Architectural Product News, October 2010

Plant Up is a specialist in architectural landscaping that provides design, installation and maintenance service of green walls and green roofs.

Plant Up’s business manager Jonathon Grealy stipulates that plant selection is imperative in creating a truly sustainable green wall. It is essential when designing a green wall that the horticultural aspects are the main priority, ensuring that a wall can be built to last.

Plant Up focuses on delivering sustainable landscape installations that challenge preconceived design parameters. In addition to the environmental benefits of these installations, green wall can create a sense of fun in interior spaces. Plant Up can assist with all aspects of the project, from concept plans through to installation.

Meaning a prop, a support or a pivot point, Fulcrum is the name of Furphy Foundry’s new furniture suite. And the Fulcrum suite fulfils all of these meanings within community meeting places, such as parks, gardens and busy streetscapes.

Designed by Andrew Gibbs, the Fulcrum styling focuses heavily on the beauty of timber, leaving the 100% recycled cast aluminium frames as the support act to the main attraction. It also features a clever concealed fixing point which contributes to the seamless look of the suite. The Fulcrum range also incorporates 120-litre litter and recycling receptacles to complete the contemporary stylish look.

Australians love the alfresco lifestyle, and Trend® Windows & Doors has products that open Australian homes to the air and sunlight. Trend® Windows & Doors’ innovative range of aluminium sliding, sliding stacker, hinged, bifold doors, bifold windows and glazed fixed lites will give any architect the opportunity to design projects that have a seamless fusion with the outdoors.

The right Trend® product can transform the look of an entire house and bring the outdoors in and the indoors out – making the most of the available space. The flexibility to open up some or all of a room is a perfect way of adding character and style, creating the perfect alfresco living space.

Multiple panels and sliding stacker doors can be used in indoor–outdoor rooms. Doors are available with flexible sliding panels and sizes, with heights up to 3 metres and widths up to 1.5 metres for sliding and stacker doors, depending on the type of project, whether contemporary or traditional design, subject to wind ratings.

Bifolds doors give the flexibility to open up some or all of a room and transform the flow of the entire house. Heights up to 2.7 metres with large panel widths can provide maximum daylight with minimal vertical distraction, giving greater scope to add character. Corner bifold doors are also available for those bold designs where innovative solutions are required.

Combining hinged doors with blends of glass, flat or raised panels can make grand statements or simply allow for more light. Designs can be contemporary or classic depending on combination. Pivot doors are available in a variety of options to suit. For large glass facades or odd-shaped walls, custom-built doors can be made to the architect’s individual specifications.

Project details Builder: Building Project Management Corporation, NSW

Bifold windows are ideal for letting light and air in, as well as providing the added functionality of a servery, allowing sashes to be opened out to the outdoor entertaining area.

All doors can be made energy and acoustic efficient with Thermashield and SoundMizer options.

Trend® Thermashield products are rated under the Window Energy Rating Scheme (WERS). The WERS ratings are approved by the Australian Fenestration Rating Council (AFRC), recognized by the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) and are currently the only scheme approved for energy-rated windows and doors in Australia.

Trend® SoundMizer products are high-performance acoustic windows and doors designed to minimize troublesome noise. Solutions are available for high-traffic areas such as freeways, railway environments, aircraft flight paths and airport surroundings or wherever noisy situations exist that need to be resolved.

Trend® is the market leader in domestic manufacturing of window and door products and has by far the largest range of product styles and types in Australia including aluminium, timber and uPVC options.

The Culino dual mixer combines a sink mixer with a drinking water tap without cross contamination between mains and filtered water.

This clever design eliminates the need for a separate drinking water tap at the sink, making for a neat, uncluttered look – the perfect solution for the modern kitchen. The complete kit includes a compact quick-change under-counter filter system that is both high performance and easy to use.

Designed and built in Australia, the Culino mixer carries a five-year guarantee and complies with AS3718 and the WELS regulation.

A leader in fixed architectural louvres, Hi-Light Industries has introduced the new Elipsa louvre range. Elliptical aluminium louvres feature a curved profile on each louvre blade, providing a softer detail than the traditional flat blade. Designers can provide shading to a building by feathering the edge of daylight with a restrained treatment while at the same time establishing an interesting visual feature where once hard edges would have dominated.

Hi-Light Elipsa louvres are available in six useful blade widths and, like standard louvre and grating sun shades, the elliptical range can be combined with Hi-Light’s fixing frame system to create stunning engineered solutions for the challenges of shading commercial buildings.

In line with new architectural trends, PGH Bricks & Pavers, one of Australia’s largest and most innovative brick makers, has introduced four new brick collections. For many reasons including sustainability, durability and thermal mass, face brick remains a preferred building material for new homes and renovations. However, these four new collections present a dramatic new perspective on the humble brick. These bricks are able to capture personality, a sense of style and fashion within the facade of a home.

The Alchemy collection consists of three products with remarkable metal-like finishes. There is the industrial look of Pewter, the sparkle of Glamour and the luxury of Molten Gold. The shimmering appearance and wire-cut texture of these bricks allows them to subtly change colour depending on how the light hits their exterior surface.

The Vibrant collection stands out for its palette of fun and funky colours, creating new possibilities for how bricks are used. Finished with a full ceramic glaze, these bricks are perfect for internal or external use. The collection consists of seven vital colours: Cosmic, Fizz, Paris, Wasabi, Rhapsody, Tango and Watermelon. Try a high-gloss wall of a single colour, or create an eye-catching mosaic by using a combination of them all.

Suitable for all roof profiles and types, Wakaflex is the next-generation lead-free flashing solution that eliminates the OH&S, environmental and water-harvesting concerns associated with lead flashings while maintaining the integrity of the roof. Its inert qualities mean that Wakaflex can be installed on most roofing materials and will not contaminate any water harvested into tanks. Being non-toxic, Wakaflex is also safer for the installers as well as the environment.

With a malleability that provides a tight seal and great aesthetic appeal, Wakaflex is perfect for traditional installations such as step-flashings, wall abutments and chimney flashings as well as being perfect for quick and secure repairs. Wakaflex’s Butyl sealing strips and its ability to chemically bond to itself when overlapped mean Wakaflex creates a sealed edge which is always weather-tight as well as lightweight and easy to install. Wakaflex is available in several sizes and colours but can also be painted to match the surrounding materials.

All of Hyne’s structural timber products are manufactured from plantation timber and have been shown, in a recent CSIRO study, to be significant carbon sinks.

Hyne Framing, laminated beams and I-beams sequester CO2 that remains locked in the timber products for the life of the building. In the case of Hyne structural softwood framing, over three times the carbon emitted during its entire production cycle is sequestered. It’s no wonder that Hyne’s products are preferred and specified by Australian architects, designers and builders.

Dorma recently manufactured its 100 millionth door closer, 10 million of which are high-quality cam-action door closers like the TS93. The advanced technology of the cam action offers a rapid decrease in opening resistance, which means the door can be opened with 40% less effort than that required for conventional closers.

The Easy Open technology of a cam-action door closer assists in creating accessible entrances and achieving the requirements set out in the disability standards for access AS1428.1 2009.

European bathroom and piping solutions specialist Geberit has created the stylish new Monolith WC module, an innovative module for toilets with integrated cisterns. It boasts an award-winning design, easy installation and premium materials.

An elegant alternative to toilets with a visible cistern, the Geberit Monolith blends harmoniously with bathroom fixtures. Its slimline structure conceals the cistern behind a glass panel. Geberit’s Monolith WC module can be connected to the existing water supply and waste water connections usually without altering the structure of the building – so toilets with cisterns fitted in front of the wall can be modernized in just a few steps. It is an ideal alternative for renovation projects, as well as new builds.

Available in the three classic glass colours – black, white and mint – the slimline WC module matches any bathroom environment.

Innovation, research, coherence, new materials and flexible solutions have been the key concepts of Agape’s business philosophy since it was established in Italy in 1973. Agape’s bathtubs combine a modern design and clean aesthetic while maintaining a classic and timeless shape.

The company’s Spoon bath is now regarded as a design classic. The Ottocento bathtub, designed by Benedini Associati in 2009, is made of white Cristalplant. The bathtub’s classic lines are based on the design of the old-fashioned, cast iron bathtub, supported on four feet made of the same material as the tub.

The Ottocento bath is also available with its outside painted in dark grey or a choice of other colours.

Kingspan Insulation introduces Kingspan Kooltherm® K10FM soffit board super-high-performance insulation – your BCA 2010 solution designed specifically for concrete soffit applications.

Kingspan Kooltherm® is an innovative, high-performance rigid cellular insulation, offering advanced thermal and fire performance in a clean, safe, thin medium as an alternative to conventional bulk fibre insulation. Kingspan Kooltherm® K10FM soffit board is manufactured without the use of CFCs or HCFCs and has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP).

With FM approval, Kingspan Kootherm® K10FM soffit board will give you peace of mind.

Impala Kitchens and Bathrooms works with architects and interior designers to create custom-built architectural joinery, including wall panelling, bedroom suites, wall partitions, library areas and outdoor spaces. Cabinetry can be constructed from polyurethane, timber veneer, glass, mirror, timber, stainless steel or lamiwood.

Coloured interiors are available, as well as a huge range of hinges, mechanisms, custom door profiles and drawer systems.

Impala can also incorporate the latest in LED lighting to provide task lighting or ambient light. Working with architects and designers over the last 38 years has meant Impala can accommodate any design specification.

Arras is a bench solution designed to accommodate nomadic but socially connected work patterns. Available in a palette of 15 colours and finishes, it allows infinite expression for designers and is manufactured according to the Herman Miller Design for Environment protocol.

Every component can be easily disassembled, as none are chemically bonded. Arras does not use PVC or any other toxic material, has verifiable recycled content exceeding 50% and is certified as a low-emission product. The Arras fascia is constructed from the same thermoplastic material used in premium travel luggage, providing a smooth surface that allows decals with custom graphics or brand messages to be applied or delaminated at any time. The leg infill panel reduces visual clutter, provides modesty and offers another vertical surface for the introduction of graphics, colour and texture into the work environment.

Steve Jackman, builder manager with one of New South Wales’s leading home builders, Masterton Homes, believes there should be no short-cuts when it comes to on-site safety.

“MiTek TrussSpacers come with two immediate advantages: first, they improve safety on site; second, they speed up truss erection. That’s a win–win for us,” Jackman says.

MiTek TrussSpacers accurately and effortlessly position and temporarily hold trusses in place during construction (as required by AS4440-2004, the code for installation of nail-plated timber trusses). MiTek TrussSpacers are a commonsense solution to the long-time problem of working at heights.

BlueScope Steel has developed a new roofing product, Colorbond Coolmax steel in the colour Whitehaven. Thanks to its higher solar reflectance, Colorbond Coolmax steel in Whitehaven can help to reduce cooling energy costs of a building by up to 7.5% compared to Colorbond steel in the colour Surfmist.

By maximizing the thermal performance of a building and helping to reduce the ongoing cooling energy costs, a roof made from Colorbond Coolmax steel can pay back the initial investment premium within five years compared to Colorbond steel in Surfmist and Zincalume steel.

Rheem Lazer above-bench boiling water units are cleverly designed to include energy-saving features with a look that complements any office kitchen. The Lazer unit meets the Building Code of Australia (BCA) section J6.6 requirements for energy efficiency. It has a timer control function which allows the user to program a time to turn the unit off when boiling water is not required, as well as a sleep mode which senses when no one is around and turns itself off.

The Lazer is also very easy to maintain, with a filter change indicator and self diagnostics, so any problems that may occur are automatically detected by the unit.

Ranging in capacity from 3 to 40 litres, the Rheem Lazer is available with a stainless steel or powdercoated finish and has a concealed plumbing option for a neater look.

Virtually maintenance free, Vogue Shutters are an ideal window covering to control the amount of light and heat entering through windows. The shutters are two-dimensional, with louvres that can be fully opened or closed in both directions. Made from Polyresin 3, a colourfast compound with UV stabilizers, Vogue Shutters are water-resistant and, as such, can be used both internally and externally.

Custom made and manufactured entirely in Australia, Vogue Shutters are durable and hard-wearing – the shutter frames and shutter panels will not blister, peel, flake, corrode or fade.

Radiant chilled ceiling solutions deliver comfortable cooling in the most energy-efficient way. Flow and return temperatures are typically between 14°C and 17°C, making them ideal for linking with ground-source heating and cooling systems and for meeting environmental efficiency requirements.

SAS International metal chilled ceiling solutions radiate cooling downwards and, with no moving parts, provide quiet, draft-free comfort cooling to occupants. They are manufactured with a copper element bonded into the rear of a metal ceiling tile, resulting in a sleek flush finish and the opportunity to reconfigure space using flexible partitioning locations.

New from Hansgrohe, the new Raindance Connect is a simple way to create a large 180 mm overhead shower. It requires no renovation work and fits into any shower or bathtub. Simply remove the old hand shower and screw the Raindance Connect shower pipe into the wall.

With one simple click, the hand shower becomes an overhead shower – the hand shower plugs into the Rain Connector to activate the overhead shower. The water is automatically directed through the shower bar with no need for a diverter.

Raindance Connect fits into any bathroom and can be used wherever a hand shower is already installed. Its clean, minimalist design makes it a stunning centerpiece of the bathroom.

The Raindance Connect shower achieves a three-star WELS rating (9 litres per minute) using EcoSmart and AirPower technology to save up to 50% of the water used by a conventional shower.

Architects and designers needn’t sacrifice design requirements when choosing a screen material for car park projects. Locker Group’s range of expanded metal mesh can provide solutions that meets the functional requirements of light and air flow, while still providing privacy to occupants. The angled design of the expanded metal allows clear vision from within the car park, but restricts the view from outside, ensuring privacy.

The depth in the Locker Group range ensures a solution is available in either expanded, perforated metal or woven wire mesh. In addition, Locker Group can often tailor a solution to meet the application and budget requirements of the project.

Torcido by Australian carpet manufacturer Velieris is the flagship style of the Alpaca Collection. Made from pure, undyed Alpaca fleece, Torcido is a luxuriously dense cut-pile wall-to-wall tufted broadloom carpet.

Available in an elegant palette of six natural colours from deep charcoal to natural white, the carpet shows to advantage the silky softness of the fibre while being durable and resilient. By eliminating the need to artificially dye the natural alpaca fibre, Velieris carpets save water and release no effluent into the environment.

Velieris natural, undyed Alpaca carpets are an investment in the future, designed to last and age beautifully.

All Asko appliances are known for their stylish looks and intelligent Swedish design. And the new CC4840 concealed rangehood is no exception.

Its sleek, stainless steel lines conceal a host of features, such as forced perimeter extraction, hidden electronic controls and an LED indicator for fan speed. It is equipped with twin halogen lighting for better visibility and concealed aluminium filters to maintain a sleek finish. An automatic light-dimming feature is available when the timer is selected. With 760 m³/h air movement, the rangehood’s variable extraction power makes sure cooking odours are removed quietly.

For optimum performance, the rangehood has three speeds plus booster. It also features a cleaning alarm for the aluminium filter and a replacement alarm for the carbon filter that signal when they need attention. The CC4840 is 860 mm long × 294 mm deep.

Thanks to James Hardie’s innovative Scyon range of lightweight construction products, architects and designers can create a professional, commercial look for houses, without the commercial price tag.

Scyon Matrix cladding is a complete cladding system with a geometric, expressed-joint look. Fast and simple to install, Matrix cladding is ideal for modern designs in residential applications as well as medium-density developments. It can be used in a composite construction design, for upper- or lower-level extensions and even for internal feature wall applications.

The key benefit, saving both time and money, is how simple it is to install. Instead of needing the steel top-hats associated with many commercial systems, Matrix cladding sheets are installed with Scyon Cavity Trim battens. The expressed joint is created easily using a 10 mm packer. Sheets are sanded smooth and pre-primed for fast paint application and a high-quality finish.

Scyon Matrix cladding is also flexible in design. Square and rectangular panels with an expressed joint mean a variety of looks can be created, from horizontal and vertical stripes to geometric patterns. Sanded sheets give a flat, smooth finish, and digital printing can add even more design options. Matrix cladding’s resistance to cracking, warping and swelling (when installed and maintained correctly) means it can be painted both dark and light colours. The option of brad nailing minimizes visual interruption. Matrix cladding can be specified for timber-framed or steel-framed structures.

Scyon Matrix cladding panels are sealed on all sides for durability and stability.

Appliance specialist Blanco, a leading innovator in induction cooktops, has introduced two new induction products that enable consistent cooking performance and impressive safety.

Blanco CI603M Maxi-Zone is equipped with a smart Maxi induction cooking zone that offers superior flexibility. There are six inductors underneath the cooktop surface, enabling home chefs to make the best use of this larger cooking zone. It can accommodate more than one small pot at a time, or a large pot. It can even be used for a cast iron griddle plate.

Blanco’s CI804l is finished in a stylish champagne colour with an intuitive LCD display that features five language options, time of day display, and timers for each zone. The cooktop enables preset power settings, which can be adjusted. It also has a stand-alone timer that operates independently of the cooking zones, and a tempo function that displays the time elapsed since the last time a power setting adjustment was made on zones that are in use.

For superior cooking performance, the cooktop offers programmable cooking (with up to two different power settings and heating times per zone), a specific pasta program, a memory function.

For added safety, the individual cooking zones can be locked, and there is an independent lock for the cooktop that can be used when cleaning.

Fabricated in stainless steel, glass and ceramic, DCS premium heated towel rails are for the home owner or designer with discerning taste and high standards of quality.

Elegant, efficient and innovative, DCS heated towel rails incorporate stylish and functional design and are a sleek addition to any new or renovated bathroom environment.

All DCS towel rails are dry internally – they require no plumbing and will not leak). Supplied with the energy-saving Ecotimer as standard, DCS rails are an environmentally friendly choice.

DCS is a leader in heated rail design and manufacture, proving that stylish design, functionality, durability and sustainability can go hand in hand.

Opening with a light touch and closing again at the touch of a button, Servo-Drive for Aventos is Blum’s new electrical support mechanism for cabinet lift systems. It enables neat and luxurious joinery in the kitchen, opening myriad design opportunities for handle-free cabinetry and wide fronts.

The lift systems open upwards, providing unhindered access to the cabinet interior. Servo-Drive for Aventos can be used with all four Blum lift systems: bifold, up-and-over, lift-up, and stay.

A light touch using your hand or elbow is all that is required to operate lift systems equipped with Servo-Drive for Aventos. In addition, the proven Blumotion function can ensure silent and effortless closing.

For more than 20 years Vantage has been developing and manufacturing home automation systems for luxury residences. Designed to seamlessly combine aesthetics and technology, Vantage systems give home owners unprecedented control over every facet of their lives at home – from extraordinary lighting scenes to effortless comfort controls to thrilling home theatre installations.

Home automation means fully integrated, intelligent control over lighting, comfort, entertainment and security systems. More importantly, it means a home that intuitively understands the occupant’s tastes and expectations, and delivers on them with one-button simplicity.

With Vantage, complex settings involving lighting, music, video, window treatments and temperature are activated with keypads and touch screens that complement the home’s decor. Remote access enables the user to activate, change or monitor the home and home systems from anywhere. A Vantage system makes activities such as watching a movie as effortless as if you had a fully staffed theatre. Music that matches your frame of mind can welcome you at the door. Lights, fountains and ambience can be ready for entertaining at the touch of a button, making the beauty of technology as much a part of the home as the aesthetics of the home itself.

InFusion Controller. The InFusion Controller is one of the most powerful home system controllers on the market. Based on Intel’s Xscale® processor, the controller has superior acceleration and an expansive programming memory capacity to store and execute commands for delay-free control of simple or complex lighting and automation systems.

The controller is specifically designed to offer fast and intuitive installation. The ethernet connection supports full IP connectivity, while five RS-232 ports and up to two RS-485 ports provide enough device connections for initial installation and expansion later. Installers save time and money programming the controller with InFusion Design Center, Vantage’s upgradeable, user-friendly software.

Design Center. InFusion Design Center, the software that accompanies the InFusion Controller, is specifically designed to meet the needs of any project. The simple and intuitive nature of Design Center allows Vantage dealers, with minimal training, to provide a complete solution for the home owner. Managing projects that include lighting, comfort, audio, home theatre and other sub-systems is easier than ever before.

Reports, touch screen templates and system diagnostic tools are included in Design Center for an efficient approach to project design and commissioning.

Keypads. Vantage keypad stations are the primary control points of a Vantage automation system. A single keypad can replace entire rows of standard lighting and low-voltage switches with simple backlit buttons that add a stylish look to any room. The Vantage system offers features such as programmable LEDs that dim or brighten based on time of day, custom engraving to enhance usability, and finishes that complement any interior design.

Touch screens and WebPoint. Vantage touch screens enhance a completely integrated Vantage system. Powered by Vantage’s InFusion Media software, the touch screens are available in a variety of sizes as well as in-wall or portable models. Touch screens provide home owners with immediate access to and control of the entire Vantage experience, including lighting, comfort, entertainment and security with vivid graphic feedback and metadata.

Using Vantage’s Webpoint home owners can gain access to the Vantage control system at home as well as on the go. Using a laptop or a handheld mobile device, such as an iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Blackberry or Windows Mobile phone, users can manage the entire system from the palm of their hand.

Combining multiple functions in one light, compact object, the Diva is an LED light and music system designed specifically for iPods and iPhones. The Diva reveals its many functions when open, including a cutting-edge and energy-efficient LED lamp and FM Radio.

It delivers full and rich sound quality when the iPod or iPhone is connected into its retractable docking station drawer, thanks to four high-quality speakers housed in the Diva’s body. Hidden behind the anodized aluminium is a digital screen, which shows the time and information about the Diva’s various uses. An infrared remote control governs every function, and auxiliary and USB sockets offer the flexibility of playing music from MP3 players, CD players and flash drives.

Made and designed in Italy, the Diva is a simple and elegant solution to clutter, music and light. It is available in anthracite, silver and white.

An extremely versatile linear LED lighting system suitable for all types of concealed, indirect and joinery lighting, the Superlight LED Turbostrip can be supplied in any length and incorporates some of the world’s brightest micro- SMD LED technology.

Superlight LED Turbostrip provides smooth light output, and its discreet dimensions make it suitable for all concealed lighting applications including cove and coffer, under-cabinet, display case, restaurant and bar lighting, residential strip-lighting and more. The LED Turbostrip is available in a variety of colour options and is dimmable when paired with a Superlight LED dimming controller.

The Kap lighting range by Flos has been expanded with two new additions: Kap IP44, a trimless recessed downlight and the newer Easy Kap fixed and wall washer downlights. Stylish coloured inner reflectors within the Kap range give a luxurious glow of blue, black, white or gold.

Another new addition is the Kap Surface, a cylindrical surface-mounted downlight for ceiling, wall and suspension applications, available in various lengths. The inner reflectors are available in the unique Kap colours, while the outer aluminium body is offered in shiny white, polished aluminium, shiny black and bronzy brown. These exterior colours are matched with a choice of inner reflectors in blue, black, white and gold.

Kap products are available with a halogen light source or a new advanced LED for the energy conscious. They achieve the weather proof rating of IP44.

The cost of maintaining a commercial building has never been higher and is only going to escalate. DPA Solar’s industrial and commercial LED solutions require only a quarter of the power to run compared to other more traditional technologies while maintaining a high light output, making them more efficient and cost effective to run.

All products have a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, significantly reducing maintenance requirements, and DPA Solar outdoor products are have an environmental IP65 rating.

Fujitsu General offers architects, specifiers and consultants a wide range of airconditioning solutions, designed for both commercial and domestic projects.

This versatile airconditioner range is extremely energy efficient and high on design and performance. Its extensive inverter range incorporates wallhung splits, high-wall splits, cassettes, floor consoles, under ceilings, ducted and multi-head systems, all providing flexible solutions to suit specific requirements. Sophisticated technology, high-performance filters and a number of advanced features ensure Fujitsu’s products are leaders in the Australian market.

Well suited to large-scale projects, Fujitsu’s multi systems are an ideal solution for yearround airconditioning. One outdoor unit controls several indoor units, of which there are a number of types to choose from, allowing the system to be tailored to individual preferences.

Lighting specialist Thorn has introduced a range of new products: the Cruz LED downlight, the SensaModular lighting control system and the Eyekon vandal-resistant outdoor light.

Cruz LED delivers an output of 2000 lumens with 94% efficient light output, with Dali dimming and the ability to achieve IP54 rating with a specific attachment. It is easy to install with the use of Thorn’s patented Sec-Lock system and features a unique active cooling system.

The downlight is available in 3000K and 4000K colour appearance operating at 37W and 34W with an efficacy of 51 lm/W and 55 lm/W. The concentration of light from a minimal diameter outlet combined with a high lumen package delivers glare free light (UGR <19).

For simple, cost-effective and easy-to-install lighting control, Thorn’s SensaModular is a portfolio of lighting-control products designed for

single-room and open workspace applications. An integrated system like SensaModular reduces energy wasted lighting unoccupied rooms and takes advantage of natural light to deliver significant energy savings.

Eyekon is a range of robust, vandal-resistant bulkhead lights designed for outdoor applications. The tough polycarbonate diffuser is attached firmly to the die-cast aluminium body (LM6 – marine grade) by tamper-resistant bolts, sealing the luminaire to IP65.

The range is available in two sizes, three designs (Visor, Cross and Bezel) and three light sources (LED, compact fluorescent and metal halide). EyeKon is suitable for bollard mounting and available with integral daylight control photocell and emergency lighting.

Koda Lighting’s Nimbus LED.Next Modul R series is a range of ultra-slim circular lights that can be recessed, ceiling mounted, surface mounted or suspended. With 95% downlighting and a wide beam, the range provides a very even, almost ceiling-height illumination. Now available in a variety of new sizes, Modul R can be used in a wide range of settings.

Modul R lights last up to 50,000 hours, emit a warm glow and use up to 80% less energy. They are 100% recyclable, contain no mercury and run at safe-to-touch temperatures.

Designed for use on major arterial roadways and to light pedestrian access areas, the Eshine Street lighting system employs the latest LED technology and secondary optics. Solar Streetscapes manufactures LED luminaries using the latest research from the solar industry, creating state-of-the-art solar lighting technology.

The Eshine Security system enables surveillance cameras to be positioned anywhere outdoors without requiring grid power. This innovation, coupled with the Eshine Street, allows safe, secure lighting with fixed and PTZ surveillance cameras. Local and remote 3G and WIFI recording options are available, all with zero energy consumption.

LED lighting is rapidly becoming the lighting design of choice for architects and designers, due to its superior energy efficiency, exceptionally long life span and improved safety. Hunza provides a wide range of LED options for quality outdoor landscape lighting.

The Euro Path Lite LED accentuates style and elegance, combined with unique New Zealand craftsmanship. Providing excellent thermal management and virtually no maintenance, this luminaire presents an ideal lighting solution for flat areas, decks and edge lighting paths. It is available in solid copper or 316 stainless steel, with a choice of either one, two, three or four facets for light projection.

ThyssenKrupp Elevator is one of Australia’s fastest growing companies in people-transportation systems. With its extensive know-how and constant flow of ideas, ThyssenKrupp Elevator develops escalators and moving walks for every requirement.

Optional fall protection attached to the unit provides an extra safety feature that is also aesthetically pleasing for retail, commercial and transportation centres.

Sylvania Lighting Australasia in partnership with Italian lighting manufacturer Ghidini has launched a contemporary range of exterior architectural lighting and urban furniture.

Complementing the Concord Lighting range, the Ghidini collection is ideal for contemporary landscape projects. It offers stylish lighting solutions and well-designed street furniture. All Ghidini products offered by SLA are supported by Tellus, a mark of superior corrosion resistance and reliability in design, engineering and materials.

In response to customer demand for an affordable lift with automatic sliding doors, Easy Living Home Elevators developed the sleek Domus Evolution lift. Designed to impress, it involved years of research and aims to bring customers innovation at its best.

Designed, engineered and made in Italy to suit the requirements of the Australian market, the Domus Evolution is suitable for both residential and commercial applications. At the touch of a button, the stainless steel doors slide open and closed.

It features lifting load capacities of up to 400 kg, an optional selfsupporting glass tower, and through-car lift arrangements. The Domus Evolution also boasts low pit depth and headroom dimensions – it requires a pit depth of just 150 mm minimum and headroom of 2,650 mm. These low pit and headroom dimensions can be easily incorporated into new and existing projects.

The architecturally designed Lumbency 227 and 242 lighting range is custom built to each project’s specific requirements, meaning architects and designers have a lighting solution perfect for contemporary office, home and showroom fitouts.

The sharp, stylish and defined Lumbency series is available in recessed, surface-mount and suspended options. The continuous linear design makes the Lumbency range ideal for hallways or for suspension over island benches and above dining tables. The surface-mount fittings complement concrete ceilings or restricted cavities.

The stylish Lumbency 227/242 lighting series is available from Beacon Lighting Commercial.

The new DTP170 Revolution colour touch screen from Philips Dynalite combines operational and programming flexibility to create a powerful tool for both smart home and office applications.

Featuring 16:9 LCD screen resolution, a dedicated graphics co-processor and screen-editing software, the DTP170 allows users to create attractive control pages, streamlining control system setup and operation. In addition, the slimline design is available in a wide selection of decor-matched fascias.

The DTP170 touch screen also supports full internet connectivity (including streaming video and audio via an embedded Windows Media Player object) and integration with third-party control systems such as lighting, audiovisual, security and HVAC systems.

Armourfloor laminate flooring by the Big River Group is an exceptionally stable, environmentally friendly flooring alternative with the look and feel of genuine timber. It offers the same high quality and reliability as Big River’s popular engineered timber flooring.

A finely textured surface gives the flooring an authentic timber feel, while a variety of realistic designs provides a choice of colour schemes to suit particular decors and lifestyles. The boards are locked together without glue, using a patented jointing system, which provides a secure joint that also allows planks to be removed and replaced if required.

For over 17 years, Classic Architectural has been assisting designers, builders and property managers to protect and enhance building entrances.

The company’s new Integra brand is the benchmark for architectural entrance matting. Stylish and innovative, the Integra range features strong, simple graphics and offers many contemporary entrance accents, the ability to produce fully customized shapes and sizes, and complete care and installation services.

Classic Architectural will release new designer products in coming months.

New from Tarkett, the new Tapiflex Excellence 65 vinyl flooring range offers underfoot comfort and visual appeal, with 100 colour options and 13 designs to choose from. Ideal for heavy-traffic commercial applications such as health care, aged care, education, retail fitouts and offices, it offers remarkable resistance to indentation and abrasion.

A high-density foam backing reduces impact noise and softens every step to provide impressive sound reduction and shock absorbency. With its foam backing, the acoustic efficiency is 19 dB. Its pure vinyl top layer is reinforced with Tarkett’s Topclean XP polyurethane treatment which eliminates the need for wax or polish for life. The vinyl’s sanitized bacteriostatic and fungistatic treatment prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi throughout the entire thickness of the flooring and lasts for the entire life of the product.

Hybrideck is a new range of high-performance decking products. It is the only WPC (wood–plastic composite) product on the market to be tested and appraised by BRANZ to Australian and New Zealand building code standards.

This new-generation composite decking is extremely stylish and looks and feels like timber, but requires minimal maintenance and will last a lifetime. Best of all, being made from recycled wood and plastic materials, Hybrideck offers a truly sustainable alternative to hardwood timber decking. Available in three colours, Hybrideck won’t warp, crack or splinter.

If stylish good looks, a great price and a product that cares about the environment are important to you, Hybrideck is the answer.

Armstrong Infinity provides a custom-designed flooring solution made possible by local manufacture and technical support.

Based on the proven Armstrong Accolade Plus and slip-resistant Accolade Safe Plus ranges, Infinity provides interior designers, architects and specifiers with the freedom to custom-design a floor that harmonizes with the overall vision for the interior.

The Infinity palette provides a range of 24 harmonious base colour combinations, to which can be added additional colour chips to create a floor that matches a project’s required colour scheme – which can be designed online at www.armstronginfinity.com.au.

The result of extensive research and development, Spectrum XT stair nosings are a major advance, featuring a unique, extended slip-resistant insert that provides optimum safety and performance on the pivot point of the external corner of the stairs. They are available in a wide range of profiles to suit resilient flooring, carpet, ceramic and stone stair coverings. XT nosings are covered by ISO 14001 and ISO 9001 certifications.

Spectrum also supplies rubber flooring suitable for health care, educational facilities, offices and retail spaces. The new ranges – Punti, Tono, Geode and Unito – are the result of research from Italy’s D&B Colour Design and Cubic Workshop. These resilient floors are certified by GECA and offer proven durability, comfort, quietness and warmth underfoot.

A patented clean-off dirt barrier zone has also been added to the Spectrum range. Boardwalk is suitable for medium-traffic areas such as schools, offices and retail fitouts. It is installed economically, cut and shaped on-site to fit mat wells without prior site visits.

With continuing water restrictions and growing urban land development, architects and designers are under increasing pressure to incorporate water management systems that maximize the use of water resources.

Adbri Masonry’s Ecotrihex permeable pavement system is a proven component in water-sensitive urban design (WSUD). Through a series of drainage gaps filled with a small aggregate on the pavement surface, Ecotrihex paving systems allow water to pass through the surface layers, minimizing stormwater run-off, downstream flooding, pollution problems and moisture evaporation from base courses.

Ecotrihex permeable pavement systems also have the ability to harvest water run-off that has permeated through surface layers which, depending on the area, can equate to large amounts of water suitable for later use.

Basaltina is a new range from Italian tile specialist Casalgrande Padana, produced without releasing any greenhouse gas emissions into the environment. The range achieves the Eco-Label certification from the European Union.

Designed with avant-garde thinking and a focus on re-interpreting the elements of nature, Basaltina epitomizes the blend between natural materials and contemporary production processes.

Available in two finishes – matt and lappato – six colours and three formats – 30 cm × 60 cm, 45 cm × 45 cm and 30 cm × 30 cm – this sleek new range is suitable for a range of applications.

Forbo is set to launch a daring new flooring collection later this year, created in collaboration with Ettore Sottsass and his creative partner Christopher Redfern. The designs in the Forbo Flotex Sottsass collection are original and bold, giving designers and specifiers the opportunity to really make a statement.

Impeccable credentials extend also to the performance, features and benefits of this range. It is hard wearing, does not track, offers constant antimicrobial protection and is 100% waterproof for easy and efficient cleaning. Additionally it has dampening properties of up to 20 dB.

Forbo will release further details closer to launch date. Flotex is exclusively distributed in Australia by Karndean International.

Function and fashion go hand in hand with Flexo rubber flooring, an innovation in modular flooring by Signature Floorcoverings.

Signature’s fresh range of stock colours offers endless opportunities to enhance and personalize any space. And if the colours in the stock collection don’t match a particular colour scheme, Signature can provide a match to most Pantone colours. In addition, Flexo rubber flooring can be water-jet cut to create unique designs without the lead time of custom flooring.

The clean appearance of the Textures range allows architects and designers to create any look they desire. Solid colours can complement space and emphasize minimalism, or multiple colours can be combined to create patterns and feature areas.

Each room has its own personality, each user his or her own specific needs. Building on the success of its Agile series of sliding door solutions, Dorma has used its ongoing research and product development to accommodate glass fixed-tracking configurations.

The Agile range enables greater light and transparency, with increased opening sizes and a minimal track profile (63 mm × 65 mm). The Agile system accommodates door leaf weights up to 150 kg. Suited to an infinite range of configurations, the series is also whisper-quiet, light and easy to operate. This means breathtaking panoramas remain uninterrupted, retail frontages enjoy unparalleled light and space, and commercial environments become even more flexible, productive and user friendly.

Available in a variety of aluminium finishes, the Agile series has a solution for even the most demanding of applications. Dorma’s Australasian distribution network comprises competent representatives eager to work with architects and designers to deliver a solution tailored to both the project’s requirements and the user’s specific needs.

The original use of colour characterizes Roca’s new Khroma bathroom collection. French designer Nelly Rodi developed Khroma’s colour range with avant-garde styling, practical design and absolute comfort in mind.

Roca’s commitment to technology is evident throughout the Khroma range. The plastic cistern inside the tank body protects the inlet and flush mechanism. The new D3D flushing mechanism consists of a push-button connected to the mechanism body through a cable system.

Khrome’s seats, cistern face and furnished elements employ Soft Texture, Roca’s high-tech material specially designed for bathroom surfaces. The soft, warm cushioning is comfortable yet durable.

The Khroma collection consists of a complete range of pieces with harmonious lines. Colours include Passion Red, Oxygen Blue, Silver Grey and Street Grey.

Liftronic has been passionate about lifts for 25 years and uses its experience in the market to supply a wide range of lift and escalator solutions for its clients and customers, incorporating design, installation, maintenance and refurbishment.

Liftronic is one of the largest Australian owned and operated vertical transport suppliers. The company offers a large range of standard and customized lift and escalator products, including high-quality modernization and service products.

Examples of Liftronic products can be seen in major shopping centres, commercial developments, museums and train stations across Australia.

Australian demands for water efficiency in the bathroom are continuing to increase. Basin mixers initially required a minimum three-star WELS rating, but greater awareness of water efficiency has seen increased demands for basin mixers with a minimum five-star WELS rating.

Raymor, a leading supplier of plumbing products to the Australian market for over 60 years, has responded to this increased demand and upgraded its project-line basin mixers.

Two of Raymor’s popular project mixers, Armada and Tapac, have been granted an increased star status. Both the Armada basin mixer and Tapac basin mixer have gone from a solid four-star WELS rating to a sought-after five-star WELS rating (six litres per minute). These popular basin mixers required no changes to design or look, allowing specifications to proceed as normal, with the only changes being to internal water-saving technology.

Delivering optimum taste and nutrition, the new DG 5061 built-in steam oven releases the ideal amount of steam, generated outside the cooking chamber, so cooked food achieves maximum retention of the flavour, texture, colour and nutrients of vegetables, fish and side dishes. It can simultaneously cook dishes on three levels to present a complete menu for six to eight people, with no transfer of flavours from sweet and savoury dishes.

It also features touch controls, more than 75 automatic programs and electronic temperature control from 40ºC to 100ºC.

The DG 5061 is available in stainless steel with CleanSteel finish.

Budget-priced lifts that comply with BCA E3.6 and the lift code are now being made in Australia. Master Lifts’ range of Eurostar low-rise lifts have a host of features including a 1,100 mm × 1,400 mm car, an electronic entrance-guarding system and a protective arm that automatically rises as the ramp lowers. Models in the Eurostar range also include dual handrails, braille and tactile buttons and a standard travel of 1,000 mm. Additional models offer increased travel heights.

Most importantly, all lift functions are fully automatic. One momentary touch of a button does it all: lowering and raising the ramp, elevating the lift and opening and closing the gate. Another touch reverses the process.

For many years, UrbanStone Commercial has specialized in creating precision-engineered stone products. The company has recently developed a world-class natural stone facility, providing superior granites, marbles, quartzites and other premium-quality natural stone to the Australian market. UrbanStone Commercial‘s collection of genuine Australian natural granite presents the distinctive colours of the Australian outback.

The natural stone colours include Balmoral Green, Bruce Rock, Juparana and Coffee, as well as Desert Rose and Desert Brown. Products can be finished in a range of sizes and finishes to suit every architectural application and landscaping solution. Stocks are held by UrbanStone Commercial ready for customized processing.

One of Japan’s largest ceramic manufacturers, Inax is renowned for the Japanese artisans who craft its products. The company has introduced the new Inax Dent Cube cladding design, now available from Artedomus.

The design that inspired Dent Cube is called ichimatsu in Japan, from the European chequered flag. In Japan, ichimatsu was first used in clothing design and then became popular in architecture. Katsura Detached Palace in Kyoto, Japan, praised by German architect Bruno Taut, is a popular architectural icon that makes use of the ichimatsu design.

Inax ceramics use recycled materials when possible. Dent Cube cladding is made from 50% recycled content.

With the kitchen’s role at the heart of the house, home owners are looking for flexibility in design, allowing the space to be used as both a cooking and entertaining area. Design and flexibility are two key attributes of Fisher & Paykel’s Modular kitchen range.

Fisher & Paykel’s inventive design team has created a range of kitchen appliances that share the same dimensions, each boasting Fisher & Paykel’s trademark advanced technology and innovative product features.

The ergonomic 900 mm DishDrawer Wide, Izona CoolDrawer, VentSurface, CookSurface and CookSpace are all appliances that can be mixed and matched to seamlessly integrate and create a stylish kitchen.

Dorma KT revolving doors provide effective separation between internal and external climates. Due to their construction, revolving door systems reduce the loss of heated and/or cooled air to the outside. This results in cost reductions and energy efficiency, ensuring building owners will recover the purchase cost over time.

Providing a user-friendly entrance, the KT Revolver reliably protects buildings from unpleasant draughts, noise, dirt and dust so that visitors and staff benefit from a constant and comfortable climate.

Dorma’s KT revolving door system has been fitted with a special disability button ensuring that the door reduces its speed to enable persons with a disability to pass through with ease.

With environmental impact considered as part of its design, the UR table system is flexible and versatile. UR provides a complete family of table products, allowing continuity of design throughout any commercial environment. UR has been designed for disassembly, making it ready for recycling. It is a carbon-neutral product.

UR folding tables provide a tilt-top stacking table for environments that demand flexibility, such as boardrooms or training rooms. UR folding tables are fitted with lockable soft-tread castors and supplied with table-linking mechanisms. Standard finishes include chrome with polished aluminium feet or black powdercoat with polished aluminium feet.

The adaptable Lunar workstation can solve the requirements of almost any work environment. It can be configured into a wide number of variants with a small kit of parts. This simplifies the specification process and ensures that reconfiguring the office down the track is an easy process.

Its clean, resolved lines add visual impact. The sturdy structure can be assembled on site and wired from above prior to the tops going on, which significantly reduces installation cost and time. It also has fold-down wire management to facilitate changes in office hardware. Its 200 mm of tool-free height adjustment ensures it works for a wide range of users.

The Lunar workstation is built to last, using minimal material. It is designed for disassembly and recycling at end of life and is certified by GECA.

The idea behind the handrail, balustrade and barrier systems designed and manufactured by Moddex is to deliver cost-effective, streamlined solutions for product specifiers, installers, architects and designers.

Moddex’s innovative, modular solutions have all the features of traditional welded systems, without any fabrication and installation issues. Whether public or industrial fitouts, disabled handrails or pedestrian balustrades, Moddex offers significant on-site installation cost savings because its modular design requires no welding or fabrication. The tamper-proof systems comply with Australian standards and BCA requirements.

Unlike conventional systems, the risk of corrosion at the weld area is reduced, as the galvanized surface is not burnt off by welding. Available nationally, Moddex is supplied in a range of paint finishes to suit any application.

Sub-Zero integrated appliances are practically invisible. Designed to fit perfectly flush with the rest of the kitchen, they have no grilles and no visible hinges. With custom cabinets and hardware, they give infinite design options and complete creative freedom. And, of course, being a Sub-Zero, they don’t just blend to perfection, they perform to perfection too.

Sub-Zero has been designing premium refrigeration for more than 60 years, combining advanced technology and impressive build quality to deliver perfect results. The dual-refrigeration system keeps fresh food fresher and preserves frozen food for longer. And despite their generous size, Sub-Zero units are so energy efficient that they use less power than a 100-watt light bulb.

Western red cedar windows combine beauty, performance and the environment. As a stable material, western red cedar is ideal for windows, acting as a superior thermal insulator to enhance a home’s comfort and reduce its energy use. Its natural durability imparts protection against rot and insect attack, which ensures windows made from western red cedar will have a lengthy service life.

These hard-wearing qualities make western red cedar the ultimate green building material. It is legally and sustainably harvested in the publicly managed forests of British Columbia, Canada.

Giving space to ideas and quality to space: this is the central philosophy that Tacchini expresses not only through its products, but also in every aspect of the company. Launched at Milan 2010, the Dressed collection is the latest from Tacchini, drawing on the protective padding used in sportswear, with cushion detail incorporated into a single covering.

Designed by Luca Nichetto, the Dressed collection includes a swivel armchair with pouf and a two-seat lounge. This year sees a great range of new releases from Tacchini including the Sancarlo armchair and lounge, Babella and Eddy chairs, Spin ottoman and a collection of tables ideal for commercial and hospitality spaces. Tacchini is available exclusively from Stylecraft in Australia and Singapore.

Quality height-safety systems provide workers with a maximum level of safety using simple and practical methods. Latchways ManSafe static-line systems offer workers continuous protection at all times without the need for complicated work methods associated with single-point anchors.

Designers and planners specify Latchways ManSafe systems because the system exceeds minimum compliance requirements. The system offers protection against the dangers of working at height. Fall-protection systems are specifically designed to save lives and offer safe working environments.

Specifying Latchways products and using systems designed and installed by EuroSafe ensures safety at height without compromise.

The Hawkesbury Plus Multi-fold door suite features all of the proven benefits of Alspec’s Hawkesbury door plus an integrated insect-screening solution for aluminium multi-fold doors.

The issue of insect screening has long been a limiting factor to external door specification in the contemporary building and renovation industries. The desire for uninterrupted views and unrestricted movement in the summer months often has to be balanced with the need to eliminate insects. Alspec’s Hawkesbury Plus provides home owners with a smooth-running and stylish screening solution.

The latest range of towel warmers by Hawthorn Hill is designed to radiate the opulent geometric style of the Art Deco era. Hawthorn Hill Art Deco towel warmers are available in electric or hydronic versions – with a 100 W thermostatic heating element in the electic, or connection to a hot water central heating system in the hydronic.

Chrome, nickel, pewter, gold, oil-rubbed bronze – a liquorice colour – and bare brass finishes are available. There is a range of wall-mounted and floor-mounted models to choose from, all with hexagonal tubing and corner detailing.

Some variation to the standard size is available for Hawthorn Hill towel warmers, to suit the requirements of any project.

Designed by Christophe Marchand in collaboration with Eurosit France, the E6 has acquired France’s NF Environment mark as well as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications. The E6 is made up of 95% recyclable materials.

The E6 comes fitted with standard features including polyurethane 4D adjustable arms, ergo-synchron tilt mechanism, and mesh back and seat with integrated seat slide.

The E6 frame comes in two colours – black and white – with stylish black mesh. It can be viewed exclusively at Baseline showrooms around Australia, available in stock from mid September 2010.

De Dietrich dishwashers showcase form and functionality, featuring strong energy and water performances and sound discretion. This stylish semi-integrated dishwasher features Intelligent Control System (ICS) technology which senses the degree of dirtiness and quantity of dishes. It will automatically adjust the water quantity, temperature and duration for sparkling results.

Fully programmable with LCD display, this dishwasher also features a special wash for crystal glasses, 24-hour delayed start, a tablet wash setting, adjustable baskets and cutlery holders and the Aquablock safety system.

In addition to standard shutters, Blockout Roller Shutters can custom manufacture roller shutters for shaped and angled windows, glass roofs and other areas, on both new and existing buildings.

Blockout Roller Shutters prides itself on manufacturing shutters for installations that other shutter companies wouldn’t attempt. Wherever roller shutters are required, the experienced Blockout team can advise, supervise and work with clients to choose the best shutter product from a comprehensive range.

The Blockout range includes shutters for installation into new homes, existing homes, commercial or industrial buildings, retail fitouts and pointof- sale counters.

In 2006, the Building Code of Australia was updated with energyefficiency provisions for conditioned commercial buildings, including deemed-to-satisfy insulation levels.

To achieve these Part J requirements, Fletcher Insulation recommends the use of 130 mm Permastop building blanket. To enable the glasswool insulation blanket to recover to its full nominal thickness, Fletcher Insulation has developed a patented Roof Rack spacer.

Roof Rack spacers are attached to the rollformer’s concealed fixed clips before the unit is fixed to the purlins in the usual manner using self-drilling roofing screws. The Roof Rack can also be used without the roof clip for pierce-fixed applications. Roof Rack cover plates are available, which can be inserted before the roof sheet is installed.

Using Roof Rack as prescribed allows roofers to pull the safety mesh taut, improving both worker safety and the finished appearance on the underside of the roof. Roof Rack is simple to install and, when used in conjunction with Permastop foil-faced roofing blanket, it is the easiest way to achieve compliance with Part J of the BCA.

Xtreme bushfire window and door systems from Trend Windows & Doors has been assessed and is rated to the highest standard in AS3959- 2009, which is “full flame zone” or AS1530.8.2. This standard applies to products that can meet the absolute extreme conditions of direct exposure to flames from fire front in addition to heat flux and ember attack.

The Xtreme Flame Zone bushfire system combines Trend’s technologically advanced, CSIRO-tested BAL 40 (1530.8.1-2007) Xtreme windows and doors with Pyro-Protec seals and glazing systems and standard 5 mm or 6 mm toughened glass and the Smoke Control CSIRO-tested (1530.4) Windowshield fire curtain.

This latest development is a result of Trend Windows & Doors’ ongoing research and development and extensive testing with CSIRO over the past five years, aimed at developing affordable window and door systems that can withstand the absolute extremes of bushfire attack.

Smoke Control is a market leader in its industry sector for fire and smoke control within buildings. The company’s extensive experience with fire protection and fire engineering has joined with Trend’s expertise to form this important innovation.

Built in 1914, this classic Queenslander in Maryborough has only had two owners. The second owners purchased the house in 1972. As part of a make over in 1998, the owners commissioned Stanfast to install roll-up awnings using Sunbrella fabric to protect it from the harsh Queensland sun. Sunbrella has a reputation as being one of the best performance fabrics on the market. Impressed with the durability of the existing awnings, the owners specified Sunbrella again for new awnings as part of a recent upgrade.

Sunbrella is 100% solution-dyed fabric, so the colour is locked into the fibres of the fabric. They are a stylish design element that are made to last.

When commissioned to create an iconic structure for the luxury villas on Hamilton Island, architect Walter Barda sought a vibe of tranquil serenity with a distinctly Australian edge for the 35 detached luxury villas.

Drawing on textures and natural materials to give an earthy feel, Shadowclad cladding was used extensively internally and externally. This provides a synergy between inside and out. And by using Shadowclad inside instead of traditional interior cladding, the architect has created an interesting contrast of smart and rustic.

Selected for its durability, Shadowclad possesses a number of benefits. It is strong and impact resistant, which is paramount in rental properties. It is lightweight and manufactured from sustainably managed plantation timber, available with Forest Stewardship Council CoC certification, which contributes to Green Star credit points.

Design practice Kann Finch Group selected the Rhythm profile in Ivory, from the extensive 3D Stonini Profilestone panelling range to express a contemporary and sophisticated ambience in this corporate fitout.

In the meeting room, the Stonini panels sculpturally create a curved perimeter wall, which is offset from the deep-drop ceiling. The Rhythm panels leading to the meeting room have been custom joined to form recesses for digital media screens.

Stonini Profilestone panels are eco-friendly, lightweight and hand crafted in Australia. The new Delta range of Stonini panels offers smooth-surfaced panels with individual hand-colouring.

The new club house and training complex at Melbourne’s Princes Park, home of the Carlton Football Club, has been constructed with an outer facade and high exterior walls made from Kingspan’s architectural wall panels finished in a stylish mini-rib profile.

William Ross Architects specified Kingspan’s wall panels for their professional appearance and for their internal liner, which provides a prefinished surface and requires no further treatment once installed.

Architect Steve Maxwell, who oversaw the project, says one of the attractions of Kingspan’s wall panels was that they exceed the Building Code of Australia standards for thermal insulation. The high thermal performance and low air leakage potential of the Kingspan panels allow for more effective use of HVAC plant, which in turn reduces the consumption of energy.

In use since 1948, Redfern Oval began a reconstruction project in 2007. The high water table of the site (approximately half a metre below ground level) was a significant challenge for the new construction. The change rooms and other service rooms are in the basement, which is 3.5 metres below ground level.

The Wolfin polyester-PVC membrane system was chosen as the waterproofing system for the basement, with 5 mm thick Projex Shockmat as the preferred protection medium for the completed membrane works. Projex Shockmat was chosen because a high-strength, robust yet flexible protection medium was needed, to withstand the bar reinforcing being dragged over it. Shockmat fulfilled these criteria. The Shockmat was laid over the membrane below the floor slabs and against the membrane on the outside walls of the basement prior to backfilling.

Hume Central Secondary College in Broadmeadows, Melbourne, was established in 2007. The first two campuses are in use; the third, a new $100 million campus for years 10–12, is nearing completion.

Award-winning architect Gregory Burgess, appointed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, has specified Bobrick washroom accessories for the project. Main contractor ADCO is installing eight Contura dispensers and 22 Trimline hand dryers.

The Contura paper towel dispenser and waste receptacle (43699) was specified in satin-finish stainless steel with flush tumbler locks, removable front panels for easy cleaning and stainless steel skirts for surface mounting. In matching satin-finish stainless steel, the low-profile surface-mounted Trimline 7128 hand dryer offers high performance to dry hands quickly.

RBA Victoria is the Bobrick distributor for this project.

Watson Blinds and Awnings was commissioned to develop an automated light-control solution for Canberra’s National Tally Room at Exhibition Park. The project presented various challenges including design considerations, building limitations and the sheer size of the windows.

The Watson Design team led by Kevin Watson chose Dickson fabric distributed by Goodearl & Bailey for the National Tally Room project.

The fabric required for the job needed to be consistent and seamless. The Dickson fabric enables the specialist light control, blockout and variable lighting levels required for live presentations, exhibitions and television production. The Dickson fabric has proven to be the perfect light-control solution for this project, meeting all technical specifications and providing a consistent colour across all panels.

Scyon Axent trim is thick and versatile, the easy way to add finishing touches that will keep their finish.

Ideal for edge treatment around windows, Scyon Axent trim can also be used as a finishing touch to both internal and external corners, or as a design enhancer at butt joints. The thickness of Axent trim helps create the impression of solidness, and the crisp, clean edges highlight openings.

Sarah, a representative from Urbayne Homes, says they were looking for a feature product that would stamp the company’s latest display home with its distinctive architectural style. Scyon Matrix cladding combined with Scyon Axent trim was the clear winner.

“The horizontal line theme exemplified by the Axent trim is the basis for the overall theme of the home. The product is unique and very different to many of the offerings on the market,” says Sarah.

The range of thicknesses and sizes means Axent trim can be used with any James Hardie cladding and any domestic window, removing the need for special window orders to match different cladding. It’s also pre-primed for fast paint application.

“We were able to achieve a timber look by painting the Axent trim, without the swelling and cracking usually involved in painting timber,” concludes Sarah.

Bluebeam PDF Revu is a powerful PDF creation, markup and editing solution with new features for digital project communication and collaboration. It is a popular choice among some of the world’s top architecture firms, who use Bluebeam to review drawings, create field reports, respond to RFIs, and complete punch lists electronically in PDF.

The results include an 80% reduction in paper and shipping costs and a 60% increase in productivity. Now Bluebeam includes Studio for online collaboration, enabling users to share PDFs with project members in various locations and add markups together in real-time.

For a free 30-day trial, complete the enquiry card or download a copy at www.bluebeam.com/apn.

CSR Designlink helps architects, engineers and other design professionals to specify Gyprock and Cemintel fibre cement products.

With a thorough understanding of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and Australian standards, Designlink can provide guidance and support on custom wall and ceiling designs. Designlink offers practical solutions for individual projects, as well as comprehensive Green Star expertise.

The Designlink team has recently expanded with the appointment of Joe Dorinko, who has a mechanical engineering degree and brings over ten years’ experience in construction and building.

The typical architecture firm relies heavily on computers and other electronic equipment such as multifunction printers (MFP) to run effectively. Smart technology like Canon’s iW 360 software can improve the way documents are designed, shared and stored.

Canon’s iW 360 simplifies the way firms handle documents by boosting productivity whenever a document is scanned, edited, collated, published or stored. By creating an automated workflow, iW 360 transforms previously time-consuming tasks into a small number of quick and simple clicks of a button direct from the MFP. The iW 360 enables firms to produce profes s ional - looking reports in just two or three minutes.

Building codes have changed, and the best way to keep up with Australian standards is the all-new MiTek Guide Edition 2. It includes new Loading Code AS/NZS1170, plus it complies with the BCA 2010.

There’s also some new MiTek engineered building products featured in this latest edition. It helps architects and building industry specifiers to ensure the structural integrity of their jobs.

The MiTek Guide Edition 2 is available from local MiTek state offices or it can be downloaded from www.mitek.com.au.

The Australian Interior Design Awards is calling for entries for the 2011 program. Celebrating excellence in residential and commercial interior design from Australia-based designers, the notfor- profit awards are co-presented by the Design Institute of Australia, Designex and Artichoke magazine.

Entering its eighth year, the annual awards provide designers with recognition at the highest professional level. Testament to its prestige, the program emerged from the GFC unscathed, with an increase in entries to 613, up from 575 in 2009.

To receive updates about the program, register online at www.australianinteriordesignawards.com. Online submissions open 1 November and close 5 February for projects completed between 1 September 2009 and 31 December 2010. The presentation of awards will take place at Peninsula in Melbourne on 15 April 2011, coinciding with the Australian Institute of Architects conference and Designex.

Judging is conducted anonymously under the supervision of the Design Institute of Australia. Jurors for the 2011 program are Daniel Dalla Riva of 6 Hats, Victoria; Pascale Gomes-McNabb of Pascale Gomes-McNabb, Victoria; Libby Guj of JCY Architects, Western Australia; Greg Natale of Greg Natale Design, New South Wales; Susan Rossi of DBI Design, Queensland; Matthew Sheargold of Sheargold, New South Wales; Ninotschka Titchkosky of BVN, Victoria; and Kirrilly Wilson of John Wardle Architects, Victoria. The Sustainability chair is John Gertsakis of WSP Environment and Energy.

Boral’s Projects in View offers a mixed bag of projects and product ideas in its twentieth issue. There is something for everyone, from colourful social housing, creative designer residences, a bold, modern bus depot and a state-of-the-art BER-funded school library. In this new education project, stuffy buildings and dusty shelves are out; plasma screens and wireless internet are in.

Complete the enquiry card to request your free copy or subscribe to the online version at www.boral.com.au/piv. The online issue includes more images and links. You can also provide feedback on Projects in View by filling out a short survey at www.boral.com.au/pivsurvey.

Winners of the Intergrain Timber Vision Awards have been announced, celebrating remarkable timber design and innovation across both residential and commercial architecture projects.

A panel comprising renowned architects Tone Wheeler and David Boyle with Jason Anderson from the Dulux Group applauded the outstanding winning projects and overall calibre of entries.

The winner of the Commercial Exterior category was the Quay West Resort and Spa at Falls Creek, Victoria, designed by Elenberg Fraser. The winner of the Commercial Interior category was Water Moon in Potts Point, New South Wales, designed by Yoshihito Kashiwagi and Olivia Shih of Facet Studio. The winner of the Residential Exterior category was Woollahra House No. 11 in Woollahra, New South Wales, designed by John Grove of Grove Architects. The winner of the Residential Interior category was the Hill End Ecohouse at Hill End, Queensland, designed by David Gole and Emma Scragg of Riddel Architecture.

Recognizing design excellence across seven categories, the Houses Awards will celebrate Australia’s best residential projects, with the best house receiving the premier award of Australian House of the Year. Each year, the Houses Awards entries will provide a unique insight into contemporary residential design and the contribution Australia’s architects and designers make to enhancing the way we live today.

The October issue of Houses magazine officially launches the inaugural program. So watch for details about how to register your interest, with entry open from Monday 17 January until Thursday 31 March 2011.

The inaugural Houses Awards are supported by Cult by Corporate Culture, Austral Bricks, Centor, Fisher & Paykel, Hettich, Viridian and SC Land. The winners and shortlisted entries will be showcased in the August 2011 issue of Houses, an issue that is sure to become a collectors’ item.

After more than a decade of operation, Selector relaunched in September 2009 with a new, up-to-the-minute look and user interface. With RSS feeds, Facebook and Twitter integration, and a clear and dynamic visual appearance, Selector is the most user-friendly and technologically advanced site in its class – the best way for specifiers in Australia to find products for their projects.

Feedback from users has been extremely positive, and the new site has seen Selector double traffic in the past year. We’ve added hundreds of businesses to our directory, and record over 75,000 visits every month, from over 60,000 users who come looking for products. This makes Selector an ideal way for suppliers to reach a large, targeted audience of industry professionals.

To celebrate the new Selector’s first birthday, we’re launching the first mobile-optimized product website in Australia that’s specifically designed for architects, interior designers, landscape architects and other building industry professionals. This new version has been designed for touch screen control on the iPhone and other modern smartphones.

Selector now puts thousands of products in the palm of your hand, wherever you are.

You can use your phone to view the site at a glance without zooming, and search and navigate product listings with intuitive taps and gestures. Image galleries are presented in an animated slideshow you can flick through with a swipe of your fingertips.

To use the mobile version, just visit selector.com on your device – you’ll see the tailored version automatically. If you’re on an iPhone, a prompt on your first visit gives you instructions on how to add Selector to your home screen for easy access alongside the apps you use every day.

Other features that we’ve added in the past year include dedicated pages for latest products and supplier news, further refinements to the site’s appearance, and a free option to add your own business details to our supplier directory at any time. If you haven’t visited in a while, now’s a great time to stop by and take a look at what’s new.

As always, you can subscribe to Selector’s free online newsletter to have the latest products and industry news delivered to your inbox every Tuesday. Sign up today at selector.com/au/newsletter.