News from Dexigner

Edited by Jenny Yan

Winners of the inaugural Australian Window Association (AWA) Design Awards were announced at the AWA National Conference in Alice Springs.

The AWA is Australia's peak body representing the Australian window and door industry. Founded in 1992, the AWA is a cooperative of over 350 companies, representing the interests of 90% of Australia's window production. Members include manufacturers, fabricators and resellers as well as suppliers and installers to the window industry.

The only awards of their kind, the AWA Design Awards were organised to recognise the efforts of window manufacturers and suppliers that had contributed to the industry by excelling in the production and promotion of windows and doors through exciting innovation.

All AWA members were invited to participate in the AWA Design Awards when they were launched in April this year.

One of the core aims of the AWA is to advance the awareness of windows as a major architectural component in building design. The Awards worked towards this aim by highlighting the companies that had made outstanding achievements in three pertinent areas of window design - the Best Use of Windows and Doors, the Most Innovative Component, and Showroom of the Year.

Judges of the AWA Design Awards were Tony McDonald, Building Products Innovation Council; Clive Solari, Design Institute of Australia; Garry Kwok, HIA; Geoff Roberts, Roberts & Associates; Roland Clark, AWA life member; and John Mannile, AWA life member.

Tony McDonald, CEO, Building Products Innovation Council, stated "All the judges were equally impressed by the amount of entries and the quality of each submission. The standard of entries demonstrated how well received the AWA Awards were by the Australian window industry."

The Best Use of Windows and Doors Award recognises the fenestration product that distinctly takes into account evolving issues in today's market - solar, thermal, noise, security and environmental factors. Represented in situ, the applications were from either a residential home or commercial building. Judges evaluated the manufacturer's ability to provide product that realised the scope, brief and foresight of the home owner to determine the winner.


G. James Glass & Aluminium won the AWA Design Award for Best Use of Windows and Doors

G. James Glass & Aluminium was the recipient of this Award, for its range of products installed in a spectacular Pelican Waters residence on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

Two distinct design elements were stipulated during the planning and construction phase of the home, both relating to windows. Firstly, to maximize the use of natural light and ventilation; and secondly, to minimize the use of solid walls to create open plan living and take advantage of surrounding gardens, pools and canal views.

G. James Glass & Aluminium provided a range of products that enabled the architects and owner to realise their vision. These included full height 475 Series fixed panels coupled to 050 Series louvre sidelights; single-side stacking 477 Series bifold doors, with some leafs containing sashless double hungs to achieve quick and convenient ventilation without having to open the bifolds; 245 Series multi-stacking sliding doors to the main bedroom and hallway areas; and a single piece of clear toughened glass was installed for maximum impact in the Japanese-inspired front entry garden.


G. James Glass & Aluminium

Mid City Windows also received a highly commended award in this category for its range of products installed in a stunning Bella Vista Waters home in New South Wales, which displayed excellent use of standard product integrated with shopfront-style fixed glazing.

The Most Innovative Component Award recognises product components that take into account growing issues present in today's market - solar, thermal, noise, security and environmental factors.


Trend Windows & Doors won the award for Most Innovative Component

Taking out the Award was Trend Windows & Doors, with its Quantum XP Xtreme Windows and Doors, the first window system to be CSIRO-tested to withstand a heat load of up to 40kW/m2.

Judge Garry Kwok, Assistant Director Technical Services, HIA, comments, "This product will have immense appeal in the bushfire prone areas of Australia and will help make Australian families feel safer. The ability of a window system to withstand such heat loads is outstanding."


Trend Windows & Doors

The system is also aesthetically pleasing, provides advanced security features and has optional double glazing for energy efficiency.


CertainTeed was the recipient of the Showroom of the Year Award (for a showroom larger than 100sqm)

The award for Showroom of the Year rewards excellence in workmanship, design, functionality and style of showrooms. There are two categories - medium to large showrooms greater than 100sqm and small showrooms less than 100sqm (not including office space).

The winner of the AWA Design Award for medium to large showroom of the year was CertainTeed in Cheltenham, Victoria.

This outstanding showroom features a variety of elements that make selecting windows easier and enjoyable for consumers. Great signage, prominent street presence, ease of access, interactive displays and a standout showroom format are features that made the CertainTeed display centre an obvious choice for the judges.


Somerton won the Showroom of the Year Award (for a showroom smaller than 100sqm)

DLG Aluminium and Glazing received a highly commended award for its centre in North Albury, NSW.

Victoria's Somerton Windows, Somerton, was the winner of the AWA Design Award for a showroom smaller than 100sqm. Despite intense competition from other entries, this centre won the category due to its ability to demonstrate features like a strong connection to its target market; a fresh, organised, extensive, and well presented display area; excellent signage; and easy and ample parking.

Ian Frame, Executive Director of the AWA comments, "We are very proud of the results of the AWA Design Awards 2006. The standard and enthusiasm demonstrated in all the submissions clearly shows how the window industry has become more innovative and consumer orientated. This year's success means the AWA Design Awards will become a permanent fixture in the building industry's event calendar."