Westpoint Shopping Complex - Bringing Westpoint's fresh food precinct to life

Haymes Paint’s Artisan range helps create a relaxing oasis for shoppers

When Westpoint shopping centre set out to revamp its fresh food court, it provided a simple brief – a Mediterranean escape that creates a space of sanctuary and interaction for shoppers.

The original food court, originally built in 2006, was fairly unconventional – an airy, light-filled space beneath a four-story atrium that housed a few kiosks. Fortunately, that made the perfect canvas to reinvigorate the space in a way that represents the wonderful multicultural demographic of Blacktown.

With the vision of i2C Architects, skill of TCI Commercial paint applicators and expertise of Haymes Paint, Westpoint’s brief was in safe hands as the project truly came to life.?

Product used

In order to revitalise Westpoint’s fresh food court, i2C Architects opted to use a recent addition to the Haymes Paint Artisan range – Haymes Paint Artisan Surface Bloom in a custom colour developed especially for this project.

Surface Bloom is a versatile, textured product that can create a variety of interesting finishes. As i2C Architects wanted to achieve a sleek, polished concrete effect to add depth and warmth, Surface Bloom was the perfect product for the job.

Surface Bloom was applied to various internal areas of the food court, including up the sides of the elevator and above the ceiling of stores. Its warm and earthy finish was a beautiful compliment to the white brick, timber and greenery – creating a comforting, sanctuary-like environment for shoppers.

Haymes Paint Artisan Surface Bloom is a water-based paint, meaning it has minimal odour and Volatile Organic Compounds. The formula is ready to repaint in four hours and touch-dry in one hour, ensuring a fast project turnaround time, which is especially important in a bustling shopping centre precinct.

For this project, Surface Bloom was used in conjunction with Haymes Paint Woodcare Aqualac Clear, in an application process called ‘Artisan Cut and Polish’. This protective coating for interior walls and timber finishes adds a layer of defence against the consistent wear and tear caused by public spaces, the perfect option for Westpoint’s fresh food court.

Together, the products created a visually striking yet hardy and easy-to-clean finish.

Application process

The secret to the natural and earthy finish of Surface Bloom is all in the application process, which requires a trowel and microfiber applicator.

First, the product should be loaded up on the microfiber application and applied to the specific surface using a random pattern – the more random, the better.

Then, working in one-metre square sections, the further product should be spread with a trowel at a 45-degree angle to create the appearance of concrete.

Switch back to the microfibre applicator for the final layer, to smooth out the surface and add a bespoke textured finish.

These small nuances – like the angle of the trowel – can make all the difference between a failed application and a terrific result. As mentioned above, it is also recommended to apply a coat of Acqualac Clear at the end for extra surface protection, to round out the ‘Artisan Cut and Polish’ application process.

What’s more, the beauty of working with Haymes Paint products goes beyond their incredible quality. Customers also gain access to a knowledgeable team of experts who love nothing more than sharing their passion and expertise.

It is perhaps no surprise, then, that throughout the Westpoint project, Haymes Paint’s team provided valuable on-site training and support for the application of Artisan Surface Bloom and Aqualac Clear.?

Architect: i2C. National Architectural Practice.

Painter: The Changing Image (TCI) Commercial

Photographer: Ryan Linnegar (Ryan Linnegar Photography)