From the outside, the louvres used at the Blake Street Apartments in Ponsonby probably won’t be noticed by most. They blend effortlessly into the architectural design. Yet, not only do they provide thermal comfort for the occupants, they are also integrated into the emergency control fire safety system. Should the worst happen, you’ll be glad they are there.
In the middle of Ponsonby, the Blake Apartments project a unique stacked aesthetic with the interlocking boxes of the façade designed to subtly show the initials (‘C’ and ‘S’) of the clients.
The ground floor of the building is used as an office. The smokey grey glass louvres, housed in a protruding black box, add to the exterior ‘boxed’ aesthetic and was designed both as an architectural feature and a way to naturally ventilate the interior. As the project developed, the Fire Engineer requested these louvres be used as part of the emergency control fire safety system. To do this required the louvres to open automatically when the building fire alarm was sounded. In a fire situation, the louvres would help create a smoke-free layer above the floor by removing smoke. At the same time, the opening allows hot gases released by a fire to escape. This helps with building evacuation, improved visibility for firefighters and to reduce the roof temperature. It all makes sense but finding louvres tested and certified to the standard was a more complicated task for the client.
The Ventüer HAHN-S9 is one of a very limited number of products to meet the standards. The louvre blades overlap, offering aesthetically pleasing weather protection with slimline glass fixings. The design allows for adjustable light control to manage interior glare whilst the natural ventilation aids thermal control. Connected to the fire alarm at Blake Street, the louvres are now an important part of the building’s fire safety system.
In the adjacent stairwell, VL-104D Drainable Single Bank Louvres are used for natural ventilation. They combat the issue of thermal discomfort which is well known to plague fully glazed stairwells in summer. Cooler air from the exterior is effectively sucked in from the exterior, as the warm and buoyant interior air rises. This reduces the interior ambient temperature and is self regulating, requiring no manual manipulation or mechanised control system. In some buildings, the use of natural ventilation is known to consider energy consumption by up to 30% and greatly aids buildings in meeting sustainability targets.
Stepping back to look at Blake Street, it would be hard to identify and appreciate the role the Ventüer louvres play in keeping occupants comfortable and safe. They effortlessly blend into the design. Yet the advantages are there and they have a critical role. It’s all part of working with ventilation engineers like Ventüer. The purpose is hidden behind the aesthetics. After all, that’s how the magic of good engineering works. It’s dependent on what you can’t see but know is there.
Project Credits
Architect: FORMiS
Main Contractor: FORMiS
Products Supplied: HAHN-S9 & VL-104D louvre systems
Australia
Hong Kong SAR
Indonesia
Malaysia
New Zealand
Philippines
Singapore
