At a recent talk in Melbourne Kevin McCloud spoke of his background,influences, and how his intrigue with the built world began evolving from the age of 6. Eloquent and personable he joked with the audience with ease providing a multitude of anecdotes, speaking of the passage of architecture, and of course referencing his Grand Design experiences. However the lightness of tone gave way to the more serious topic of sustainability. Th ..

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In addition to the many sustainable features of the Paarhammer window and door manufacturing plant, it is now powered by the sun. The Paarhammer factory roof recently received the addition of an almost 100 kW photo-voltaic solar system to provide electricity which is used to manufacture windows and doors. While a high level of self-consumption is aimed for, there are also backup batteries and a gateway. The available energy  ..

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With temperatures rising, our thoughts turn to outdoor areas and BBQs. Great outdoor spaces visible through glass seemingly increase your living space. Learn 3 ways to combine your indoor and outdoor living spaces. Sliding doors – this is the most popular openable glazed door for several reasons: They can be made very large. In the lift-slide technology, Paarhammer can make sliding door giants up to 3m high by 3m wide fo ..

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Increase energy-efficiency, security and sound protection in existing buildings. Windows play a very important role in buildings. They let in light but at the same time protect the home from wind, rain and cold, as well as noise and emissions. If your windows don’t perform well anymore it might be time to think about replacing them. Modern double or triple glazed products can save up to 75% of heating bills, or even up to 84% of  ..

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Tony and Edith Paarhammer and staff wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2020! After a very busy year we will be taking a well deserved break over the holiday season to recharge, from Friday 20th of December until Monday 13th of January. We look forward to attending to your window an door needs after the break. Best wishes of the Season! ..

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Biophilic design incorporates the innate affinity of humans for nature by including elements of the natural world in building design. Interaction with nature can relieve stress, increase health and encourage a positive mindset. How can you design buildings which are that good for people? It is important to connect living spaces of the home with nature, to bring in natural light and incorporate outside views. Designing well ventilate ..

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Imports of building material have been on the rise in Australia in recent years, but has the worldwide Architects Declare movement shone a light on the product of local manufacturers in the respective regions of members? The aim of Architects Declare is to consider the overall impact to the environment when designing structures of tomorrow. Confirming the sources of raw materials, manufacturing methods, and reducing the travelling ..

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A recent study has shown that Australia is still building 4 in every 5 new houses to no more than the minimum energy standard. Increase the mandatory 6-star rating by just one star however, and you will reduce your heating and cooling needs – and your energy bills – by about 30 percent. The Nationwide House Energy Rating (NatHERS) is a star rating from 0 to 10 that measures how energy efficient a house is, based on its design. The rati ..

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The character of a building can be altered by the form and colour of windows and doors. Custom made windows are available in a variety of shapes, with or without bars, and can be finished in a range of solid colours or stains. Shapes which are possible to make - aside to rectangular windows - include round, angled and bay windows, or windows with arched tops. Some have glass meet in the corners without frames, while others have just a  ..

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Recently hundreds of leading architects in Australia declared a ‘climate and biodiversity emergency’ and joined architects around the world. The group called Architects Declare Australia has as their goal – ‘to encourage architects to design buildings that are less wasteful, more adaptable and much more environmentally friendly’. Buildings account for nearly 40 per cent of greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions and the group wants to raise ..

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