Axolotl

SHEET METAL

Introducing our ‘Carbon’ patina — a living finish designed to evolve with you, celebrating the marks of life and transforming surfaces into your story.

Starting the patination process for you, ‘Carbon’ patina skips the awkward early stages and creates a weathered finish that is perfect for projects that call for an elegant industrial mood.

Ideal for high-traffic spaces, the more you interact with your zinc surface, the more character it gains, developing a timelessly cool finish that’s as unique as the space it inhabits.

Axolotl surface: Zinc Sheet Metal, Carbon Patina, Unsealed Living Finish

APPLIED METAL

This stunning family home overlooks Balmoral Beach in Sydney’s North Shore and boasts every luxury you can imagine: an eight-car garage, snooker room, full wet bar, nine bathrooms, poolside cabana, and a virtual golf range.

Designed with timeless elegance and durability by , the interiors by feature a rich, layered palette of Axolotl Metal, Calacatta Oro marble, stainless steel, and black timber veneer.

Axolotl surface: Applied Metal Bronze with Brown Florentine patina in smooth texture.

Interior Design:
Styling:
Architecture
Photography
Builder
Landscape
Published:

YEAR IN REVIEW 2022

It has been another exciting and productive year for AAP.

Two glass art projects bookend the year, with the suspended ‘Petal Sworl’ artwork by , with creative direction by , installed at the Continental Hotel Sorrento at the start of 2022, and the ‘To see or not to see’ work by , installed at the entry of the Art Gallery of New South Wales last month.

In between, our team have delivered a range of other art projects, including a mammoth 1200m2 artwork, ‘Reflections’ by Catherine Woo, to the soffit of Merinda Park Station, and the multi-wall ‘Centella’ artwork by Broached Commissions for The Continental Hotel, Sorrento which features over 560 handcrafted copper leaves. Interior design by

Coined after the bronze currency of the ancient Romans, the AES artwork is a modern treasure.

The large-scale artwork is formed from multiple carved and embossed bronze panels. The geometry of the work was informed by the unique position along the stairwell and the brief to integrate the architectural handrail within.

Accentuating moments and highlights have been specifically placed throughout the work to play with the natural and artificial light, casting and creating shadows that present a different experience with each interaction. The concept and palette of the work mean that you will never see the artwork the same way twice, with factors such as the time of day, speed, and position of viewing all resulting in a unique viewing experience. Light and reflection combine to create an optical phenomenon with details that highlight and shift as you walk by.

Follow the link in our bio to see more

Axolotl Surface: Applied Metal Bronze with Brown Florentine patina, in a Pseudo Smooth texture + Spectrum Emboss 3D printed custom artwork.
Artwork: AES
Artist:
Commissioned by:
Joinery:
Builder: www.stuartwilsonconstructions.com
Photography:

✖️APPLIED METAL✖️

Luxurious in tone and texture, overhead cabinetry coated in our liquid metals are the perfect pairing with a gorgeous marble bench top.

Axolotl surface: Applied Metal Treasury Bronze with Brown Florentine patina in a smooth texture.
Design:
Joinery:
Photography:

Metal fireplace surrounds are turning up the heat.

Axolotl surface: 3D Skyline profile coated in Brass with Black Florentine patina
Design:
Photography:

   

The kitchen - where functionality reigns supreme and in this project, is equally beautiful.

Essential for the culinary experience, the rangehood clad in our Treasury Bronze metal sits like a crown jewel.

Axolotl surface: Applied Metal Treasury Bronze with Black Florentine Patina
Design: x
Build:
Photography:

Bold and minimalist entry door for 🖤

Axolotl surface: Applied Metal Treasury Bronze in Cast texture
Design:
Photography:

✖️APPLIED METAL✖️

Happy New Year from the Axolotl team! We have an exciting project pipeline for 2022 and can’t wait to share it with you.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday break! We are currently enjoying our holidays and returning to office 10th January.

Axolotl surface: 3D Splice Design Applied Metal Gold Bronze, smooth texture with black florentine aging
Design: feature in magazine, artwork by our in-house design team.

✖️APPLIED METAL✖️

Driven by the client’s love of all pink shades, the kitchen cabinetry is coated in our applied metal Nickel and pearl patina for a dynamic surface that has both warm and cool tones.

Reminiscent of a precious natural pearl, our pearl patina throws a colour range of reds/purples/blues with an iridescent lustre on any metal surface.

Axolotl surface: Applied Metal Nickel, smooth texture with pearl patina
Design:
Build:
Photography:

✖️APPLIED METAL✖️

Pushing the boundaries of fireplace design with our liquid applied metals, the beautiful and talented latest project graces the cover of January/February edition.

Axolotl surface: Applied Metal Bronze with Brown Florentine aging.
Design:
Styling:

✖️ZEN GLASS✖️

We're pink with excitement to have supplied our Zen glass for the new store located in Melbourne, Australia.

Named after the calming look and feel of the surface, Zen glass features:
✖️Soft appearance with the benefits of a glass finish
✖️Matte finish that feels smooth to touch
✖️Leaves no fingerprint marks
✖️Non-reflective surface
✖️Any colour of your choice

Axolotl surface: Zen Glass in custom Acne colour
Build:
Store design:
Lighting:
Furniture:

The long walk home

✖️THE POWER OF COLOUR✖️

How has the pandemic changed the colours we choose? Looking at what history has shown us is that after a global crisis, world wars and recession, a period of extravagance typically follows.

A way for people to express their personality, freedom, and revitalise their life is likely to translate into a use of colour and print. We’ve been seeing more people throw caution to the wind and experimenting with new colour combinations in both fashion, art, and interiors.

Refreshing the walls in your home with paint offers a simple D.I.Y opportunity to transform your space and invite in a renewed energy after being in lockdown for most of the year. This is a popular and easy trick that can be completed without the need to hire a professional or undertake larger alterations/renovation works to create a real impact and uplift your day-to-day life.

The Axolotl Paints range is a high-performance paint, delivering the highest quality finish to our commercial and residential community.
The quality of our paints benchmarked on three key attributes: opacity, colour intensity, and durability.

What are your thoughts on colour and are you experimenting with any new styles? Join the conversation below

Described as a real-life “choose-your-own-adventure”, the eclectically designed boutique hotel is a rare design gem.
Owners and creators of the hotel, Daniel Symonds and his business partner, Toby Raphael, shake up what we know as hotel design by commissioning the talents of 13 artists and seven designers from four leading design studios, to create 39 individually designed rooms. Instead of rooms being allocated by the hotel, guests are invited to peruse available rooms on check-in and choose their room based on the style, colour, texture and design - just as they would a work of art.

The riot of colour was injected into the hotel with the use of the Axolotl Paint range. Metta, Chroma and Micaceous paints in varying sheen levels adorn the walls, ceilings and trims throughout the eclectic hotel. In some cases our paints were also used in the graphic artworks and on the furnishings. Axolotl Paint was chosen due to the superior paintability, quality and depth of tone achieved, as well as the beautiful matt finishes available in both the Metta and Chroma range.

Axolotl Surface: Axolotl Paint
Designers: .studio
Venue:
Photography: Terence Chin

Described as a real-life “choose-your-own-adventure”, the eclectically designed boutique hotel is a rare design gem.
Owners and creators of the hotel, Daniel Symonds and his business partner, Toby Raphael, shake up typical hotel design by commissioning the talents of 13 artists and seven designers from four leading design studios, to create 39 individually designed rooms.
Instead of rooms being allocated by the hotel, guests are invited to peruse available rooms on check-in and choose their room based on the style, colour, texture and design - just as they would a work of art.

The riot of colour was injected into the hotel with the use of the Axolotl Paint range. Metta, Chroma and Micaceous paints in varying sheen levels adorn the walls, ceilings and trims throughout the eclectic hotel. In some cases our paints were also used in the graphic artworks and on the furnishings. Axolotl Paint was chosen due to the superior paintability, quality and depth of tone achieved, as well as the beautiful matt finishes available in both the Metta and Chroma range.

Axolotl Surface: Axolotl Paint
Designers: .studio
Venue:
Photography: Terence Chin

✖️ Sheet Metal + Patina ✖️

A quick snapshot of some of the sheet metal types and patina we supply.

👉 Swipe for more and send us a DM with any enquiries.

🗝 Axolotl Aged Zinc Sheet Metal 🗝

Revisiting a project we know and love, Pier One Sydney located at Walsh Bay, Sydney Harbour. Situated on a former real-life pier originally constructed in 1912, this luxury hotel and venue space captures the essence of the Sydney lifestyle with spectacular views over Sydney Harbour.

Bates Smart’s perfectly curated design of layered raw and lavish materials within the existing building’s heritage fabric makes for a sophisticated and relaxed design. One we know can stand the test of time!

The rooftop bar includes our Zinc Sheet Metal with Charred ageing. Favoured for practical and aesthetic values, a solid sheet metal benchtop is a designer’s go-to material. The custom lighting sculpture above the bar was designed by Electrolight and finished with our liquid Applied Metal Brass with Brown Florentine ageing and lunar texture.

Axolotl surfaces:
Bar Benchtop: Zinc Sheet Metal with Charred ageing.
Light fitting finish & Floor inlays: Applied Metal Brass with Brown Florentine ageing and Lunar texture.
Architecture & Interiors:
Lighting Design:
Photography:

🗝 Axolotl Aged Zinc Sheet Metal 🗝

Revisiting a project we know and love, Pier One Sydney located at Walsh Bay, Sydney Harbour. Situated on a former real-life pier originally constructed in 1912, this luxury hotel and venue space captures the essence of the Sydney lifestyle with spectacular views over Sydney Harbour.

Bates Smart’s perfectly curated design of layered raw and lavish materials within the existing building’s heritage fabric makes for a sophisticated and relaxed design. One we know can stand the test of time!

The rooftop bar includes our Zinc Sheet Metal with Charred ageing. Favoured for practical and aesthetic values, a solid sheet metal benchtop is a designer’s go-to material. The custom lighting sculpture above the bar was designed by Electrolight and finished with our liquid Applied Metal Brass with Brown Florentine ageing and lunar texture.

Axolotl surfaces:
Bar Benchtop: Zinc Sheet Metal with Charred ageing.
Light fitting finish & Floor inlays: Applied Metal Brass with Brown Florentine ageing and Lunar texture.
Architecture & Interiors:
Lighting Design:
Photography:

🌫Axolotl Cement Paint + Brass Sheet Metal 🌫

Our Design Director, Emmaline Cox, collaborated with Caroma to design the Elvire Capsule space.

The Elvire bathroom and tapeware collection celebrates beautiful natural Australian hardwood timbers.
The Elvire design informed the interior design narrative to be a space with materials that are synonymous with the Australian bush – green and gold.

Wattle gold is represented with a striking datum of aged Brass Sheet Metal, that’s doubles up as both a design feature and a practical skirting panel.
The space is softened by our Cement Paint in colour Linen, applied with a subtle movement reminiscent of stucco.
Soft olive green tiles represent the leaves of eucalypts.

Axolotl surface: Cement Paint in Linen & Brass Sheet Metal with Pearl Patina.
Design: &
Project: Elvire Capsule

The Broached Recall Vase | An equal measure in cuteness and mystery, this unique piece represents an artistic statement on design evolution, restoration and economy.

Our team worked meticulously to inlay the brass and patina to various depths following the geometric artwork generated by John Warwicker and designed by the Broached Commissions team

The vase comes with a removable metal insert for ease of use when arranging flowers and adding water.

Opening your door to a lasting impression 🧡

Axolotl surface: Applied Metal Iron Rust in a cast texture with Majestic Rust Ageing
Design:
Project: Sylvania Waters
Photographer:
Builder:

We're thrilled to announce our co-founder and managing director, Kris Torma, is now a Good Design ambassador.

Kris has been involved in the visual and creative arts for the past 30 years. This includes studying cinematography and eight years working as an art director in the Australian film and television industry, followed by setting up Axolotl in 1995 with his brother, Kim Torma.

Over the past 20 years Kris has directed Axolotl to success in winning multiple awards for business, innovation and creativity including five International Design Awards and the prestigious National Business and GIO Product Innovation Award.

Kris's knowledge and skills blend business management, manufacturing, project management with design and creativity. We took a moment to talk with Kris about what good design means to him.

Repost 🖤 We are delighted to share progress on two upcoming applied arts benches that will be positioned in the Wesley Church forecourt on Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

Designed by and , these pieces are currently in fabrication at , slowly materialising through processes requiring more than 1000 hours of toil.

As a tribute to Louisa Briggs, William Barak and to the history of Coranderrk Reserve, these benches commemorate both agricultural practices employed at Coranderrk Station, and traditional cultural practices of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri peoples in their forms; branches that act as the exterior framework for the benches reference the hop-poles used at Coranderrk, whilst river-reed and charcoal seats acknowledge the unique cultural practices associated with men and women of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri peoples.

This gesture was requested by the church and commissioned by Charter Hall - both wanting a counterpoint to the sculpture of John Wesley that stands in the precinct forecourt.

This image series shows the process as these works move from ideation to prototyping and the commencement of fabrication - stages through which objects and ideas continuously move between hands, weaving together as they make their way to completion. The process of casting allows each piece to deeply echo the materiality of branches, charcoal, and reeds. The tactility of these works is already coming to the fore, and we can’t wait to see these benches finally integrated into the Wesley Place landscape, in late 2021.

Sketch by:
Process images:
Artists: &
Public art commissioning:
Developer: Charter Hall
Architect:
Landscape architecture:

WORK WITH US
We are expanding and have 3 exciting career opportunities available.

Senior Sprayer and Trainer | USA
You and a friend could have an unprecedented opportunity to be trained by our surface experts in Sydney Australia, and then be flown to the United States for you to train the new USA team and create Axolotl Masterpieces.
2 positions available

Senior Spray Painter | Sydney, AUS
Join our team of diverse artisans to be a part of truly unique and creative work. We are an entrepreneurial, energetic and design focused company - and we like our people that way too.
1 position available.

If these opportunities sound like something you or something you know would love, apply now! Link in bio for more information.