An urban infill project, Thornton Flats is a design-centric apartment community in a quiet residential neighborhood. To create a “chill” South Austin vibe and accentuate indoor/outdoor living, a leaf pattern is applied to the metal mesh façade. The iconic graphic provides a sense of distinction and street presence versus a boring building number. To produce a 3D-like layered effect, a lighter-colored leaf was created on the stainless by powder-coating the negative space in antique bronze. The darker leaves were painted on the tan wall behind the mesh. Subtle color-changing lighting provides additional depth to the façade at night. Mesh helped the builder reduce carbon footprint, a desired sales attribute.