PureCoat kitchens shine for both aesthetics and fabrication efficiency

For the Victoria Lane Apartments in Wellington, luxury developers Willis Bond sought to create spaces that would be more accessible, with no compromise on quality.

Athfield Architects, the architects and interior designers for the building, have applied the idea of multi-functional overlapping spaces to the interiors of these one-, two- and three-bedroom units. For the kitchens, they selected prefinished PureCoat in Milk, a glossy warm white. The UV-coated panels from Bates Surfaces reflect light around the apartment interiors and provide a considered and restrained backdrop in the main living space.

‘We focused on material testing and prototyping to develop a high-quality joinery system that could be installed across 123 apartments,’ says Kim Salt, Interior Designer at Athfield Architects, ‘with function being key both during the fabrication and in the finished kitchens.’

The designers analysed the specific number and type of units the kitchens would need, and how they would be arranged for different apartment layouts. ‘The kitchens are composed of modular units arranged according to the geometry of each apartment,’ says Kim. ‘This simplified fabrication at scale.’

Prefinished panels reduce costs and save time

Choosing UV-coated PureCoat panels for the cupboards ensured that the units would arrive on site with a uniform, quality finish.

‘We have used spray lacquer in the past,’ says Kim, ‘but that can be hard to monitor for quality control, especially over this number of apartments. We felt the PureCoat board would be easier to work with on that scale, and provide good value.’ Once cabinets are built, they go straight to site. There is no requirement for transportation to a spray-painting factory first.

An architectural finish with quality and depth

Along with efficiencies in production, PureCoat’s high-gloss finish, specified in Milk, also served the project’s aesthetic requirements.

Says Kim, ‘This product has a beautiful depth to the finish – it looks and feels premium, and is consistent across the panel.’ To further enhance the look, Kim chose a contrasting timber-look edge clashing. ‘We did that to play up the panelised, modular look.’

PureCoat panels are manufactured in New Zealand and available in a range of solid colours and gloss levels, with a colour-matched reverse side. There are no VOCs or Red List chemicals in the UV coating, making the product healthier for people and helping projects achieve green credentials.