Lymesmith: Between Mountains Mural

– CENTO Apartments, 100 Northbourne Avenue

A 7-storey mural painted on the atrium of CENTO Apartments in Canberra. Designed by Lymesmith and executed in collaboration with The Art of Wall, this work transforms previously blank concrete into a site-specific piece that visually connects the building to its landscape context.

Side of the Between Mountains mural reflecting the western face of Mt Ainslie, featuring warm earthy tones and abstract patterns inspired by the landscape.

Side of the Between Mountains mural inspired by the southern slope of Galambary (Black Mountain), with cool tones and abstract patterns reflecting the landscape.

Project Overview:

Between Mountains uses a grid of large colour fields referencing local landmarks — Galambary (Black Mountain) and Nadya Ngambri (Mt Ainslie). The design divides the wall into two halves, each reflecting landscape influences through scale and palette.

Project Details:

Location: CENTO Apartments, 100 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra, ACT
Scale: 7 storeys high, spanning multiple floors
Materials: 100 colours of Resene Lumbersider
Installation: Swing stage access
Duration: 4 weeks
Completion: 2023

Delivery

Executed from swing stage, the mural required careful coordination of access, materials, and sequencing within a live residential environment. The team applied 100 individual colours with precision, ensuring consistency across scale and surface texture.

Outcome

The mural visually activates circulation spaces and anchors the building in its cultural and geographical context. Its scale and material specification support long-term performance in a busy residential setting.

Project Credits:

Client: Alceon Property Group
Interior Design: Dept of Design
Mural Concept + Design: Lymesmith
Mural Painting Team: Lymesmith, The Art of Wall (Leia Sidery and Jo Breneger), Michael Tawa
Builder: Blackett Commercial
Photography: Sonia van de Haar, Dale Wow