From coastal new builds to inner-city renovations, the warm timber look is everywhere - and increasingly it is aluminium underneath.
Warmth is back
After a long run of cool greys and stark whites, Australian facades are warming up. Timber tones bring a natural, grounded feel that softens contemporary forms, and they pair beautifully with the black-framed glazing and rendered masses that define current design.
But timber is demanding
The catch has always been upkeep. Real timber outdoors needs oiling, weathers unevenly and can be restricted on bushfire-prone land. That tension between the look people want and the maintenance they can commit to has driven the shift to woodgrain aluminium.
The aluminium answer
Woodgrain aluminium gives the warmth without the work. It holds its colour, will not rot or warp, and is non-combustible - so designers can deliver the timber aesthetic on homes and apartments that have to satisfy modern construction requirements.
Where it is showing up
We are seeing it on entry statements and garage doors, as batten screens over glazing, lining alfresco ceilings, and wrapping whole facades on renovations. It is a flexible look that scales from a feature wall to an entire building.