Sun Control & Shades

Amongst Toorak's traditional streetscape, the striking geometry of Limestone House emerges as a captivating multidimensional statement – the bold volumes of the dwelling embody the owners’ passion for sustainable living and contemporary architecture. Designed by Wardle Architects, this remarkable home epitomises an unwavering desire for self-sufficiency.

It’s a double for Breezway’s Altair IGLU double glazed louvres this year with the innovative system winning accolades at the prestigious 2023 Australian Good Design Awards and 2023 Australian Glass and Window Association Design Awards.

While the building and construction sector as a whole is making strides towards greater accountability, greenwashing is still a widespread practice within the industry. And it’s an issue because the deliberate lack of transparency makes it much harder for architects, designers and specifiers to choose products with desired environmental profiles, from manufacturers with science-based sustainability credentials to corroborate them.

The redeveloped Lady Huntingfield Children’s Centre is an integrated children and family centre offering: childcare, kindergarten, maternal child health and immunisation services, parenting support services and playgroups. The building includes several design features that will help minimise environmental impacts over the life of the building including renewable energy, solar panels, natural ventilation and good insulation, rainwater harvesting and efficient fittings.

The Nunawading Community Hub is a multi-functional community and sports precinct on the previously Nunawading Primary School site. As the new vibrant heart of Nunawading, the hub is a place where everyone feels welcome and can come together to embrace new opportunities for socialising, learning and getting active.

Designers, specifiers and builders must deliver high performing buildings that are healthy, sustainable and compliant with the National Construction Code. However, limited knowledge of specialty fields, such as window automation, can lead to poor specification where the end result provides the lowest form of “compliance” as opposed to meeting the client’s true intent and objectives. Far too often, stakeholders do not know what is possible with window automation nor is it widely understood how such systems can be effectively and safely operated.

As discussed in “Opening the blinds on Section J and Beyond”, a recent CPD Live session presented by the Australian Institute of Architects and sponsored Verosol, specifiers need to realise that modern day window coverings are more than just ways of ensuring privacy or providing shade. Considering their significant energy saving potential, they can also play a crucial role in ensuring that commercial buildings are sustainable.

We are seeing a developing trend of retired homeowners renovating their homes to create more space for their growing, extended family especially when the grandchildren arrive. They say it takes a village to raise a child and this is evident in the growing number of outdoor rooms being retrofitted to homes of empty nesters.

The inclusion of Opening Roofs to a learning environment creates a pleasing, stylish learning setting not only for students but for teachers too. Constructed of aluminium, Louvretec Opening Roofs and Sun Louvre systems have been designed to Australia’s demanding environments and are backed by an extensive product warranty. Available nationwide.

Designed to meet the new stringent energy efficiency requirements within the NCC, EBSA’s BT90 is the highest Performing Glass Louvre System on WERS.

As bushfires again approach Canberra, door and hardware specialist Howard Styles has fabricated some novel shutters in an attempt to improve the fire resistance of his family’s 1956 Monocrete cottage.

'Sustainable screening: The benefits of effective insect screen specification' takes a close look at the design benefits of insect screening, with a focus on retractable screens. First, we discuss the key considerations when designing for Australia’s harsh climate.