Bayview, NT

Keeping a home cool in the Northern Territory’s warm tropical climate is a must, but so too is keeping it protected from insects and being secure. Designers of this award-winning home in Darwin found an efficient way to do both, without compromising on good looks or views, by pairing Alspec Air-Flo glass louvres with Invisi-Gard security screening.

Located in Bayside, just a few kilometres from Darwin city centre, this home recently took out four awards at the 2019 Master Builders Northern Territory annual event. Completed by the team at McT Design & Construction, the grand home is an appealing blend of raw natural and modern finishes.

Being on a steep site overlooking a waterway, the home was perfectly positioned to make the most of sea breezes and height to encourage natural cross-ventilation. Passive cooling is the most cost-efficient way of cooling a home, as well as being environmentally friendly by reducing the use of powered systems.

The key to passive cooling is encouraging air movement through the home, and this is best achieved by selecting the right style of windows and positioning them to take advantage of prevailing breezes. Air-Flo louvre systems maximise the air flow, making 95% of the window opening available to air movements, without impacting on light or views.

Adding Invisi-Gard security screens to the louvre system provides insect protection, without affecting the passive cooling process. The impact resistant screens also allow the louvre windows to remain open at any time of night or day, keeping the house secure whether the home is occupied or not.

Being located on a steep sloping site, the fall-prevention properties of Invisi-Gard screens makes them an important safety feature for the second storey of the building. With a young family residing in the home, the screens provide peace of mind that falls from windows will be prevented.

Constructed with marine grade 316 stainless steel mesh, Invisi-Gard screens are secured within aluminium frames using a patented locking system. The unique mesh weaving process produces an extremely flat, clear surface which produces the highest possible clarity. Invisi-Gard screens are extremely corrosion resistant and low maintenance, ideal for the marine environment, and come with a 15 year warranty.

Project Name: Bayview, NT
Project Builder: McT Design & Construction
Fabricator: Easy Glass Services
Photography: Anne Oliver - Maison Creative