This article features in the 2016 Autumn edition of the Natural Artisan Magazine. Featuring Render It Oz’s Gorni on the cover, the feature story covers the Kathmandu project completed in Melbourne’s CBD. 

IT’S a name that is synonymous with adventure and capturing the spirit of the outdoors in everyday life, so when Kathmandu opened their newest flagship retail store in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, they set about doing so in an environmentally sensitive way.

Kathmandu Galleria, is located on one of the city’s most sought after retail real estate spaces, on the corner of Bourke Street and Elizabeth Street in Melbourne’s CBD – not the kind of place you’d expect a green building to sprout.

It is the first retail space in Australasia to achieve the Green Building Council of Australia’s (GBCA) five-star green rating – credentials the outdoor clothing retailer are extremely proud of.

Kathmandu sustainability spokesperson, Tim Loftus, says that the Galleria store brings the company’s commitment to sustainability to life.

“Kathmandu is creating a benchmark for sustainable design and building in retail.

“The Galleria store speaks to our brand belief of respecting the environment. We’re incredibly proud to invite Melburnians to visit Galleria and experience the store.” Mr Loftus said.

The Galleria store was purpose built to target the five-star green accreditation; using sustainable design techniques, building practices and materials, the store includes features and technologies that reduce its carbon emissions and the amount of waste sent to landfill.

Melbourne Artisan, Gorni Cahani from Render It Oz was excited to take part in the innovative project installing more than 250m2 of Rockcote Clay Décor across the walls of the two-storey building.

“When the shop fitting team first approached me, we spoke in depth about the importance of the ecofriendly principles Kathmandu were trying to create with this store and what products I thought would work best.

“Having used the Rockcote range of natural materials fairly exclusively since I was introduced to them, I was certain that Clay Décor was going to a perfect fit, especially given its green credentials.” Cahani said.

Some of the key features which helped the store achieve its industry first rating included:

• Energy monitoring, where data is automatically sent and recorded at head office.
• A master switching system to turn off all unnecessary energy points when the store is closed.
• A full cardboard and co-mingled recycling system where customer can see each month’s waste in a store display.
• Low energy lighting with automatic signage dimming when the store is closed.
• Recycled timber flooring and low emission materials the company sourced for furniture and fittings.
• The use of Rockcote Clay Décor on the walls instead of cement based render.

Loftus said the contractors’ practices, supply chain methods and waste disposal were all critical factors in achieving the GBCA green star rating.

Kathmandu say the cost of fitting out the store was comparable with a regular fitout and that the group plans to incorporate the environmentally friendly elements into new and existing stores as much as possible.

This news was praised by GBCA’s Chief Executive Officer Romilly Madew who says Kathmandu’s leadership sends a signal to the retail industry.

“Kathmandu is showing the rest of the retail industry that sustainability is a strategic business decision – one that reinforces brand equity and commitment to ethical business practices,” Ms Madew said.

Kathmandu has 110 retail stores throughout Australia, 46 in New Zealand and four in the United Kingdom.

DOWNLOAD THE ARTICLE NOW