Contemporary Villa

This project is the winner of WGANZ 2023 Sustainability Awards and showcases our commitment to sustainable building practices through our use of high quality, eco friendly materials and energy efficient design.

The owners and architects set about restoring what could be salvaged from the original dwelling and transforming into the stunning villa it is today.

As the window and door manufacturer, our company was challenged by the owners to produce modern windows with traditional features. However, we went above and beyond by incorporating a number of unique sustainable innovations that make these 49 Exterior and 14 interior doors stand out.

One of the key features of our windows is their superior thermal efficiency. Each window was thermally modelled, providing a combined house lot ‘R’ value of 0.43 easily satisfying the 0.26 H1 requirement at the time. Notably, this set of windows would substantially outperform the new 0.46 requirement with the application of Low E double glazing. The 44mm sash thickness and 65mm sliding door thickness, also satisfied NZS4211 standards.

Establishing BRANZ approved thermal calculations and NZS4211 certification were innovations years in the making that our company has taken an industry leadership position in achieving. It was pleasing to utilise both within this project however the innovation and commitment to sustainability did not stop there.

We were able to demonstrate both increased durability and thermal performance by utilizing full architecturally designed sill profiles, which were made from Micropro-treated laminated NZ Pine. This H3.2 Micronised Copper treatment is known to be the most environmentally friendly, offering benefits over the solubilised copper azole equivalent in terms of reduced corrosivity to fasteners, reduced copper leaching, a lighter more natural wood appearance, and reduced propensity for mould growth. A service life of 50 years or more is expected, which makes this an excellent choice for sustainable construction.

The Pine used in construction of the frames was all sourced locally. This means that we have reduced the carbon footprint associated with transportation, and we have also supported local businesses and communities.

We are also proud to have identified a pending shortage of Western Red Cedar, which led us to explore alternative options. After considering various options, we proposed using Alaskan Yellow Cedar (AYC) as a preferred substitute to Western Red Cedar (WRC). This decision proved to be a gamechanger and reset an industry standard. AYC offers a greater abundance of supply (utilizing a less scarce timber), superior Modulus of Elasticity (MOE), and an aesthetically cleaner paint finish. This decision represents our commitment to sustainability and long-term planning.

Finally, we utilised a number of innovative techniques, such as CAD drawings and CNC utilization, to eliminate potential mistakes and increase efficiency. To support durability and long term functionality we even took the opportunity to upgrade the standard screws utilising a 9g head on a 10g shank which is standard practice for only our company and represents our commitment to sustainability.

Overall, this project represents the culmination of a number of recent innovations for our business and the timber joinery industry. We are proud of our contribution to this stunning villa's restoration, which incorporates sustainable practices and innovative techniques.