Aurae Blog

For strong street appeal, the entranceway of a residential project is essential. However, the challenge when designing an entranceway for a home is to blend practicality and aesthetics in a seamless, original way.

Offering both functionality and design appeal, entrance canopies are a subtle yet show-stopping way to elevate any new build or residential project. In this article, we explore everything you need to know about entrance canopies so you can make the most of them in your next project.

Innovation is essential for new home construction, with new ideas and products constantly emerging. And, by enhancing visual appeal and improving the lives of residents, window shrouds do not disappoint.

Window shrouds are designed to wrap around the window frame and extend out from the flat exterior walls. As more and more architects and developers choose to incorporate this concept into their projects, you might like to know what all the fuss is about.

Throughout 2022, the Aurae team have been fortunate enough to work on many exciting louvre projects around New Zealand. Having completed both practical solutions and architectural facades, we are proud of the solutions our team was able to provide, for both architects and homeowners hoping to transform their spaces and make houses look good.

Installing a louvre roof is a great way to expand your living space and add value to your property, but there are a few key regulations to be aware of. There are rules for how much space a building can occupy within a property and this could dictate whether or not a louvre, pergola or other additional features can be added to your home. That’s why it’s important to know the regulations before committing to a plan to ensure your new addition complies with your local site coverage regulations.*

Outdoor living is a central part of New Zealand life and what was once restricted to the summer months is now attainable all-year-round, with the right outdoor living space. Creating an outdoor room is one good way to make the most of your backyard, all while extending your living area. And if done well, it will add to the aesthetics of a home and provide a real design statement.

This blog will give you the tips you need to get started with an outdoor room so that you can design an outdoor living space you'll love. We’ll also showcase how louvres and louvre roof systems can enhance an outdoor room, and provide you with a practical space that can be used in any season.

There are many different terms commonly used in modern architecture to describe outdoor shading solutions. You will no doubt already be aware of a pergola structure and the various benefits that this can provide but what about a loggia?

While a loggia is not as widely known or referred to as a pergola, the benefits it can provide are strikingly similar. Here we outline the definition of a loggia and how it differs from other shade structures like a pergola or a veranda. We’ll also delve into the loggia’s place in modern residential design, and the louvre products that can be used to make a loggia come to life.

Louvres are continuing to grow in popularity across New Zealand. They provide a multitude of practical benefits like weather and rain protection as well as privacy and sun shading. They’re also commonly used by architects and designers for aesthetics, and to increase the street appeal and character of a home. Louvre blades were traditionally constructed from something like wood, however, as technology has evolved and residential houses have developed into even more elaborate designs, we are seeing many louvre manufacturers move to aluminium.

With the ever-changing nature of the weather here in New Zealand we’ve all grown accustomed to four seasons in one day, and weather that can change in an instant. Weather conditions like strong winds can have a negative impact on our daily lives – ever tried walking along the waterfront on a windy day in Wellington? It’s by all means difficult, and incredibly noisy!

The noise that strong winds make has the ability to reverberate around us causing discomfort on a number of levels. Some residential buildings in fact are known to produce a noise similar to a whistle on windy days that if not fixed, can lead to severe occupant discomfort. And with many more people now working from home, the level of discomfort that can be caused by something like a whistling balcony will prove all too distracting during a work-from-home day.

As manufacturers of architectural louvre solutions, we know how important it is for architects to have access to the right documentation to be able to proceed with housing projects and new builds. From technical design files to documents to support building consent applications, there’s a lot that can be required to get a project underway.

Whether you need street appeal or practicality for a home, louvres can be used in many versatile ways. With new builds in particular, the options are almost endless for the different ways that louvres can be used – from aesthetically pleasing designs to sun shading and privacy.

We’ve covered five common yet effective places that louvres can be used on the exterior of a home. Get inspired and see how you could use louvre blades for your next project below!