infolink Building Products News, Jan/Feb 2015

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JAN | FEB 2015 | VOL 51 | NO.1 PRINT POST APPROVED PP100007333

EXPERT TIPS GETTING YOUR LIGHTS JUST RIGHT

EXTERIOR WALL MATERIALS Benefits of reverse brick veneer

WATER MANAGEMENT Clever cases of containment in urban homes

SUSTAINABILITY Products and spaces designed for all ages

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caroma.com.au

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Australian bathrooms for 70 years Almost every Australian has turned on, sat on, bathed in or flushed a Caroma product.

Over the years we have seen plenty of change and we’ve evolved with the needs and tastes of the country. What hasn’t changed is our drive to deliver world-class quality, design and innovation, in a style that’s distinctly Australian. And it’s that commitment that will continue to make Caroma the trusted name in bathrooms.

#inspiringbathrooms

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CONTENTS

EDITOR’S LETTER

HE YEAR STARTED OFF ON AN INCREDIBLY BRIGHT NOTE FOR OUR READERSHIP.

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one of the biggest challenges is where to store captured water. A number of the latest options to hit the market follow on page 16.

First there’s the widely reported story that building activity and approvals have returned to highs last seen before the global financial crisis. Then the unprecedented news that the architectural design sector is leading the country in the jobs growth stakes (see news, page 4). As a leading indicator of building across Australia, it bodes well for the coming year. With all the activity in both residential and commercial building, we can look forward to some interesting new product releases from manufacturers looking to keep abreast of demand.

Next we turn the focus to clever companies who are engineering new forms of durable interior surfaces. A range of developments go under the microscope (from page 18) which address challenges like UV stability, porosity, and resistance to abrasion and scratching.

If you haven’t heard of sinterized particle technology, check out the new Dekton surfaces (page 19).

Back to the present though, where we see there’s no shortage of great new technology already making its way into buildings. As in recent editions of the magazine, courtesy of our partner website Architecture & Design, we’ve taken cues from leading practitioners to pick up on some of the most outstanding recent applications of building products.

For instance, it’s fascinating to see the application of ‘phase change material’ inside a building’s walls to replicate the thermal mass benefits of brick in a reverse veneer design solution (page 6).

Still in the residential setting, we compare case studies on water containment strategies (page 13).

When it comes to urban settings,

PUBLISHER MARTIN SINCLAIR E-MAIL: MARTIN.SINCLAIR@CIRRUSMEDIA.COM.AU EDITOR DAVID WHEELDON E-MAIL: DAVID.WHEELDON@CIRRUSMEDIA.COM.AU JOURNALISTS

Then, in something of a mythbusting exercise, turn over to page 22 to read about instances where the much lauded LED remains overshadowed by older lighting technologies. There are also some excellent examples of LED, halogens and spotlights in action.

ON THE COVER: BPN SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS WINNER 8 CHIFLEY SQUARE IN SYDNEY FEATURES INTEGRATED LINEAR LED LUMINARES FROM LUMINO IN THE EXPOSED SOFFITS ABOVE THE GROUND FLOOR. MORE ON PAGE 22. IMAGE: BRETT BOARDMAN.

NEWS

4 Healthy employment prospects in the architecture sector

EXTERIOR WALL MATERIALS

6 A few fundamentals of Reverse Brick Veneer (RBV)

11 Three houses, three approaches to RBV

WALLS, CEILINGS & INTERIOR FINISHES

18

New and more durable technology in sleek surfaces

Finally, we cap off our features with our showcase of Top Trusted brands for 2014. On behalf of the team, I’d like to say thanks to the thousands of people who voted in the survey!

It’s set to remain an annual fixture in our calendar, where we will gauge the best brands in the architectural, building, construction and design industries.

LIGHTING DESIGN

22 A few tips on why it still pays to consider alternative lamps to LED

SUSTAINABILITY

26

Responsible design that considers all the people who will inhabit a building over its lifetime

WATER MANAGEMENT & PLUMBING

PRODUCT SHOWCASES

13

34 Information on new and

DAVID WHEELDON

16 Water storage solutions

exciting building and architectural products. Introduced with the full directory and how to enquire

GRAPHIC DESIGN/ART DIRECTION LOUIS SANTOS PHONE: 02 8484 0724 E-MAIL: LOUIS.SANTOS@CIRRUSMEDIA.COM.AU

PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR MARY COPLAND PHONE: 02 8484 0737 EMAIL: MARY.COPLAND@CIRRUSMEDIA.COM.AU

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER PAUL RYAN PHONE: 02 8484 0612 MOBILE: +61 (0) 439 663 222 E-MAIL: PAUL.RYAN@CIRRUSMEDIA.COM.AU

FOR SUBSCRIPTION ENQUIRIES CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE: 1300 360 126 ISSN 1039-9704

Urban homes and water containment case studies

NATHAN JOHNSON PHONE: 02 8484 0688 E-MAIL: NATHAN.JOHNSON@CIRRUSMEDIA.COM.AU

TOWER 1, LEVEL 13, 475 VICTORIA AVE, CHATSWOOD, NSW 2067, AUSTRALIA LOCKED BAG 2999 CHATSWOOD DELIVERY CENTRE NSW 2067, AUSTRALIA PHONE: 02W8484 0888 | FAX: 02 8484 0633 ABN 80 132 719 861 WWW.CIRRUSMEDIA.COM.AU © Copyright Cirrus Media 2013 All rights reserved. No part of the publication can be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Utmost care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the editorial matter. Product specifications and claims are those of the manufacturers.

GERALDINE CHUA PHONE: 02 8484 0759 E-MAIL: GERALDINE.CHUA@CIRRUSMEDIA.COM.AU Opinions and viewpoints expressed by interviewees, writers and columnists in BPN do not necessarily represent those of the editor, staff or publisher of the magazine.

24,970 CAB AUDITED DISTRIBUTION SEPTEMBER 2014

PRINTED BY BLUESTAR PRINT 83 DERBY STREET SILVERWATER, NSW 2128 PHONE: 02 9748 3411

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NEWS

ARCHITECTS ENJOY LARGEST JOBS GROWTH OF ANY SECTOR IN 2014: SEEK 111% 87%

100%

58%

4%

20% 6%

13%

24%

28%

40%

Industrial Design

Graphic Design

Fashion & Textile Design

Other

Interior Design

0% Web & Interaction Design

Owens anticipated that construction sector jobs will grow strongly, with design and architecture a leading indicator, as projects are approved and commence on site in 2015.

37%

“And residential property investment has been strong, which is likely influencing the significant increase we’ve seen in Architecture, Drafting and Interior Design,” Powell adds.

Some of the key growth sectors were multi-residential, private residential, mixed-use and retail. SEEK also reported growth in the commercial and hospitality furniture industries, both for locally made products and the distribution of imported goods.

60% 41%

65%

80%

Urban Design & Planning

“We saw this across the range of companies from smaller private practices as well as larger commercial architecture practices.

More confidence, in turn, stemmed from higher demand, as stable interest rates allowed more home-owners to undertake renovations or up-size, said SEEK Managing Director Employment and Learning, Joe Powell.

120%

Illustration & Animation

A recruitment expert in the sector, Kate Owens, attributed the growth to a surge in market confidence as practices and studios sought to secure staff on a permanent basis.

2014 VS 2013

Architectural Drafting

Comparatively, the job market for South Australia only increased by nine per cent, and there was a seven per cent decline in Western Australia.

NEW JOB ADS DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE

Landscape Architecture

There was a 42 per cent national increase in new jobs reported for 2014 from 2013, growth mostly concentrated on the eastern seaboard, with Queensland reporting a 58 per cent increase in architecture and design jobs from 2013.

Victoria grew by 56 per cent and New South Wales by 41 per cent.

Previously, there was a heavy lean towards casual/contract staff in 2013,” said the Managing Director of Melbourne’s Bespoke Recruitment.

Architecture

Data analysis from job search engine SEEK found the ‘Design and Architecture’ industry yielded the strongest growth in advertised jobs over the last year across all sectors.

BUILDING DESIGN SKILLS IN HIGHEST DEMAND ACROSS AUSTRALIA ARE …

Recruitment company Hays have released their views on recruitment hotspots in the sector in their January - March 2015 quarterly report.

Insights include:

• All-round Architects – Employers are looking for candidates who have at least fi ve years’ experience and the ability to manage projects from concept to construction • Urban Designers – Designers with CAD skills are rare but given the current increase in greenfield and brownfield design work they are in high demand • Revit/BIM – Drafters and Architects proficient with this software are in high demand, especially those with commercial and multi-residential project experience • Interior Designers – Employers are recruiting confident Interior Designers with creative fl are in South Australia. Candidates must be proficient on 3D Max, Photoshop, Revit and Rhino • Multi-residential Architects –A hotspot especially in Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Graduate Architects with two to fi ve years’ experience on multi-residential projects are in particular demand

• Project Architects – In high demand for multiunit residential projects in Sydney • Design Architects –Needed to do front-end design In Western Australia. There is a shortage of candidates because most graduates specialise as Project Architects rather than Design Architects.

Candidates with two to ten years’ experience are particularly sought after • ArchiCAD – Many smaller businesses that specialise in residential projects are looking for candidates who have three to four years of experience working on ArchiCAD to create single build documentation and design.

There is particular demand in Queensland for candidates to have combined understanding of ‘Queenslanders’, masonry and brick veneer builds.

FOR DAILY NEWS AND TO COMMENT

ARCHITECTUREANDDESIGN.COM.AU OR FOLLOW ‘ARCHANDDESIGN’ ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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EXTERIOR WALL MATERIALS

REVERSE BRICK VENEER: HOW AND WHY IT’S JUST RIGHT IN TEMPERATE AUSTRALIAN CLIMATES [WORDS] NATHAN JOHNSON

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ASS AND GLASS’ OR ‘LIGHT AND TIGHT’ HAVE LONG BEEN THE TWO MOST COMMON PASSIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES INFORMING THE DESIGN OF LOW-ENERGY BUILDINGS IN AUSTRALIA AND WHILE BOTH HAVE PROVEN THEIR MERIT IN DIFFERENT CLIMATES, THEY ARE BY NO MEANS THE ONLY GUIDELINES FOR AUSTRALIAN BUILDING DESIGNERS WHEN CHOOSING EXTERIOR WALL MATERIALS. The mass and glass strategy basically ensures a design with large areas of north-facing glass to collect solar energy and a heavy internal thermal mass to store it.

The light and tight strategy is the opposite, utilising high levels of insulation between lightweight walls, smaller glazing areas and an air-tight construction.

A general rule, at least in the southern half of Australia, is that mass is good as long as you have appropriate north facing windows for winter sunlight and you have an even balance between the amount of energy coming through the windows and the amount of mass you have.

When designing in a climate zone with minimal temperature fluctuations however—say between 20 and 29 degrees Celsius—instead a house that cools down quickly is preferable. An envelope comprising lightweight cladding and adequate reflective foil insulation to stop radiant heat in the daytime is best practice and is usually combined with operable louvres and doors to open the space at night time for purging.

HOVER HOUSE BY BOWER ARCHITECTURE (PICTURED) SITS ON A MODEST VICTORIAN MORNINGTON PENINSULA SITE WITH IDEAL SUNLIGHT ORIENTATION. IT COMBINES TEXT BOOK PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN WITH A MIXTURE OF LIGHTWEIGHT CLADDING AND INTERNAL THERMAL MASS MATERIALS SUCH AS CONCRETE FLOORS AND REVERSE BLOCK VENEER.

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EXTERIOR WALL MATERIALS

FACING NORTH AND CAPTURING ALL OF THE PENINSULA’S WINTER SUN IS HOVER HOUSE’S SHARED ROOM WHICH IS AN EXEMPLAR OF A ‘MASS AND GLASS’ DESIGN CONCEPT. IMAGES: SHANNON MCGRATH.

In terms of cost comparison, lightweight materials per sqm are generally less costly than brick, block, or even lightweight Hebel and have less embodied energy however their thermal mass properties are generally inferior.

One building envelope that combines both lightweight and heavyweight materials is reverse brick veneer (RBV) which comprises an exterior lightweight cladding layer, a heavily insulated cavity and framing section, and a brick or block veneer interior layer.

If delivered correctly—with adequate cross-ventilation, northern sun exposure and a well-insulated external skin that isolates the brick layer from external heat variations—RBV offers both the low cost and easy to install features of lightweight cladding, and the thermal mass properties of bricks.

Studies also show that a RBV system will provide a more

comfortable internal temperature than brick veneer in a south eastern Australia location and will use less air-conditioning energy than a lightweight building even when the latter’s R-value is higher.

Achieving the best balance of lightweight, glazing and heavyweight materials is made easier today by energy assessment software programs such as the CSRIO-designed ‘AccuRate Sustainability’. The program uses 30 years of Australian climatic data to calculate a building’s lighting, space heating and cooling, water and embodied carbon dioxide performance based on its material composition and design.

Designers can add and subtract windows, mass, insulation, and wall materials from specific rooms until the software predicts a year-round comfortable temperature for the space will be achieved. If the program says the internal brick layer of the RBV wall is receiving

4 EXPERT TIPS FOR RBV: •

Insulation must be on the outside of the thermal mass otherwise it is really just a cladding and has no thermal benefit

•

Batten out external cladding from a reflective foil strip and studwork by 20mm for an extra .5 R-value and better resistance to water ingress

•

Use an energy assessment software program when designing to ensure mass, glazing and insulation are balanced throughout the project

•

Incorporate a small gap between stud zone and interior brick wall, it benefits extra thermal resistance and gives the bricklayer space to work

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EXTERIOR WALL MATERIALS

too much summer sun for example, then a shading elements or window size can be altered to receive a more optimum energy assessment.

Another recent innovation that could change the way building designers incorporate thermal mass is phase change material (PCM) insulation, a self-recharging wall lining that like brick and concrete, absorbs the heat of the day and delivers it back at night. It comes in a mat-like form and boasts the same thermal storage as a 12 inch thick concrete slab. Similar to melting ice, phase changing material melts as a room’s temperature rises and takes energy (heat) from the room’s atmosphere in the process.

Its main benefit is its light-weight which means thermal mass can be added to multi storey buildings without the supplementary structural costs required when using heavy weight materials.

Heavyweight construction materials are generally more expensive and more difficult to install than lightweight ones so building designers on a budget might be reluctant to choose them.

RBV offers the cost benefits of a lightweight exterior skin with a

PHASE CHANGE PRODUCTS SUCH AS BIOPCM ABSORB AND RELEASE HEAT USING MATERIALS THAT MELT AND SOLIDIFY WITH TEMPERATURE CHANGES.

AUSTRAL BRICK’S CARBON NEUTRAL RANGE OFFERS A CHOICE TO RBV USERS WHO WISH TO ACHIEVE A LOW EMBODIED ENERGY FOR THEIR PROJECT.

close to parity thermal performance of an insulated double brick veneer wall.

Combine this with advances in phase changing construction materials and we may see Australian building designers, particularly those in the southern states, reconsidering their passive design strategies. ■

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Taubmans brings a personal touch to all your projects. No matter the project size, our experienced commercial team is committed to supporting architects, specifiers, engineers, builders and developers at every stage. They will provide professional advice, onsite inspections and tailored specifications to ensure the right finish for every substrate.

To Schedule a visit, call 131 686 or request a specification at www.taubmans.com.au/ColourCentre/RequestSpecification Plus, with the added reliability of Taubmans Endure Nanoguard Technology, Taubmans can ensure the highest quality coatings specification for every project.

Taubmans is prefered partner of Natspec and Autospec.

TAUBMANS

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EXTERIOR WALL MATERIALS

HOVER HOUSE, BOWER ARCHITECTURE – STRIKING THE RIGHT RBV BALANCE [PHOTOGRAPHER] SHANNON MCGRATH

“Because the site plan at Hover House wasn’t deep, the eve overhangs were easily managed to allow northern light to penetrate all the way to the southern wall and warm the bricks in winter whilst leaving them completely shaded in summer. We placed generally smaller windows on at the end of key axis to allow cross ventilation to flow through the space and across the walls. It’s important to remember that you still need to create a building skin with a correctly detailed sarking and breathable layer to ensure no thermal breaks and to protect the internal mass from external heat variations,” Anna Dutton, Director of Bower Architecture.

PRODUCTS (FROM OUTSIDE-IN)

• James Hardie Scyon Axon Cladding and Woodform • Architectural seasoned end-matched shiplapped timber • 90mm stud zone with R.25 CSR Bradford Soundscreen insulation • 50mm air gap cavity • Boral Designer Block in ‘Pearl Grey’

SOLAR SOLLEW BY POSITIVE FOOTPRINTS –AN RBV AND PHASE CHANGE MATERIAL COMBINATION [PHOTOGRAPHER] SIMON BLACK

“When we did the energy modelling for upstairs, we had the issue that, like in most double storey buildings, the heat was rising and warming the second storey rooms too much. When there was no brick platform for second storey walls to build-up from, we used a phase change material product called BioPCM. Everything is effectively the same as a reverse brick veneer system but instead of bricks we have the BioPCM that sits inside the cavity and behind plasterboard internal wall. The materials inside the phase change packets melt at room temperature – in this case 23 degrees—and will continue to melt as heat enters the room.

Because it takes energy as to change phases –from solid to liquid—what will happen is that it will heat up normally to 23 degrees and then as more heat comes in through the window, instead of going to 24 it will start melting and absorb that heat’s energy,” Jeremy Spencer, Director Positive Footprints.

PRODUCTS (FROM OUTSIDE-IN)

• 90mm James Hardie Easylap panels and Stratco Maxirib • 90mm stud zone with reflective foil and R 2.7Fletcher Sonobatt insulation (downstairs) or BioPCM phase change material (upstairs) • 15-20mm air gap cavity • Recycled brick for less embodied energy than standard brick

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EXTERIOR WALL MATERIALS MAGNEY HOUSE BY GLEN MURCUTT—RBV MASTERY [PHOTOGRAPHER] ANDREW METCALF

“It is just absolutely appalling that evidently up to 50 per cent of housing now in NSW is air-conditioned. That is an indictment on our abilities to design buildings appropriate to our place, our climate, our technology and our time.

The problem we have mostly is the buildings we’re putting up are totally inappropriate. From Darwin to Melbourne to Western Australia, it’s a disease … They’ve all got to have air-conditioning because they’re built the wrong way around.”

Murcutt says the mass of material ought to be on the inside and the lightweight material on the outside so there is good insulation between the two, “so the outside takes up the thermal lag [and] the inside takes the response of all the internal factors so that you keep the hot sun out from the mass inside … so that in the summertime it’s beautifully cool inside.” Glen Murcutt, architect.

PRODUCTS (FROM OUTSIDE-IN)

• Corrugated Alucobond Aluminium • 37mm stud zone with 75 Insulwool insulation • Painted single skin bricks

External steel stud walls don’t get any better than this...

New profile provides enhanced rigidity

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Replace boxed studs with one HEDA section in doorways and large openings.

Extreme heights, extreme loads and extreme performance… no problems for HEDA.

Available at a store near you

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WATER MANAGEMENT & PLUMBING

GLADESVILLE HOUSE

BY YOUR ABODE

POLICY OF CONTAINMENT THE TALE OF TWO URBAN HOMES [WORDS] GERALDINE CHUA

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N URBAN WATER SOLUTIONS DOCUMENT BY EME GROUP AND SMART WATER FUND NOTES THAT OVER 90 PER CENT OF RAIN THAT FALLS IN URBAN AREAS IS NOT COLLECTED FOR USE. INSTEAD, THIS RUN-OFF IS DISCHARGED INTO WATERWAYS ALONG WITH CONTAMINATED WATER FROM PAVED AREAS AND ROADS. Put this statistic beside the one saying that more than 85 per cent of Australians live in urban areas, and we start to get a sense of the importance of water management strategies and designs for residential projects, particularly urban dwellings.

According to Chris Knierim, director of Code Green, the reuse of all water in any project is important in minimising its impact on local water ways and the environment, and the number one solution for sustainable water management is water capture and containment.

While there is opportunity for the capture of rainwater for use from construction (for cement mixes and cleaning equipment) through to occupation, challenges do abound in this arena for inner-city homes; issues such as the type of build determine the possibility and feasibility

of the implementation of these systems. For instance, there is more opportunity with a new home to provide cost effective solutions to water management, as earth moving equipment often have easier access to a particular area of the site to create an underground tank.

A retrofit or alterations project may not have the same provision of room, which means an above ground water tank may be the only viable option. However, logistics may not allow for the tank to be placed in the desired location.

Confined spaces may also limit the sizes of tanks.

Despite these difficulties, Code Green ensures that the most amount of water is being captured and contained in all of its construction projects.

This aim is often manifest in the form of a two-pronged water management plan.

The first stage sees the team determining the most appropriate location for the underground water tank and constructing it first, before creating a series of paths that divert all rainwater onsite back into this tank. This allows the water captured to be recycled during construction, which minimises the project’s dependence on the mains water supply.

The second stage is a permanent water management plan that will be implemented for use once the building is completed and occupied.

FOREST LODGE ECO HOUSE BY CODE GREEN

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WATER MANAGEMENT & PLUMBING

CASE STUDY: FOREST LODGE ECO HOUSE BY CODE GREEN Built on one of the last remaining vacant land sites in inner city Sydney, this home uses eco-design principals as its launching pad, while backing up Knierim’s “number one solution” of water containment.

Its water management strategy, which minimises the water leaving the property, rests largely on a 3,500 litre underground water storage tank. This tank harnesses the captured water for the toilets, irrigation for the rooftop and vertical gardens, the rear garden’s suspended table waterfall centrepiece, and to support other water usage equipment required by the house.

Located beneath the outdoor entertaining area, this storage tank works hand-in-hand with the custom natural air ventilation system, which allows external breezes to flow through a pipe system and travel into the water storage tank to be chilled as it passes.

The hot water system has also been cleverly employed to help provide heating for the home. Hot water heated from the roof’s solar tubes flows via the pipe system down to a natural heat chamber located a metre below ground, warming the earth as it travels so the heat becomes trapped and stored in the compacted soil storage cell. This heat is then released on demand to warm the house’s polished concrete ground floor slab.

An Australian-first innovation designed by Knierim, this heat storage system is made from a layer of compacted soil enclosed in a polystyrene barrier that was laid on top of the pipework.

“The solar tubes and heat storage system were the most costly individual items purchased, but the environmental benefits and cost savings are already evident as the dwelling has to date not required any mechanical assistance for heating or cooling,” said Knierim.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BELINDA MASON AND NICK WILSON

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WATER MANAGEMENT & PLUMBING CASE STUDY: GLADESVILLE HOUSE

BY YOUR ABODE This new timber-framed home located in urban NSW was also designed with water efficiency in mind, but goes steps further to achieve water self-sufficiency.

Darryn Parkinson, your abode’s design and construction director, explains that this was done by connecting the entire roofing area, made of Lysaght Custom orb roof sheeting and Lysaght half round gutter, to four rainwater tanks that can hold up to 24,000 litres of rainwater storage.

“We find the biggest impediment to large rainwater storage strategies is often the space in order to locate the storage tanks in an economical manner,” said Parkinson.

“In this particular case, 4 x 6,000 litre above ground rainwater tanks have been located along the Southern boundary of the house. In doing this, we have utilised what is normally an unused, wasted area of land and put it to a very productive use.”

When it rains, all roof water is collected via charged downpipes and sent to the rainwater tanks.

A first flush diverter collects and diverts the majority of the first flush of roof contamination away from the tanks, which keeps the water entering the tanks as clean as possible.

The water in the tanks is then pumped into the house via a Davey pump with a Davey RainBank system, which automatically selects the water source for toilet and laundry applications.

Rainwater is given priority over the mains water supply, which is only used when the tank is empty or during a power outage.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS KAYSER

To ensure the water is clean and bacteria free, the pumped water flows through a micron pleated filter, a Silver Carbon filter, as well as a UV filter.

Parkinson notes that the effectiveness of this system is based on the premise of regular rainfall, but adds that since completion the house utilises recycled rainwater 80 to 90 per cent of the time. ■ Find out more about these projects and the full range of their water management strategies on Architecture & Design.

“THERE IS A GROWING IMPETUS FOR MORE PEOPLE TO BECOME MORE SELF-SUFFICIENT FOR THEIR ENERGY NEEDS, AND I FEEL THAT THE SAME WILL EVENTUALLY APPLY TO WATER MY EXPERIENCE, THERE ARE TWO COMMON CHALLENGES FACED

BY ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS IN TRYING TO MAXIMISE WATER EFFICIENCY IN HOMES: CLIENT RESISTANCE TO USING AND DRINKING RAINWATER, AND THE PERCEPTION THAT IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT YOU ARE NOT ACTUALLY ALLOWED TO USE RAINWATER WITHIN YOUR HOUSE.” DARRYN PARKINSON, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DIRECTOR OF YOUR ABODE

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WATER MANAGEMENT & PLUMBING

TOOLS OF CONTAINMENT For many homes in rural Australia, water storage tanks are a common sight; a necessity even. But the story for urban dwellings unfolds a little differently, with the majority of urban households relying on a treated mains water supply.

strategies to lower their mains water usage, whether for legal (many new homes are now required to have a rainwater tank plumbed into the house for some domestic uses), sustainability or cost reasons.

innovations, ranging from slimline tanks to underground and bladder systems, account for the different needs a project could have, as the type of build often determines the feasibility of implementing a system.

In recent times however, an increasing number of suburban and inner-city homes are employing water efficiency

Indeed there have been a number of innovations in the field, both in terms of aesthetics as well as quality. These

Here are six water capturing and storage systems for urban homes in Australia that aren’t your typical tanks:

AQUA-LINE WATER TANKS BY STRATCO Featuring a clean, smooth surface with strengthening ribs, Aqua-line Water Tanks are made from a polyethylene that has food grading and protects it against harmful UV rays.

The tanks are manufactured in one piece from rotomoulded plastic, and the thick poly thick wall allows it to be impact and corrosion resistant.

GRAF PLATIN BY REECE Compared to another tank of the same volume, the Graf Platin requires up to 80 per cent less digging. Its minimal installation depth and shallow excavation requirements makes it suitable for rocky ground and locations with high ground water. The product is made from a rotation moulding process, which creates seamless internal joints for extra strength.

AQUACOMB BY TEXO Aquacomb is a modular water storage system designed to manage rainwater and stormwater for Australian homes without encroaching on lifestyle or aesthetics. Comprising a series of interconnected water storage pods that can be housed wholly within a concrete slab or under hard covered surfaces, the product eliminates the need for excavation, along with charged lines, additional concrete footings, and above ground tanks and pipe work.

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WATER MANAGEMENT & PLUMBING

“ARCHITECTS AND BUILDING DESIGNERS SHOULD CONSIDER THE GRADIENT OF THE LAND AND IF POSSIBLE, UTILISE THE GRADIENT TO GUIDE THE WATER COURSE INTO THE UNDERGROUND TANK SYSTEM. IF THE LAND HAS LITTLE GRADIENT THEY SHOULD CONSIDER LANDSCAPING THE LAND IN A WAY THAT WILL ENHANCE THE OPPORTUNITY IN CAPTURING THE WATER WHILE FORCING THE WATER INTO THE LANDSCAPING AND UNDERGROUND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, WHICH ALLOWS FOR THE WATER TO BE REUSED.” - CHRIS KNIERIM, BUILDER, DESIGNER AND DIRECTOR OF CODE GREEN

ECO SAC BY WATERPLEX Eco Sac is a framed bladder tank that can harvest all of the rain that falls on a roof by diverting the downpipes to a common in-flow pipe. Made from a geo tech fabric and steel, the bladder is secured into place under decks and floors with a galvanised steel frame and harness. This ensures that the product will not touch any part of the home, which is important as 1,000 litres of water collected weighs one tonne. A steel mounting plate also fixes the pipe location and removes stress from the pipes.

THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A RAINWATER TANK: 1. What you will use the water for, which will affect the size of the tank you need 2. How big your roof area is, which determines how much water you can collect 3. Whether you have enough space for the tank. According to NSW’s Willoughby Council, a traditional round 5,000 litre tank will need an area of 1.7 metres in diameter and 2.3 metres in height.

Underground tanks are another option, but are usually more expensive and will require a DA

MODULAR SLIMLINE TANKS BY BUSHMAN TANKS The Bushmans TT210 Storage Tank was created with flexibility in mind. With a modular design, the product can be installed as a single tank or an unlimited number of connected 1,000 litre tanks, depending on the requirements and limitations of a project. They can be installed in hard-to-access places, such as the side of buildings or between windows, and their size and weight allows them to be manoeuvred into position easily.

ECOAID BY MAXIPLAS Designed for applications where above ground rainwater tanks are not suitable or practical, EcoAID is a rain and stormwater harvesting and storage system that can be used in heavily trafficked areas as the shape of its installation is completely flexible. With articulated joints that allow for placements on radii as small as 25m, the system can follow the geographical contour of a site, or the curves of a roundabout.

4. Whether there is a need for extras like a pressure pump, backflow prevention device, and a top-up system connection.

Also ask what is involved in installation of systems 5. Council requirements 6. Tank maintenance. First-flush devices should be utilised and regularly cleaned, and gutters and leaf screens must be checked often. Inlets and outlets to the tank should also be blocked with insect screens to prevent mosquitoes from breeding

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WALLS, CEILINGS & INTERIOR FINISHES

UP TO SCRATCH

DURABLE INTERIOR SURFACING MATERIALS FOR HOMES TO HOSPITALS [WORDS] GERALDINE CHUA

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HE SLEEKNESS OF METAL, THE WARMTH OF TIMBER, AND THE RAW AESTHETIC OF CONCRETE – INTERIOR SURFACES MATTER WHEN IT COMES TO THE FEEL OF SPACES, WHETHER THEY ARE PRIVATE OR PUBLIC. The term ‘interior surfaces’ is broad, and can be used to describe anything from flooring, walls and ceilings, to upholstery and materials used for joinery and accents. Some of the products included under this umbrella category are paints and coatings, vinyls and textiles, and materials such as natural stone, solid

surface materials and plastic laminates.

While these materials and products are often chosen based on their aesthetic qualities and price points – with an almost dizzying myriad of options to select from – the longevity of these interior surfaces is also a key consideration for interior designers and architects. Floors, walls and ceilings need to be durable (i.e able to withstand wear, pressure, and damage), both structurally and in terms of quality, as do things like benchtops and joinery.

This is especially true for public institutions such as hospitals, but just as applicable for retail environments and residential applications, with

the World Building Design Guide explaining that the function of a space will determine the degree of durability required for interior surfaces.

But as Barclay Gillett, National Specification Manager at Austaron Surfaces, notes, interior surfaces are quite often ‘missspecified’ and unable to stand up to the rigours of their environments.

“Polyurethane would probably be the most miss-specified material I see out there in the marketplace, plus a few other ones like certain laminates,” says Gillett.

“As a designer, specifier or architect, you’ve

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A big impact in the smallest space CLIP top BLUMOTION provides full function and soft-close within the smallest space; with BLUMOTION integrated into the hinge boss. The improved pivoting point achieves smaller door gaps and accommodates thicker doors.

Blum’s award winning cabinet hardware solutions provide innovative design, effortless motion and high durability, guaranteed for the lifetime of the furniture you create.

blum.com

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WALLS, CEILINGS & INTERIOR FINISHES

got to ask yourself, is that material I’m specifying fit for purpose? It’s got to stand the test of what it’s intended to do.”

Some common properties that define the durability of products are UV stability (UV light can cause non-resistant materials to fade or discolour), their level of porosity (the lower the better) and resistance to abrasion and scratches, and whether they are homogenous. The renewability of a product is also important – whether it can be easily repaired when it is damaged.

STARON SOLID SURFACES BY AUSTARON (SAMSUNG) Solid surfacing materials are typically known for their high resistance to stains and scratches, and Samsung’s Staron Solid Surfaces, manufactured from a natural mineral refined from bauxite and blended with pure acrylic resin, is no different.

With 0.004 per cent porosity, Staron prevents stains from penetrating its surface, allowing benchtops to be hygienic and easy to clean.

According to Gillett, changes in the ingredients used to make the product, such as the company’s decision to use high quality alumina hydrate in the resin, have improved its performance.

With no need for any finishing polishes or sealers, Staron is similar to Dekton in that it has a strong UV stability. It is also repairable and renewable, which means that after years of use it can simply be sanded and restored back to its original condition.

The solid surfacing product is seamless and flexible, able to be bent into any shape and used as a huge expanse with no need for joints. Residential applications include integrated heatrods, drainers, edge profiles, and as benchtop to splashback. In retail applications, the translucency of selected colours allows Staron to be backlit and illuminated.

Austaron is close to releasing a new line which could take the market in a new direction, says Gillett.

DEKTON BY COSENTINO An evolution of Cosentino’s engineered stone products, Dekton is an ultra-compact surface – a material pressed into a large format compact material – made with a mixture of the raw materials that is used to manufacture glass, porcelain materials and quartz surfaces.

It is produced with Sinterized Particle Technology (SPT), a process which replicates the metamorphic changes natural stone undergoes when subjected to high pressure and temperatures over thousands of years, but accelerates the process to create the product in just a few hours.

This ultra-compaction process is responsible for the material’s mechanical properties, which contributes to its low porosity, making it low-maintenance. With five times the flexural strength of granite, Dekton can be installed thinner (0.8cm – 2cm), over greater span large formats (320cm x 144cm), and is highly resistant to scratches, knocks, stains, burns, abrasions and weathering.

Unlike Cosentino’s previous products, Dekton has high UV resistance and can be utilised in external applications. Designwise, it can be manufactured in colours identical to wood, rust, natural stone and metal, and in a variety of textures such as rippled, leather, denim, slate, brushed or coated.

COMPACT LAMINATE BY LAMINEX A decorative panel designed with thermosetting resins that are homogenously reinforced with cellulose fibres and manufactured under high pressure and temperature, Compact Laminate is self-supporting and moisture resistant.

It is suitable for both vertical and horizontal applications, and the panels can take rough treatment, and are scratch, wear, stain, moisture and impact resistant. Each panel is manufactured with a black core that when machined, presents a distinctive black edge which serves as a unique design feature. Its machinability is similar to hardwood.

Laminex Compact Laminate comes in four ranges, each with its own particular properties, applications and decors. One range suitable for interior applications is the Laminex Multipurpose, a GreenGuard Certified product that is non-porous, easy to clean, and proven to prevent the growth of bacteria on its surface up to 99 per cent within 24 hours (certified antimicrobial to JIS Z 2801:2000).

Laminex XR Grade Compact is another range. A stain resistant decorative panel, it can be used in more unforgiving applications, such as for prison furniture and public amenities. It is graffiti resistant (tested as per ASTM D 6578-00), with an Electro Beam Cured (EBC) surface for enhanced chemical resistance and hygiene properties. It is also non-porous and resistant to acids, alkalis, and corrosive salts.

Both ranges are backed by a 10 year limited warranty.

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WALLS, CEILINGS & INTERIOR FINISHES

FORESCOLOUR BY PORTA COMMERCIAL

CORIAN BY DUPONT Like most materials, interior finishes and surfaces with dark, heavily pigmented colours are more sensitive and require more care and attention to maintain their look. Dupont’s new Corian DeepColor Technology seeks to address these issues, delivering greater depth of colour and improved durability to its other dark Corian colours.

FORESCOLOUR is a FSC certified solid wood based panel board composed of wood, resin, wax and natural colours. It features consistent colour distribution as organic pigments are integrated directly into the wood fibres.

According to Porta, this enhances the durability of the product, allowing it to maintain its appearance in environments “where laminates and painted surfaces show scratches and chips”.

The technology offers minimised scratch visibility by 50 per cent as compared to Dupont’s previous ranges. It also ensures improved colourfastness in hot and wet environments, and reduced whitening caused by impact, heat or thermoforming – processes that previously created stretch lines when Corian was used to create complex shapes and forms.

The engineered coloured board, available in nine colours and in a plain or embossed surface, is made using eco-friendly (E0) colour fast materials, and can be machined to create three dimensional effects.

A polyurethane coating with UV filter is suggested for premium colour and stability, with both plain and embossed ranges suitable for office signs, bookshelves, art works, and interior uses.

The range has expanded to include 11 dark coloured options, from black to browns and greens.

THE PRODUCT IS DUE TO LAUNCH IN FEBRUARY 2015.

TUBULAR SKYLIGHTS

Bringing light into lives SKYSPAN AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

1300 SKYSPAN www. skyspan.com.au

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LIGHTING DESIGN

LED TAKES LIGHT TO NEW HEIGHTS – BUT NOT QUITE THE ONLY OPTION YET [WORDS] NATHAN JOHNSON

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ITH PEAKING ELECTRICITY PRICES AND A GROWING CULTURAL SHIFT TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PRACTICES, BUILDING DESIGNERS ARE INCREASINGLY SPECIFYING LEDS TO ILLUMINATE THEIR BUILDINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE RECOGNISED AS USING LESS ENERGY THAN ALL OTHER ALTERNATIVES. In recent years regulations have also supported LED uptake, for example the Building Code of Australia has become more stringent in limiting the amount of power that lighting can use in class 2-9 buildings on a square metre basis (Section J6.2 ‘Artificial lighting’). As energy requirements become increasingly stringent, LEDs are proving a great help in meeting them.

The changing geometries of architecture, thanks to advances in 3D modelling programs, has also necessitated an advance in lighting technology, and LEDs have come out in front in that race as well.

LED lamps have become smaller, narrower and more flexible, they have improved in luminosity, efficacy and colour accuracy, and combined with their declining unit cost, have become, unsurprisingly, increasingly specified in Australia.

However there are still a few applications where other lamp types will remain, at least at the moment, the preferred choice for building designers.

8 CHIFLEY SQUARE, SYDNEY BY ROGERS STIRK HARBOUR + PARTNERS ARCHITECTS EMPLOYS INTEGRATED LINEAR LED LUMINARES FROM LUMINO IN THE EXPOSED SOFFITS ABOVE THE GROUND FLOOR, LEVEL 18 REVERSE PODIUM AND THE ROOF. VIBRANT RED AND ORANGE LED SPOTLIGHTS WERE ALSO USED ON THE BUILDING’S RED SWAY BRACING AND EXPOSED FIRE ESCAPE. IMAGE: BRETT BOARDMAN

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LIGHTING DESIGN

THE TRAVERTINE STONE WALLS OF 171 COLLINS STREET MELBOURNE BY BATES SMART ARCHITECTS ARE ILLUMINATED BY A VARIETY OF LIGHT CHOICES INCLUDING METAL HALIDES FROM MEYER, AND ECRO FOR SPOTLIGHTING AND WALL WASHING.

SO WHERE NOT? HIGH-POWERED SPOTLIGHTS Although LEDs are used in high powered spotlight applications they often don’t perform as well as high wattage metal halides and their cost is considerably higher.

Basically a LED light is made up of a number of micro-chips that contain positive and negative semiconductors which combine to produce a photon of light. Higher powered LED spotlights often use multiple LEDs which results in in a series of overlapping beams which is not ideal if you are after a nice even beam and general illumination.

DIMMING Halogen lamps will continue to have a place in theatre applications where a completely dimmable light is needed because LEDs are difficult to dim smoothly down to one per cent.

Some LEDs experience a “dropout,” where they only dim part of the way down to zero light output — say, to 60 per cent of maximum — instead of all the way from 100 per cent down to one per cent. Additionally, some LEDs won’t dim at all and others may dim in an abrupt or “staircase” fashion, instead of dimming smoothly and continuously.

A KEY FEATURE OF 171 COLLINS STREET’S GROUND FLOOR IS THE GLOWING LINE AT THE BASE OF THE TRAVERTINE STONE WALL. LIGHTING DIRECTORS ELECTROLIGHT CHOSE TO VERTICALLY ILLUMINATE THE WALL WITH TIMI LED STRIPS FROM KKDC LIGHTING MANUFACTURERS. IMAGES: PETER CLARKE

“HIGHER POWERED LED SPOTLIGHTS OFTEN USE MULTIPLE LEDS WHICH RESULTS IN IN A SERIES OF OVERLAPPING BEAMS, NOT IDEAL IF YOU ARE AFTER A NICE EVEN BEAM,” JESS PERRY, DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING FIRM ELECTROLIGHT.

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LIGHTING DESIGN

WOODS BAGOT ARCHITECTS CALLED ON A KLIK SYSTEMS LEDPOD LIGHT FITTING SYSTEM FOR THE CURVING STAIRCASE HANDRAILS AT THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE (SAHMRI). THE SYSTEM IS AN IN-HANDRAIL LINEAR LED LIGHT FITTING SYSTEM THAT IS COMPACT AND EASY TO INSTALL. IMAGE: PETER BARNES.

Some LED manufacturers can produce a perfect dimming lamp but these can get very expensive and eat into the energy-cost savings they produce.

more common among cheaper, younger and smaller manufacturers and some reputable brands have performed physical testing on their products.

QUALITY ISSUES

In order to address some of these quality issues associated with LEDs in the Australian marketplace, the Lighting Council Australia developed a voluntary quality certification scheme for the technology. The Solid State Lighting (SSL) Quality Scheme provides confidence to the market that a luminaire carrying the scheme’s label matches the supplier’s performance claims. SSL Labels include details such as light output, efficiency, power required, light colour and colour accuracy. ■

Although LEDs are more energy efficient than halogen lighting, the two are not always a comparable one-for-one replacement.

LEDs are often sold and marketed on their wattage rather than their lumen output and although some packaging will say ‘replace your 50 Watt halogen with a 5 Watt LED’ the problem is that the LED won’t necessarily have the same light output as the halogen and therefore you may need to use more light fittings and often change the transformers.

Performance claims about LEDs aren’t always correct either and the 50,000 - 100,000 hour average marketed life expectancy from some manufacturers is based on an algorithm rather than physical testing.

This lack of physical testing and the reliance on an algorithm is

“LEDS ARE UNDOUBTEDLY THE FUTURE OF THE LIGHTING INDUSTRY AND THEY WILL EVENTUALLY REPLACE ALL TRADITIONAL INCANDESCENT, HALOGEN, FLUORESCENT AND METAL HALIDE LAMPS, PARTICULARLY AS THEIR PRICE CONTINUES TO DROP AND LIGHT EFFICACY CONTINUES TO IMPROVE,” JESS PERRY, DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURAL LIGHTING FIRM ELECTROLIGHT.

THE D900+ BY BRIGHTGREEN IS A 70W HALOGEN EQUIVALENT LED DOWNLIGHT THAT HAS A UNIQUE TWIST-OFF FASCIA SYSTEM WHICH MEANS THE COLOUR AND FOCUS SPREAD OF THE LIGHT CAN BE EASILY CHANGED.

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Our Total Seismic Solutions help complete the picture.

South Australian Health & Medical Research institute Getting a complete Seismic solution for your project is no longer a puzzle.

With the addition of a few new components, Rondo’s DUO®, KEY-LOCK® and Stud & Track Systems now form a complete seismic package, with every element designed to work together and tailored to suit your project’s seismic requirements. Our Engineering team has designed Rondo Seismic Wall and Ceiling Systems for major projects across Australia and New Zealand, including current supply to New Royal Adelaide Hospital, Perth’s Children’s Hospital and Market Lane in New Zealand. Our recently completed projects also include the South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, the Taranaki Base Hospital, Lambton Square, Clyde Quay Wharf and the Kilmore St Medical Centre in New Zealand. And not only are our Seismic Systems backed by our team of expert Engineers, we also give you access to Seismic Design Wizards on our website, 24 hours a day. Simply by inputting your project-specific information, you can calculate seismic ceiling designs, check that the vertical capacity is ok, and determine whether bracing is necessary or not.

On completion, you can print out your results, email them to yourself, or send to us for further assistance.

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For more information, visit www.rondo.com.au/seismic today.

SAHMRI photograph by Peter Barnes. RONDO, DUO® and KEY-LOCK® are registered trademarks of Rondo Building Services Pty Ltd. ABN 69 000 289 207.

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SUSTAINABILITY

DESIGN FOR LIFE – BUILDINGS FIT FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES

[WORDS] WARREN MCLAREN

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HATEVER NAME WE GIVE IT, ‘RESPONSIBLE DESIGN’ IS ON THE RISE IN AUSTRALIA, AS WE BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW BUILDING PRODUCTS AND SPACES CAN AND SHOULD CATER TO THE VARIED NEEDS OF ALL MEMBERS OF SOCIETY. We’ve heard that oft touted figure that we spend 90 per cent of our time indoors. But let’s consider that from another angle — 90 per cent of our lives. For Australians that is around 70 plus years. Inside buildings.

So what would our buildings look like, if their design considered this passage of human life?

What parent hasn’t cursed steps and stairs as they’ve hauled a baby laden stroller up them?

Or protected sharp cornered fixtures and furnitures from impact by a pre-schooler’s head? Who hasn’t slipped in the bath or shower and reached out for something substantial to hold onto? Or how many ageing Australians with failing eyesight have tripped crossing the threshold of their own homes?

The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, in Ireland, notes that, “No person

operates with full capability for every activity for the duration of his or her lifetime.”

The most simple of human needs can be challenging for many people. For example, the Changing Places project note that around 200,000 Australians require assistance to use the toilet.

In a report released last year, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicated that 18.5 per cent of our population have disability.

And another 12 per cent “provide informal care to an older person or someone with disability or a long-term health condition.” That’s eight million Australians dealing with reduced capabilities.

We know that as age increases, our capability and mobility decreases. We become less able. Dis-abled, if you will.

And, in case you hadn’t heard, Australia is getting older. About 40 years ago eight per cent of our population was aged 65 and over. Now it’s more like 14 per cent. And in that period, those 85 and over increased almost four fold.

In the next twenty years Australia’s population is projected to grow by 28 per cent, whereas growth for those in the 65 and over age bracket is expected to increase by 82 per cent, and greater than 100 per cent for 85 and overs.

INDIVO KITCHENS FROM ENWARE ENABLE THE HEIGHT OF ALL WALL CUPBOARDS AND WORKTOPS IN A KITCHEN TO BE ADJUSTED, ALLOWING FOR BOTH SEATED AND STANDING USERS TO WORK COMFORTABLY.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Such figures explain why agencies involved in health, aged care, pensions, retirement, superannuation, etc, are galvanising into action.

But what of the architectural profession? Is it doing all it can to future proof our buildings?

Certainly the Building Code of Australia does address the issue with their Disability Access Provisions. But even the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCD) acknowledge that “There have been many successful DDA [Disability Discrimination Act] complaints about buildings which were BCA compliant,” observing that in a case against the Brisbane Convention Centre, the cost of rectification was in the order of $300,000.

How then to proactively avoid such issues?

By thoughtful, responsible design. The ABCD again: “Good design is not just about providing some access. It is about ensuring, as far as possible, that people with disability can use buildings independently and with dignity.” And importantly, recognising that, “Good access has benefits for a much wider group of people than those who currently have a disability. For example, those of us who will have a disability in the future, families with small children, older Australians and anyone delivering or picking up goods.”

SILL-LESS SHOWERS AND THEIR ACCOMPANYING SMART DRAINAGE PANELS SUCH AS THIS QUARTZ SHOWERCHANNEL FROM ACO ARE STYLISH AND REMOVE A COMMON CAUSE FOR ACCIDENTS IN THE BATHROOM.

Design that is responsive to the lifelong needs of people has been given many names: Access design, Universal design, Inclusive design, Adaptive design, Design-for-All and Lifespan design, and more. But it is important not to get hung up on the nomenclature, and focus rather on the outcomes. That is; products and spaces that work for every member of society.

The Design Council of the United Kingdom acknowledges that such design work isn’t always considered sexy. “… at the moment accessibility is all too often seen as a bolt-on.

Design professionals are talented, skilled people but they aren’t always great at putting people at the core of the design process - at being inclusive.” [An observation clearly demonstrated by architectural photography, which rarely shows people interacting with buildings. If they are grudgingly included, they appear only as blurry, indistinct ghosts, wafting through the structure.]

Yet architects and designers are doing their clients a disservice if they ignore this important aspect of design. 83 per cent of disabled people in the UK have ‘walked away’ from making a purchase, unable or unwilling to do so, with inaccessible premises being the most important factor.

Maybe what designers need is simply a fresh way of looking at the issue. In his book Design Meets Disability, Graham Pullin notes that eyeglasses were once a medical aid for people with impaired vision. But now glasses are a fashion accessory. Pullin’s book was published in 2009 and at the time he questioned why hearing aids couldn’t also be as fashionable as eyewear. Have you seen hearing aids of late?

No longer bulbous lumps of flesh coloured plastic, they are now streamlined orbs available in every colour of the rainbow, with some styles being controlled by iPhone Apps.

EXTENDED LEVER HANDLES ARE BEGINNING TO BECOME MORE COMMON AND ARE GREAT FOR THE ELDERLY OR THOSE WITH RESTRICTED MOVEMENT. IMAGE: ACQUA CARE MIXER FROM CAROMA.

THE EVOLUTION IN PRODUCTS AND DESIGN Buildings too are seeing a subtle, if slow, change in this direction. Observe the trend to sill-less showers, with their accompanying smart drainage panels. Such design not only looks sleek and contemporary, it assists those less able. Reducing obstacles to access, reduces falls. And this can only be advantageous for us all. A British report found that “Falls are the commonest cause of death from injury in the over 65s” and that cost the National Health Service in that country more than 3.6 billion dollars per year. Not including the “knock-on effect on productivity costs in terms of carer time and absence from work.”

Who wouldn’t appreciate bathroom, laundry or kitchen taps that can be adjusted by small children, folk with arthritis, or hands dripping in mango juice? Most tapware manufacturers now offer a stylish domestic version of the extended lever style of tap favoured by hospitals.

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Large light and power switches benefit not only those with a vision impairment but are easier for all of us to use. Fine gauge stormwater drain grating gets the thumbs-up from people with walking sticks, but also wearers of high heels and skateboarders.

A very able and mobile friend just completed a major renovation of her kitchen and she went with large drawers instead of cupboards, so she could easily reach all her dishes, utensils and stuffs. Little did she know that my wife’s uncle has the same kitchen set-up. The difference being he is an amputee in a wheelchair. Very different lifestyles, near identical kitchen fit-out.

Universal, inclusive design, or whatever you wish to call it, goes beyond the common understanding of disability. Anyone who has travelled internationally, will know that well designed pictograph signage has allowed them to find their way to train stations, toilets, public phones, etc. Design for all, regardless of their language abilities.

When applied to housing, this form of forward thinking design, under such banners as Adaptive or Lifelong design ensures dwellings will retain a practical functionality for whatever phase of life the residents are in. Floor coverings may extend from wall to wall, allowing for cupboards to be removed later, facilitating knee-space for wheelchair users, or those who can’t stand for long. And without requiring any costly re-laying of linoleum or tiles. Adjustable benches, shelving, and the like, suit parents trying to keep items out of reach of a toddler, yet later allow a preschooler to reach their own toothbrush. They give a 1.5m or a 1.8m tall person the equally correct bench height for preparing meals, and provide wheelchair users with their Optimum Reach Zone.

A step-less building entry is equally appreciated by furniture movers unloading for young homeowners, who will later love it when they push a pram, or welcome ageing parents into their house for visits. And indeed become older and less mobile themselves.

The US-based Institute for Human Centered Design posits that, “Universal Design and green design are comfortably two sides of the same coin but at different evolutionary stages. Green design focuses on environmental sustainability, Universal Design on social sustainability.” I would go further and suggest that they are one and the same. A home that is not continually remodelled to suit changing lifestyle needs, uses far less resources, placing less extractive burden on our already depleted natural environment.

Such design thinking does not mean launching out into the unknown. Victor Papanek, pioneer of ‘design for the real world’ was working away in this field in the 1960’s. Here in Australia we are well provided with a host of organisations and businesses that support this important sphere of endeavour.

We have the Association of Consultants in Access Australia, the Australian Network for Universal Housing Design, Home Modification Information Clearinghouse, Independent Living Centres Australia, and Livable Housing

MELBOURNE’S HEDE ARCHITECTS SPECIALISE IN ACCESS DESIGN AND WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AWARD WINNING KINDERGARTEN TO YEAR 12 WESTERN AUTISTIC SCHOOL. IMAGES: VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT. PHOTOGRAPHY: JOHN BRASH.

LARGE LIGHT AND POWER SWITCHES SUCH AS THE PRESTIGE RANGE FROM SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC BENEFIT NOT ONLY THOSE WITH A VISION IMPAIRMENT BUT ARE EASIER FOR ALL OF US TO USE.

Australia, to name but a few. Even the venerable government initiative Your Home has a chapter on “The livable and adaptable house.”

There is also Able Access Design, a consultancy founded by an architect who sustained a spinal injury. Australian Disabled Access Consultants whose work spans Australia and the Middle East. Hede Architects who designed an award winning Kindergarten to Year 12 school for Autistic students. The Hendry Group, who work as disability access consultants to Australian Standards. And we could go on.

As usual, we have exceeded our allocated word count, yet barely scratched the surface of Universal Design, haven’t even mentioned its seven principles. Here’s three: Useful for people with diverse abilities, Flexible in use, and Simple and intuitive to use. Who wouldn’t want their design to include those? Or the notion of the User as the Expert. What a concept! ■

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Architects and accountants can now share the same view End the argument about quality versus affordability with Schueco’s ASS 39 PD.NI panoramic aluminium sliding door. Huge clear glass areas optimise external views; easy-slide action on single- or double-glazed vents weighing up to 270 kg; suitable for large sashes up to 3.4 m high and 2.3 m wide.

Schueco Australia: total systems solutions. www.schueco.com.au

Planting the Seed for a Sustainable Future Sourcing sustainable timber products has come to the forefront of consumer demands.

PermaTimber Eco Cladding is a composite solution that satisfies these demands and has a multitude of other benefits. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

No Maintenance Required Lightweight & Highly Durable Custom colours available Easy & Fast to Install UV Stabilised Insect / Termite / Salt Resistant 50+ Year Life Span 87% Recycled Materials

Download the White Paper by scanning the QR code or visit PermaTimber.com.au/whitepaper

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INDUSTRY SURVEY

INFOLINK READERS PICK THEIR FAVOURITE BUILDING PRODUCT BRANDS which takes a respectable third place, sitting behind number two, Bosch Hot Water.

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ITH 581 NOMINATED BRANDS AND A TOTAL OF 7,133 VOTES, BLUM AUSTRALIA WAS NAMED NUMBER ONE TOP TRUSTED BRAND IN OUR 2014 SURVEY.

The praise for Blum was similar to the responses for all the top rated brands, especially in the highly competitive top 10 space, which in 2014 saw the likes of brands Bluescope Steel, Bradford Insulation and Hafele drop out in favour of newcomers Bosch Hot Water, Viridian New World Glass and 3M Architectural.

Hundreds of readers provided glowing reviews of Blum, consistently remarking upon the quality of their products, the great service and lifetime warranty. Some of the most popular terms to appear included: “reliable”, “dependable”, “superior”, “durable”, “hassle-free”, “well designed” and “innovative”.

Companies were competing for a place in the overall Top 10 Trusted Brands for 2014 with Blum leaping into the top spot to displace the reigning number one, the ubiquitous paint supplier Dulux Australia,

It was a tight race across the various product category breakdowns, nowhere was that more obvious than in

the Bathroom and Laundries category where we had brand heavy-weights Caroma (9th place) and Dyson Appliances (7th place) battling it out for the honours of the leading brand in the bathrooms category.

The Trusted Brands survey is run by our Architectural, Building, Construction and Design industry directory Infolink.com.au, where you can find further details on all the top brands and thousands more.

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THE TOP TRUSTED BRANDS CATEGORY AWARD WINNERS

TRUSTED BRANDS

Acoustics ACOUSTICA

Coatings & Paint Finishes DULUX AUSTRALIA

Electrical TRANSCO ELECTRICAL

Audio Visual AARON CITTI PHOTOGRAPHY

Commercial & Retail Fitouts SAS INTERNATIONAL

Environmental Products RECOH

Bathrooms & Laundries DYSON APPLIANCES (AUST) PTY LTD

Construction Equipment KENNARDS HIRE

Building Construction PNEUVAY ENGINEERING Ceilings, Internal Wall Materials & Partitioning GYPROCK

Cooling FUJITSU Doors & Door Hardware HÄFELE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Exterior Wall Materials CSR CEMINTEL Exhibitions, Associations & Information AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS Fastenings & Fixings BUILDEX

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Kingspan insulation. You won’t just feel the difference, you’ll see it.

There is a science to achieving high performance buildings and it starts with construction materials and design of the building envelope. That’s why Kingspan Insulation always perform a detailed thermal analysis to help us custom design the most effective insulation solution.

The science extends to our insulation ranges. They deliver amazing thermal performance in the thinnest of wall footprints – Kingspan Kooltherm® achieves R2.5 in just a 50mm thickness, and we can also design thin wall systems that achieve R4 and beyond. Where condensation is a concern, we have unique solutions in our vapour-permeable Kingspan AIR-CELL® range.

Tel: 1300 247 235 Email: info@kingspaninsulation.com.au wholenewlight.com.au

To ensure you maximise their superior thermal performance, we even provide on-site installation training and assistance.

To see the difference our high performance insulation can make, call 1300 247 235 or visit wholenewlight.com.au

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INDUSTRY SURVEY

ALTRO SAFETY FLOORING

Fire Protection WORMALD

Office Equipment EPSON

Floors & Flooring ALTRO SAFETY FLOORING (ALTRO APAC PTY LTD)

Plumbing, Gas & Air Systems BOSCH HOT WATER

Furniture LIVING EDGE Heating RINNAI AUSTRALIA Insulation KINGSPAN INSULATION PTY LTD Kitchens & Kitchen Equipment BLUM AUSTRALIA

VIRIDIAN NEW WORLD GLASS

Laminates, Solid Surfaces & Veneers LAMINEX GROUP Landscaping & Outdoor TENSILE Lifts & Elevators KONE Elevators Pty Ltd Lighting & Lighting Accessories BRIGHTGREEN

HÄFELE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD

Recreational & Sporting Facilities SUNBATHER PTY LTD Roofing & Fittings BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED Sealants, Adhesives & Admixtures BOSTIK AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Security YALE LOCKS Shelving & Storage DEXION Signage & Display Systems DTAC Pty Ltd Software ACONEX

Stairs, Ladders & Ramps SLATTERY AND ACQUROFF STAIRS Structural Elements BORAL TIMBER Sun Control & Shades VERGOLA Tiles, Pavers & Accessories ADBRI MASONRY Wall Coverings ARCHITECTURAL CLADDING AUSTRALIA Water Conservation ATLANTIS WATER MANAGEMENT Waste Management HIDEAWAY BINS Waterproofing SIKA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Window Furnishings SAFETYLINE JALOUSIE Windows & Glazing VIRIDIAN NEW WORLD GLASS

Visit Infolink.com.au for full details on all top 100 brands.

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LightBridge

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2014 TRUSTED BRANDS

TOP TEN COMPANY NO.6

2014

CATEGORY WINNER WINDOWS & GLAZING

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PRODUCT SHOWCASES

BATHROOMS AND LAUNDRIES

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Caroma Contura Collection

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DOORS AND DOOR HARDWARE EZYJamb – another STUDCO building innovation Proven function and perfect design with Blum’s

GET THE INFORMATION YOU NEED

Concealed Hinge Systems

AUSTRALIA’S LEADING SOURCE OF NEW & EXCITING BUILDING AND ARCHITECTURAL PRODUCTS

Gehry design to life

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Sustainable prefab Alloy screens

505AX

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Performance with sustainability is Schueco’s goal

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Viridian lead windows & glazing with LightBridge

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EXTERIOR WALL MATERIALS Bowral Bricks brings Australia’s first Frank

FLOORS AND FLOORING Altro Xpresslay - now with 40 new colours!

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WAYS TO USE INFOLINK:

INSULATION Section J concrete wall insulation from Kingspan

ONLINE VISIT ARCHITECTUREANDDESIGN.COM.AU/PRODUCTS

AND DOWNLOAD INFORMATION AND OR ENQUIRE DIRECTLY TO THE ADVERTISER

KITCHENS AND KITCHEN HARDWARE Hideaway Bins—Infolink Most Trusted Brand in Waste Management

E-NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBE TO ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN NEWSLETTER & GET NEW PRODUCTS & NEWS SENT DIRECTLY TO YOUR EMAIL.

ENQUIRY CARD

LIGHTING AND LIGHTING ACCESSORIES Destination SPARC: where will you be?

WINDOWS AND GLAZING

FILL OUT THE SUPPLIED ENQUIRY CARD AND FAX OR MAIL IT BACK TO US AND WE’LL SEND YOU THE INFORMATION

FOR DAILY NEWS AND TO COMMENT ARCHITECTUREANDDESIGN.COM.AU

OR FOLLOW ‘ARCHANDDESIGN’ ON TWITTER OR FACEBOOK TO JOIN THE CONVERSATION

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PRODUCT SHOWCASES PROVEN FUNCTION AND PERFECT DESIGN Blum’s extensive concealed hinge programme offers you the right solution for every door. Blum hinges especially impress with BLUMOTION softclose; their silent and effortless closing action, now integrated in the CLIP top BLUMOTION range.

Our range of concealed hinges allow heavy doors to move with ease and may be attached to glass, aluminum frame doors and many other surface materials.

Blum hinges stand for utmost adjustment and assembly ease, reliable function and attractive design • Available for different door heights, thicknesses and materials • 3 dimensional hinge setting for a uniform and precise gap design • BLUMOTION ensures silent and effortless closing regardless of the door weight and closing speed.

• All adjustment and fixing screws are concealed with cover caps.

There is a hinge to suit every application • In the rare circumstance that an integrated BLUMOTION hinge is not available, simply combine CLIP top with add on BLUMOTION for doors.

• For handle-less design combine CLIP top with TIP-ON mechanical opening support. (Not compatible with BLUMOTION) • Our programme also includes special application hinge solutions such as cross corner and blind corner.

Dedicated to sustainability and quality design Blum hinge systems are certified to ISO14001, ISO50001 and ISO9001 quality and environmental standards.

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BOWRAL BRICKS BRINGS AUSTRALIA’S FIRST FRANK GEHRY DESIGN TO LIFE In an Australian first, famous architect Frank Gehry has lent his highly sought-after hands to the design of the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building for the Business School at UTS. Utilising no less than 380,000 custom-made Bowral Bricks, the building has been heralded as the centrepiece of the $1 billion City Campus Master Plan.

Known globally for his cutting edge and innovative architectural creations, this new Gehry masterpiece is certainly no exception.

Bowral Bricks were thrilled to win the contract to work with the design team on this state of the art project. The custom-made bricks were manufactured at the Bowral Bricks factory in Bowral. The bespoke range was created to compliment the complex textured design of the building’s unique façade design.

Five custom-made, buff coloured brick shapes were developed specifically for the build, each brick designed to serve a unique purpose and function. The staggering 380,000 bricks that form the impressive exterior were all laid by hand to ensure an uncompromising degree of quality was maintained and Gehry’s highly precise design aesthetic was achieved.

The building represents the culmination of a ten year design and construction program that has not only transformed the university, but the southern CBD at large.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASES CAROMA CONTURA COLLECTION Caroma, Australia’s leading supplier of bathroom fixtures and fittings, has set a new standard with the unveiling of the Caroma Contura® Collection.

The soft shapes of the Contura Collection are the complete embodiment of organic beauty, for those who favour quality and pieces that will stand the test of time.

Contura toilet suites are inspired by European trends and designed to suit an Australian sense of style. Caroma toilets are stringently tested beyond industry standards, delivering superior performance.

Contura’s organic, minimalist form extends to its basin design, providing multiple style options to complement any bathroom space. The range includes Caroma’s first solid surface basin and the introduction of colour in a black basin.

Completing the collection is the Contura Freestanding Bath which is a focal point in any bathroom. Crafted from a solid surface material, and is soft to the touch making it ideal for an indulgent and relaxing soak. It perfectly matches Contura basins and toilet suites for a complete bathroom collection.

Discover more at specify.caroma.com.au, Caroma’s one stop destination for all specification needs. The site features a number of great tools for industry professionals; including a unique specification tool, complete BIM model library and all the latest product information.

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DESTINATION SPARC: WHERE WILL YOU BE? See, touch and experience what is now and what is next in lighting design and technology at Australia’s premier lighting event, SPARC International Lighting Event 2015.

The event aims to play host to over 100 Australian and international companies who will demonstrate the world’s latest in lighting technology and design.

SPARC will welcome thousands of participants including major lighting stakeholders, suppliers, manufacturers and allied professionals across a broad range of related industries.

SPARC 2015 will present a world-class program of international and national experts to speak on topical lighting industry subjects.

Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are now open for SPARC 2015. Participation in SPARC offers high quality networking and advertising opportunities, as well as a chance to showcase your products or services.

SPARC 2015 will be held at Sydney Exhibition Centre Glebe Island from 27-29 May 2015 during the first week of the magnificent Vivid Sydney festival. The event will culminate in a Gala Dinner with spectacular entertainment at Sydney Town Hall on 29 May.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASES CLEAN LINES! ... The Flush Finish Door Jamb System

EZYJAMB – ANOTHER STUDCO BUILDING INNOVATION Architrave free doors... Make a statement, clean lines, flush finish...

Give your project a clean cut edge!

VIRIDIAN LEAD WINDOWS & GLAZING WITH LIGHTBRIDGE™

• HOMES • UNITS • APARTMENTS • OFFICES • SHOWROOMS • HEALTHCARE EZYJamb is a split type jamb manufactured from cold rolled steel to produce a strong and secure assembly. EZYJamb comes with perforated sides for flush finishing which produces a contemporary flush finish door jamb with clean lines and inconspicuous detail.

The unique design of the EZYJamb system combines visual appeal, strength and versatility for any residential or commercial environment. From full height doors, through to cavity sliders for small footprint requirements, the EZYJamb system allows for a sense of uncluttered freedom with the clean line flush finish look.

Rated 6th Top Trusted Company, as well as category winner for Windows & Glazing by Infolink in 2014, Viridian continues to be Australia’s leading glass supplier. Setting the benchmark for quality and innovation, Viridian works to deliver New World Glass – incorporating a substantive range that covers residential and commercial glass variants.

Viridian’s newest offering in double glazing, LightBridge™, creates a seamless bridge between inside and out, allowing the introduction of light, space and colours of nature into the home.

Through a combination of insulation, security and noise reduction properties, LightBridge™ works to achieve the beauty from expansive glazing, allowing living spaces to reconnect with their outside worlds.

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SECTION J CONCRETE WALL INSULATION

HIDEAWAY BINS ~ INFOLINK MOST TRUSTED BRAND IN WASTE MANAGEMENT A Hideaway Bin is ideal for use as a hidden storage solution within any area of a home – kitchen, bathroom, laundry...anywhere. A practical solution that slides away under the bench and is completely hidden from sight until needed. The bins are both ergonomic and functional as they are designed to be mounted at bench height and pull out towards you, allowing easy disposal of waste without having to bend low inside cupboards. Constructed from high quality robust materials the New Zealand Made Ranges offer a simple and stylish space saving solution for any room of the house or commercial project..

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Designed specifically for concrete walls to reduce the risk of condensation, Kingspan AIR-CELL Permiwall ® is an all-in-one insulation and vapour permeable membrane, offering advanced thermal and fire performance in a clean, fibre-free, thin medium as an alternative to conventional bulk fibre insulation.

Manufactured with a patented closed-cell structure sandwiched by highly reflective foil facings and pierced with tiny, evenly-spaced perforations, Kingspan AIR-CELL Permiwall ® allows water vapour permeance while helping to achieve a Section J compliance. This system also keeps wall cavities clean and accessible for services such electrical wiring and plumbing.

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PRODUCT SHOWCASES

SUSTAINABLE PREFAB #ALLOYSCREENS

ALTRO XPRESSLAY - NOW WITH 40 NEW COLOURS!

In an effort to reduce material wastage and recycling, ALLOY produces a range of contemporary, high quality prefabricated perforated metal architectural screens and panels for interior and exterior use. By utilising the bi-product of the ALLOY Metal Mosaic tile collection, the cradle to cradle process produces a sustainable architectural feature without compromising design aesthetics.

ALLOY has more than 40 years’ experience in metal manufacturing and our prefabricated panels are punched from high quality 1.6-2mm thick metal, they’re hardwearing, long lasting and virtually maintenance free.

We work closely with architects and designer to deliver superior results for the most challenging of creative briefs.

Revolutionary Altro XpressLay™ is a step forward in the evolution of vinyl safety flooring.

The vinyl is installed using a tape system instead of adhesive, so it can be installed faster than traditional resilient flooring. Altro XpressLay will work on subfloors with up to 97% relative humidity even without a surface damp proof membrane.

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Unlike traditional, glue-down flooring, which typically requires the adhesive to cure overnight, Altro XpressLay can be walked on and welded the same day it is installed. This makes Altro XpressLay significantly faster to install and ideal for projects that can’t afford a lengthy shutdown.

(Pictured) 17th Asian Games Incheon 2014 - Altro XpressLay™

PERFORMANCE WITH SUSTAINABILITY IS SCHUECO’S GOAL As a result of over 60 years’ experience, the premium-quality, thermally broken windows, doors and façades solutions in Schueco Australia’s aluminium portfolio are able to perform to a higher level than competing systems.

This enables them to satisfy even the most demanding specification, giving architects the greatest possible design freedom.

Performance flexibility is achieved through the use of built-in thermal insulation ranging from zero to Passive House standard (eg the Schueco FW 50 +.SI façade can achieve Uf values down to 0.70 W/m²K), a level commensurate with achieving a properly carbon-neutral building.

Overall energy performance may be further increased by automating opening vents through a building management system. This is simply achieved in a Schueco window through the use of ‘TipTronic’ concealed activators.

Impressive sound insulation can be achieved in combination with the correct glass, reducing noise by up to Rw 49 dB. Finally, Schueco’s emphasis on sustainability means that the company now has components made from natural materials, making Schueco’s highest-performing systems some of the most environmentally friendly on the planet.

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Introducing

the collection

The dream bathroom — a synergy of form and function Marc Newson, acclaimed Australian designer, has teamed with iconic Australian bathroomware brand Caroma to create a state-of-the-art bathroom collection. The Caroma Marc Newson Collection offers a stunning range of bathroom solutions which set the standard in affordable luxury.

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style by design

Brintons’ own High Definition Weave technology can weave up to 32 colours in a single carpet with unrivalled design definition.

Why would you walk on anything else?

making the world a more beautiful place For further information call 1800 332 694 or visit brintons.net

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