Category: news

Smartech Door Systems, a renowned Melbourne-based manufacturer of architecturally designed windows, doors and walls, prides itself on its unique product design and customer support. The team go so far to make sure their customers are supported, that almost all of their products are customised by the time they leave their Truganina factory.

‘We understand the desire to create something that is different and innovative. When choosing Smartech, you are not only choosing high quality, aesthetically pleasing and functional products, but you’re also choosing us as your partner throughout the whole process,’ says Anthony Cassar, Owner and Managing Director of Smartech.

They also understand that architects and builders may not always have design draftsperson or consultant structural engineers at their disposal, and this is why they now offer a specialist Design Consultation Service in case anyone needs a helping hand with the design. Even better, this Service will support you throughout the whole project from enquiry to handover.

Available to any client who would like a helping hand in the documentation and development of their project, Smartech’s expert engineers will create a customised solution.

For a set fee, Smartech’s Design Consultation Service includes a thorough preliminary consultation where they assess your design brief and preliminary drawings. Their team then undertakes any engineering, design work, and drafting to produce one or more preliminary design draft drawings that specify the product. When finished, they deliver the drawings electronically for the client’s review. Smartech even provides a complimentary revision to achieve the perfect design.

‘Customer satisfaction is of utmost importance to us, which is why we make sure we listen to what your vision is right from the start, thus ensuring that you end up with the right solution that best suits your project requirements,’ says Anthony Cassar.

Shutter House, located in Wembley, WA, is a celebration of vibrant colour, rich textures, light and shadow. Smartech Door System’s vision for this project was clear – to capture views of stunning Lake Monger opposite the property, while maintaining privacy and control of light/shade within. The three-storey facade features Smartech’s mechanical timber shutters, which lift open and closed as desired. This reinforces a dynamic flow of air, light, and energy throughout. Smartech’s shutters feature a counterweight lifting mechanism, which allows almost effortless operation and at the same makes them capable of bearing heavy-duty loads such as hardwood timber. This creates an almost unlimited choice in terms of cladding materials and design options.

The brief identified the drastically sloping site as an opportunity to work with the strategic use of floor levels and the creation of connectivity between spaces across a variety of planes. Vignettes and vistas were framed and captured with intention to unite interior with exterior. The height of boundary walls and surrounding buildings created sensations of a secluded privacy. Given the site lent itself to great opportunity for bringing the outside in, the architects and Smartech set about maximising the opening of the front façade. In doing this, a number of constraints and challenges were overcome by Smartech’s specialist engineers and builders.

With a minimalist approach, the architects hoped for an aperture stretching corner to corner, however, a complete opening would not allow for the weight of the shutter screens’ mechanism and side rim requirements to be structurally supported. With the goal to maximise the opening, Smartech engineered steel angle jambs to connect to the corner posts of the building. In doing so, the narrowest possible side rim was employed, while still facilitating space for the shutter’s motor. To carry out this task, builders first needed to modify the post position, using refined structural steel to accommodate the shutter design. Weaving in between the building’s scaffolding also presented a sizeable challenge for Smartech’s installation – the weighty shutter frame needed to be lifted manually and vertically between the building and scaffolding. Once the cladding was installed, Smartech returned to commission the shutter screens to ensure they were operating and well balanced.

To maximise the framed expansive vista beyond, an internal glass balustrade was installed to seamlessly meld the indoor and outdoor without interruption, affording a completely unobscured outlook from the living space.

When the shutters are closed to the street a resonating timber box with a hint of depth beyond is presented, from the interior, as a moody, secluded balcony.

When the shutters are open, the depth and light of the living spaces are dynamic to the street; internally the uninterrupted views of the lake create a feeling of tranquillity.

The powerful entry space draws a visitor’s gaze upwards and into the space beyond, via a sculptural staircase upon entering the home. This outstanding entity is at once contained in its own aperture but connected to the realm beyond, with full height glazing that reinforces the sensation of height and elevation.

The linear shadow thrown by the shutters creates lively shadow and patterned movement through the main living space and master suite.