Set in the lovely coastal suburb of Aldinga Beach, about 40km south of Adelaide, this stunning home is the epitome of relaxed yet contemporary design. With a focus on sustainability, the home features a structural timber frame and employs natural materials and finishes throughout.
The social hub of the home is the west-facing outdoor terrace which is accessed from the interior open-plan living space via sliding doors. Uninterrupted floor tiling, a large expanse of glazing and the continuation of the structural timber to form a contemporary pergola ensure a seamless indoor-outdoor flow.
A large, overhanging mono-pitch roof reduces the sun’s impact on the west-facing glazing. The roof also provides some protection to the terrace when the sun is high in the sky, but as the sun gets lower in the afternoon the amount of shade gradually reduces, exposing both the terrace and glazing to increasing amounts of heat. To prevent this unwanted solar heating from making the interior living spaces and outdoor entertaining area uncomfortable, two manually operated Shaderunner® Retractable and contemporary shade systems were installed within the existing pergola.
Providing easily controlled shade on demand, the Shaderunner® is not just the perfect solution for shading outdoor entertaining areas; it can also be used as part of a comprehensive environmental design strategy for your home.
Good environmental design employs passive solar control strategies to reduce the need for mechanical air conditioning and heating systems. Passive design involves reducing unwanted solar gains during summer while maximising solar gains through winter. Put simply, this means shading glazed areas in summer and allowing sunlight exposure in winter — a scenario easily accomplished with the Shaderunner® Retractable Sail System.
During the hotter parts of the day, and in the warmer months of the year, each Shaderunner® can be extended to shield the outdoor terrace and glazing, especially when the sun is at lower angles. This has the combined effect of reducing solar gains, thereby limiting the need for mechanical air conditioning, and providing a comfortable, shaded outdoor living space. When the weather cools, each Shaderunner® can be retracted, exposing the west-facing glass. This provides solar heating while reducing the need for mechanical heating in winter.
By choosing Shaderunner® Retractable Sails, the homeowners now have a terrace they can use throughout the year with the added benefit of being able to control the sun’s impact on the interior living spaces.
The Shaderunner® Retractable Sail System is ideally suited to a variety of applications around the home, from outdoor entertaining spaces and patios to swimming pools and courtyards. With a wide range of fabrics and colour options available, the Shaderunner® complements all architectural styles, including contemporary suburban homes and traditional country residences.
The Shaderunner® Retractable Sail is constructed using the most durable marine-grade yacht fittings and Ronstan ball bearing pulleys, ensuring years of trouble-free shading with minimal maintenance. The system can be manually operated using a simple endless cord system, or you can opt for remote-controlled Somfy motorised operation.
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