AWS Window and Door Systems are focussed on optimum functionality, unrivalled performance and industry leading design.

Recently this quality has been recognised by the Building Designers Association of Victoria in the 2016 Building Design Awards – with Kangaroo Valley Pavilion not only being awarded as a Finalist, but also receiving the 2016 people’s choice award.

Steve Laux of SL Building Design is the owner of the Kangaroo Ground Pavilion - set amidst a lush, undulating landscape only 26 kilometres from Melbourne’s centre. Its most striking feature is the rolling, bucolic hills and defunct volcano that make it Melbourne's highest point and create endless, stunning views.

The scenery inspired Laux to design the home to complement rather than dominate the surroundings. This meant avoiding a top-heavy form for the house, instead using a lot of glass and lightweight cladding to maximise the views while also meeting the high energy efficiency requirements.

Sweeping panes of glass are the primary visual feature of the house, creating dramatic picture walls that make the landscape an integral element of the interior. Glass has also been used for sections of the internal walls that divide the space and create pavilion walkways, allowing unexpected reveals. According to Laux, the pavilion-style home is only 5.5 metres wide throughout the living areas; therefore, the design relies on large walls of glass to provide uninterrupted north and south views as well as cross ventilation and solar access.

Laux needed to achieve a simple, yet dramatic aesthetic, whilst also meeting the highest standards of safety and energy efficiency. For over 5 years, Laux has come to accept only the highest quality windows and doors, therefore he turned to long-time supplier - AWS.

One of the most exacting requirements lay in finding a product that allowed the design to include large expanses of glass on the south side of the building, without compromising the energy efficiency of the dwelling. Another such desire was to create a sense of height and space by pushing the boundaries of the vertical measurements of each pane. Achieving all of these benchmarks required a collaborative approach, so Laux worked closely with fabricator Windows by Design.

Together, hours were spent working collaboratively to ensure all requirements were met. Additionally, the home not only provides great views but also has the ability to cool and heat itself without the downside of high energy use or costs.

The use of AWS ThermalHEART frames allowed the team to meet the desired energy and BAL ratings without compromising on design. Laux adds that the large sliding doors allowed him to minimise the number of panels over a width of five metres and push the height up to 2700mm.

Through a collaborative approach utilising industry leading support and quality, it was possible to design and create a home design that works on every level, from conceptual to practical. Being awarded in the 2016 Building Design awards further emphasises the unmatched quality of AWS windows and doors. Congratulations Kangaroo Ground Pavilion!

Image: Kangaroo Ground Pavilion (Photographer: Rob Hamer)