stand. This year we featured several amazing world-first products including Axolotl Timber, Concrete Lace, Chroma and LINK glass along with many other beautiful finishes. The stand was colourful, innovative and unique, created using the many materials that make up Axolotl. The pictures really do say it all.

A special thank you to Philip Chia and The Uncarved Block team, for once again partnering with us to create the stand, and to all of our suppliers, who have made this years success possible. Thank you to all those who managed to attend, we hope to work with you soon.

Designed in conjunction with Phillip Chia from The Uncarved Block, the Axolotl 'Pod' is a bespoke construction based on the blueprint of a shipping container, which we've tweaked to our exacting requirements. With sustainability in mind, the reusable structure will be recycled for future exhibitions, reconfigured and transformed into an all new stand unrecognisable from the last.

This year Axolotl will be showcasing a range of new products including the Australian International Design Award winning Concrete, our brand new Timber Link range and 'Concrete Jungle' bench seat, another collaboration with the talented team at The Uncarved Block. Alongside we'll be showing a selection of bespoke Axolotl glass and metal classics reworked in inventive and surprising new ways.

You can register for DesignEX free here. Axolotl are at stand number 1240 in Hall 2, not far from the Ebony Bar, make sure you drop by and say hello. We look forward to seeing you there.

Collaboration is something we value highly in all our projects, and for our stand this year we partnered with an incredible team of people. We would like to thank Philip Chia and The Uncarved Block team, Laser and Press, Australian Panel Products, Mott McDonald Engineers, Lasermade, More than Kitchens, EvoStyle, Display by Design and DSK Kitchens.

To refresh your memory, here are some images of Axolotl stands from previous years, designed by Philip Chia, Dale Jones-Evans and Iain Halliday.

Axolotl Showcase: Tiffany & Co

All that glitters is not gold... It's stunning Tiffany glass features by Axolotl.

We were excited to be commissioned by the Tiffany's design team to create an eclectic range of jewel-like glass feature pieces for their new flagship store in Melbourne.

Five of Axolotl's bespoke glass processes were specified for the project including a stunning entry facade featuring a double laminated starphire glass with a signature carved wheat-leaf pattern, an internal frit formed glass feature wall over two levels, and mirrored balustrading.

Synonymous with elegance and exceptional quality, Tiffany's is a prestigious showcase for Axolotl Glass and its Melbourne store is testament to Axolotl's commitment to high quality, cutting edge design and processes.

Axolotl Showcase: Concrete Blonde

Designed by Michael McCann of the multi-award-winning Dreamtime Australia, Concrete Blonde is the latest hot spot for contemporary Australian dining.

Axolotl was commissioned to create a multitude of custom features in Axolotl Metal and Axolotl Glass as well as premiering one of our first commissions for Axolotl Concrete. Included in the fit out were concrete tiles, concrete flooring and concrete graffiti text inlaid into glass - a world first! In addition to the concrete, the space features an Axolotl metal lace fire surround and Miro glass bathroom panels. Check out the grand concrete entrance with the name of the restaurant stamped into the surface. An impressive entrance to launch two great new 'hot' names on the Sydney scene: Concrete Blonde and Axolotl Concrete.

The lift realised in this makeover definitely justified the efforts, fast forwarding this foyer from the 80’s into a more sophisticated design.

The ceiling panelling in this building is the result of smooth nickel bonded to panels and then a cast texture created. The metals reflect off the ceiling panels making a most inviting entrance.

This texture is another new look created by Axolotl. This year alone we have introduced numerous new textures, metal combinations and applications.

Axolotl was the facade of choice for this blade wall in Bondi designed by Architects Johannson and Associates (AJA).

This superior facade system allows the panels to be mechanically fixed without showing exposed fixings.The end result as can be seen here, is a clean, neat finish that can also be fitted around complex shapes.

A Pearl Patina was applied to copper, enhancing the beautiful natural colours of the metal and resulting in a warm tone to blend perfectly into the environment.

This stunning façade designed by Liquid Architecture is a fine example of the beauty of decayed elegance created by a rust finish.

The CFC panels were bonded with Axolotl Brown Rust and mechanically fixed to the wall.

With more choice in colours and textures, our ability to work with compound curves and embossed and debossed panels, and our superior experience and expertise makes Axolotl Metal the superior choice for rust.

The panels are also lightweight for ease of installation which contributes to cost savings.