FROM THE ARCHITECTS DRAWING
Competing for attention against the stunning natural beauty of the Southern Alps is a formidable task. It's made even more difficult by the impressive examples of architectural design in and around Queenstown. This is a region of both natural and man-made beauty.
Within this visual feast sits a new commercial building at 38 Glenda Drive, designed by Stringer Architects. The background shades of the primary steel and concrete structure sit in perfect contrast to the Corten steel-look louvres blades, used as a feature statement on the builder. It works to establish a non-competing canvas which allows the powder coated louvre blades to stand out, as they create a character nad provide an immediacy to the aesthetic that commands your attention at ground level.
TO DESIGN REALITY
Aurora 430x55 elliptical louvre blades follow the angle of the roofline, fixed vertically at 630mm centres, to create a contrasting line to the rest of the building that reflects the diagonal peaks of the mountains in the distance.
The dominant visual character is defined by the weathered, rustic look of the Corten powder coat finish. The brown-orange rust like appearance of the louvre blades catch the sun, providing thermal comfort for occupants and lighting the aesthetic for those outside at street level. The dance between shade and sun on the louvre blades is noticeable for its ability to further highlight the striking colour. When this happens, the effect is entrancing and showcases how a character driven design can compete against strong competition from the natural and built environment.
