Delivering Structural Solutions for Architectural Vision
Melrose Park Display suite
Engineering Architectural Vision: Melrose Park Display Suite
Located at 38 Wharf Road, the new Melrose Park Display Suite serves as the gateway to one of Sydney’s most vibrant master-planned communities. Opened in July 2025 by Tier-1 developer Sekisui House, this temporary exhibition home is designed to give prospective buyers a premium, tactile experience of the upcoming apartments.
Working alongside the acclaimed architects at GroupGSA, JSBC Consulting was engaged to provide the structural engineering for this bespoke pavilion. While display suites are technically temporary structures, executing GroupGSA’s highly unique architectural vision required highly clever, permanent-quality engineering solutions.
1. The Inverted Roof & Vee Gutter System
Standard roof structures are designed to shed rainwater outward to the perimeter eaves. For this project, the architectural vision called for the exact opposite: a roof that falls entirely inward toward the center of the building.
To achieve this striking aesthetic without risking water ingress or pooling, JSBC engineered a highly specialized “inverted” roof framing system. We designed a robust structural framework that pitches downward into a custom-engineered central “Vee” gutter. This required precise calculation of roof loads and deflection limits to ensure heavy rainfall is captured safely and funneled efficiently into the building’s internal drainage network, keeping the high-end interior completely protected.
2. The Open-Air Internal Courtyard
The centerpiece of the display suite is a rectangular, open-air internal garden sitting directly beneath the inverted roof. Enclosed entirely by floor-to-ceiling glass, this courtyard brings natural light and nature directly into the center of the exhibition space.
Engineering a large void in the center of a roof structure removes the natural lateral stability of a continuous ceiling diaphragm.
Seamless Framing: To ensure the glass walls surrounding the courtyard remained a striking, unobstructed feature, JSBC engineered a rigid structural perimeter around the roof opening. By hiding the structural stiffening within the ceiling cavity, we eliminated the need for bulky vertical columns around the garden, allowing the glass to run seamlessly and giving the illusion that the roof is floating above the courtyard.
3. Premium Feel for a “Temporary” Structure
Even though an exhibition home has a limited lifespan, it must feel as solid and premium as the final apartments it represents. JSBC engineered a highly rigid floor system and structural frame that eliminates any bounce or vibration under foot traffic, ensuring that every visitor experiences the true “Sekisui House difference” the moment they walk through the doors.