17 Bennetts Lane
Some of the Most Challenging Curved Brickwork
Rising 20 storeys above Melbourne’s CBD, 17 Bennetts Lane, developed by Perri Group and Pellicano, shows what can be achieved when technical façade engineering and vision align. At street level, the project is defined by a highly intricate curved brick façade where horizontal and vertical curves intersect to form a seamless sculptural surface, a level of geometry rarely attempted due to the precision required to deliver it on site.
Total Square Meters
500+
Progress
Completed (2025)
Contract Value
$1,000,000+
Location
Melbourne VIC 3000
Builder
Hacer Group
Sector
Mixed Use
Scope
- Brick Slip Cladding
- Timber Vertical Feature Cladding
- Steel Framing
Curving brickwork in a single direction is already complex. At 17 Bennetts Lane, the challenge was amplified by the need to curve across both horizontal and vertical planes simultaneously. Every small deviation had the potential to compound across the façade, making precision and planning critical from the outset.
Within these constraints, Custom Clad’s end-to-end cladding approach played a key role, bringing design, manufacture, supply and installation together as one coordinated process.
As part of this scope, Custom Clad supplied a complete lightweight wall cavity system incorporating steel framing, non-combustible insulation, breathable sarking and metal battens. Brick slip cladding extended across both internal and external faces of the entry, reinforcing the continuity of the curved form, alongside vertical feature cladding using recycled Oregon timber from the original structure.
The project began well before fabrication, supported by a fully modelled 3D steel framework developed by Hacer Group. This model allowed every curve and detail to be visualised early, with both primary steel and brick façade sub-frames fabricated directly from it to maintain alignment with the architectural intent.
From this model, precise jigs were manufactured to guide the set-out of the specialised curved light gauge steel framing. These ensured consistency across all curved sections and allowed the framing to form accurately around complex window and wall geometries.
All steel framing was manufactured at Custom Clad’s Hallam facility and delivered to site ready for installation, sorted and labelled to suit the tight CBD conditions. Close coordination with Nubrik also ensured natural variations in the clay bricks were managed carefully so the final façade achieved both structural and visual consistency.
The finished result reads as calm and seamless, though it reflects months of planning, modelling and technical coordination behind the scenes. 17 Bennetts Lane stands as a strong example of how complex architectural intent can be resolved through careful fabrication, collaboration and attention to detail.
