When you're strolling through Auckland's Hobsonville neighbourhood or checking out the latest development in Tauranga, you'll notice something: architects are using aluminium louvres to make multi-storey townhouses really stand out. As New Zealand's cities grow upward and developers pack more housing into less space, creating functional vertical homes is no longer enough. These buildings need privacy, shading and above all, they need to look good.
The townhouse boom across New Zealand has created a new design problem. When every development features similar layouts and materials, how do you create something that catches the eye and adds genuine value? One answer lies in thoughtful facade design that balances privacy, functionality, and street appeal.
2 storey townhouse design and 3 storey townhouse design both face unique challenges that single-storey homes simply don't encounter. Multiple levels mean more windows, more potential for overlooking neighbours, and more surfaces that need to work together visually. It's also about managing light and privacy at different levels: what works on the ground floor might create problems on the second or third floor.
Consider the Mills Street development in Lower Hutt. With medium-density housing becoming popular in the greater Wellington region, there was a danger that there would be a flood of houses that all looked the same. To make the development stand out from the pack, the architect incorporated a series of aluminium louvre and shroud products to really make a statement.
Download our medium-density housing brochure to see detailed examples of how Aurae products transform multi-storey townhouse projects.
Getting the facade right means choosing elements that work hard for both form and function. Here are the five products that consistently deliver results for multi-storey townhouse developments.
Fixed louvres have become the ‘go to’ for architects who want their townhouse designs to stand out. Vertical fins running in parallel lines create a sharp aesthetic that catches the eye. They also have a number of practical benefits, including privacy, concealing mechanical items and shading.
The Hobsonville Road project demonstrates this perfectly. The terraced houses all followed a similar design and needed an extra design element to make them stand out on a busy road. By incorporating fixed louvres, the development achieved both functional shading and distinctive street presence.
When townhouses are built close together, privacy becomes paramount. Dapple perforated screens offer an elegant solution that works particularly well on upper levels. Each screen pattern has been "rigorously tested using a one-to-one model in a wind tunnel" to ensure optimal performance, making them ideal for the challenging conditions that multi-storey buildings face.
These screens serve multiple purposes: they provide privacy without completely blocking light, create interesting shadow patterns throughout the day, and can be customised to match the architectural style of the development. For townhouse design, they're particularly effective for cultural patterns and designs.
Multi-storey townhouses often struggle with sun control at different levels. Windows that receive perfect morning light might be unbearably bright by afternoon. Window shrouds "can be added to windows on the exterior of a home to add sun shading" and are "ideal for multi-story townhouses".
Simple and straightforward, window shrouds are the cheapest option discussed in this blog. If budget is a constraint, but something needs to be done to make the townhouses’ facades interesting, shrouds are the best option.
The entrance sets the tone for the entire building. A well-designed entrance canopy provides weather protection and creates a sense of arrival while establishing the building's character. Entrance canopies are "a decorative way to add more functionality to the front of a property" while "improving the aesthetics of the property".
For townhouse developments, where multiple units might share similar entrances, custom canopies can help differentiate each home while maintaining overall design coherence.
Here's where many developments fall short: they focus on the glamorous elements but forget the practical details that residents see every day. Bin screens "conceal any visually displeasing items, including rubbish bins, bike storage, air-conditioning units and more" in an aesthetically pleasing way.
For multi-storey townhouses, this is particularly important because outdoor space is often limited, and utility areas are more visible to neighbours and passersby.
The most successful townhouse developments think carefully about how residents will actually live in the space, rather than adding architectural elements randomly. Morning sun in the kitchen, afternoon shade in the living room, privacy for bedrooms, and discreet storage for everyday items all need consideration.
This creates homes that work better for the people who live there, not buildings that merely look good in photos. What ultimately makes a townhouse design stand out is genuine liveability enhanced by thoughtful design, which goes well beyond curb appeal.
When developers get this balance right, they create neighbourhoods where people want to live rather than developments that sell quickly. The difference shows in everything from resale values to community satisfaction.
Read our Three Kings case study to see how these principles come together in a real-world project.