At Chadstone Shopping Centre, Carpark B has shifted from being a straightforward 850-bay parking structure to something far more distinctive. Where there was once a typical concrete shell, there is now a layered exterior that changes in appearance throughout the day. Light, shadow and movement animate the surface, so the building feels less like a back-of-house utility and more like part of the public face of the precinct.

Central to the outcome is Louvreclad’s Platinum Series® aluminium blade system. The blades create the primary outer skin, introducing depth and tonal variation while still addressing practical requirements such as ventilation. Their spacing allows air to pass through naturally and reduces the sense of bulk often associated with multi-storey car parks. As a result, the structure reads as lighter and more open.

The concept originally carried the working title Butterfly before developing into Arboretum, inspired by the ordered diversity of botanical collections. Each blade forms part of a larger arrangement, contributing to a coherent whole. Matthew Johnson conceived the artwork at the scale of the broader centre, and Buchan translated that vision into an architectural framework capable of repetition and structural logic.

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Before installation, full-scale mock-ups were built and tested against wind and storm conditions in Melbourne. These exercises were essential in confirming that the façade’s fine detailing and lightweight appearance would not compromise its strength or durability.

Compliance, structural performance, durability and maintenance were treated as core elements of the design process. Fabrication techniques and connection details were carefully worked through to ensure the façade would cope with constant use while retaining its visual clarity.

The finished building functions on two levels. It encloses a working car park, yet it also operates as a piece of integrated public art, contributing to the architectural character of the shopping centre.

Arboretum builds on the earlier transformation of Carpark A, known as Billow, also by Matthew Johnson. In that project, pleated fins respond to light and movement, elevating another conventional parking structure. Architects Jackson Clements Burrows and Cera Stribley resolved the artistic concept into a buildable system, addressing structure, safety and fabrication without diluting the design intent.

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Seen together, Billow and Arboretum show how thoughtful collaboration can reshape everyday infrastructure. Decisions around blade geometry, wind loading, fixings and material behaviour were resolved at the right time by the artists. The visual and technical aspects were developed side by side to help secure a durable, coherent result. Louvreclad expands on this process in its paper, Reimagining Urban Structures as Artworks, which considers how early coordination can enhance functional buildings without compromising performance or practicality.

Image source: www.louvreclad.com