Product


LowE Plus with Clear for highest clarity and visible light transmittance – while also excellent Insulation performance (low U-Value).

Specification

  • Outer: 6mm Clear Toughened
  • Spacer: 12mm Warm Edge + Argon Gas
  • Inner: 6mm LowE Plus Toughened

 

Site Address

Sandy Bay, TAS 7005

Fabricator

Binq Windows

Builder

Merlin Constructions

Architect

Archier

Photos courtesy of

Adam Gibson

 

Challenge

Creating an inviting, warm and comfortable home for a recently retired couple seeking to retain their independence as they age, appears a straightforward brief.

However, when searching for a site to build their next home, these Archier clients also sought wide views over the waters of Hobart’s River Derwent.

Their eventual site on the steep slopes of Mount Nelson afforded magnificent views but also demanded design ingenuity and sophisticated building products to fulfill their requirements.

High performing double glazed units were required to achieve the delicate balance of large glazed areas to maximise outlooks, and the desire to attain an exceptional standard of thermal and visual performance.

 

Solution

Achieving warmth, comfort and wide views required innovative design and meticulous specification of performance and materials. Standard glazing would have resulted in significant unwanted heat loss and high energy consumption.

Thermal efficiency and comfort were crucial factors during the design process. High performance windows and glazing systems were vital for the project’s success, with the architects collaborating closely with window manufacturer Binq Windows to meet their clients’ requirements.

“We knew from past projects that Insulglass LowE Plus® is ideal for colder climates like Hobart’s,” says Archier director Chris Gilbert.

“LowE Plus means optimising visible light transmission, passive heat gain and insulation in your glazing. This leaves you free to design homes with more open spaces and greater natural light in cooler areas.”

In this project, using Insulglass LowE Plus® double glazing allowed Archier’s design to take advantage of the site’s views and to provide flexibility in living arrangements.

Archier’s layout focuses on longer views of Hobart, balanced by shorter views through courtyard spaces revealing the dolerite slopes of Mount Nelson. Separate yet interconnected living zones provide private and flexible living arrangements to support the clients’ strong desire for independence as they age.

A double-height courtyard drawing natural light deep into the home captivates visitors entering the home’s lower level. The courtyard connects and separates spaces, providing the intimacy and separation required for a couple to share more time.

Daylight from the courtyard guides guests to the upper level, which provides single-level living for the couple. Courtyards on either side of the kitchen invite abundant natural light, and a corresponding dining area opens to an undercover river-facing patio and an open north-facing outdoor area. Large glass sliding doors rapidly transform the patio into a protected sunroom.

Gilbert notes that access to high performance glazing changes how we design and live in different climates.

“It’s a game changer.”

Winner:      Residential Architecture – Houses (New) / Tasmanian Architecture Awards

For more information on Insulglass LowE Plus®, click below:

 

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