WINDOWS Magazine Autumn 2016 | Page 16

ca s e st u dy australia towers: maximising views without compromising safety B reezway Altair Louvre Windows were recently specified into the Australia Towers project, located in the heart of Sydney, New South Wales. The project was designed by renowned leading architectural firm, Bates Smart, who have been established in the industry since 1853 (originally named Reed and Barnes), making them Australia’s second oldest architectural firm and amongst the oldest in the world. Bates Smart take great pride in their work and the Australia Towers project at Sydney Olympic Park is a reflection of this. The building environment is characterised by a tension between traditional urban planning imperatives and the construction and celebration of monumental sporting structures. This competition winning design for two new residential towers provides a sense of connection between the massive scale of sporting infrastructure and the human scale of life on the street. The towers are linked by a low podium, comprised of commercial office and retail tenancies that create a lively street frontage for residents and passers-by. Breezway Altair Louvre Windows with the Stronghold System have been incorporated into the facades of this multi-level building enclosing balconies and using a wintergarden 14 Australian Window Association Autumn 2016 approach to help maximise views and create additional year-round living space. Residents can enjoy the winter sun in a protected spot or take advantage of fresh breezes through the apartments and communal spaces. When closed, Altair Louvres will withstand the harshest weather and act as a primary seal against outdoor noise filtering into the main living areas. The towers have been positioned to ensure that privacy and overshadowing requirements have also been satisfied. In addition to unobstructed views and airflow, another important reason for the specification of the Stronghold System was to ensure rail corporation compliance was satisfied. The anti-throw legislation requires certain restrictions be in place to avoid items being projected onto the track or pedestrians below. Altair Louvres with the Stronghold System are designed to achieve higher blade retention - providing residents with the benefit of full ventilation for comfort, whilst restricting the opening of the entire window for safety. The architects at Bates Smart leveraged off their experience with Altair Louvres and the Stronghold System after their inclusion in the Iglu Student Accommodation project at Chatswood, New South Wales (completed in 2015; Winner of the 2015 Design Awards category Best Use of Windows and Doors: Commercial New Construction over $5Million). With frameless, unimpeded glass views, their ability to provide large openable areas to maximise ventilation, and with restricted blades that are fully compliant with fall prevention standards, Bates Smart felt confident installing the product again for a similar high profile project. “We are delighted with the results of improved airflow, noise reduction and the aesthetics provided by Altair Louvre Windows over the first six months of the life of the building,” stated Jonathan Gliksten, Director of Iglu. Altair Louvres with the Stronghold System have passed extensive testing to AS 2047 ‘Windows in Buildings’ and ICP005 ‘Protection of Openable Windows’ to prove its ability to safely retain blades within the clips even when subjected to heavy loads. With the louvre open, a pneumatic ram, powered by compressed air, is used to apply loads of up to 163 kg to the edge of the toughened Stronghold glass blade without breakage. For more information on the Australia Towers project or to obtain a copy of the Stronghold System test results, please contact Breezway on 1800 777 758 or visit www.breezway.com.au