Covet’s fire-rated wood-look batten cladding has helped transform two Westside Petroleum Service stations in Morewell and Ballarat.

Petrol stations have long been designed and set up purely for convenience. An environment seen as nothing more than a “pit stop” they are characterised by uninviting fluorescent lighting, laminate flooring and the most basic of amenities.

Westside Petroleum has broken away from this conservative and traditional approach, incorporating a touch of “café culture” into its latest developments. They’ve done this by complementing the functional service station with Eroma Café.

Timber-look batten detailing is used in the interior as a feature for the café’s counter, the aluminium battens of varied sizes cut to exact dimension in Japan.

The wood look battens, carpet and neutral tones create a welcoming and inviting environment. More reminiscent of a relaxed local coffee shop than of a traditional service station, the space offers a wonderful retreat for busy and weary commuters.

Wrapped around the exterior of the café’s façade are 30 x 85 profile Kabebari Battens. It marks a clear distinction from the service station, positioning it more as a destination of its own.

The need for fire-rated materials like Covet’s Ever Art Wood range, is of particular importance in a service station context due to close proximity to flammable materials.

With the façade subject to ongoing exposure to petrol fumes and exhaust emissions, durability was also of vital importance.

For all these reasons, Covet’s fire rated aluminium cladding was an ideal choice for this challenging environment. Covet’s Ever Art Wood® Series cladding range is fire-rated, and performs well when tested to AS/NZ 1530.3 (spread of flame / index 0) and AS/NZ 3837-1998 (result / Group 1).

Cladding profile

Ever Art Wood® Kabebari Battens - 30x85

Ever Art Wood®

Kuri-Masame

Finish

Textured

Fire rating

Performs well when tested to AS/NZ 1530.3 (spread of flame / index 0) and AS/NZ 3837-1998 (result / Group 1)

Photography: James Park