The art of architectural steel: The vision behind ZEN Windows and Doors

“I’ve always loved the look of steel feature doors and windows that you’d see in a New York loft apartment, and they’re quite popular in the UK as well. But everything I could find here was very generic and nothing had moved beyond the styles you would see on non-custom home builds.”

Research began on how to design and manufacture his own. He travelled internationally, providing factories with his basic designs to see what was achievable before prototypes were eventually made. They were never intended for commercial sale. “I wasn’t really thinking of selling at the time. I thought, if I can use them on my properties, that’d be good.”

But the products were exactly what was missing from the Australian market. 

When ZEN launched in 2018, John leaned into the visual impact the products have by sharing them heavily online. 

“There was definitely a gap. No one was really marketing these products well online. Social media gave us the opportunity to showcase something people hadn’t really seen locally before.”

The response was immediate. Architects, designers and homeowners were all drawn to the visual presence of the steel-framed doors and windows. Soon they were being featured across the country as statement entry doors, features in spaces like studies and pantries, and increasingly as full architectural systems integrated throughout the home. 

Behind every ZEN door and window is a detailed manufacturing process with each piece custom-made to order. Traditional craftsmanship is paired alongside modern techniques and performance requirements. 

Each product begins as detailed CAD drawings before the designs are sent from Australia to an overseas fabrication team who John handpicked for their skill and level of refinement in the work they produce. 

“Our entry doors are quite intricate and have a lot of hours per door,” he says. “Each entry door probably takes about 12 weeks to produce.”

No detail is too small, with profiles often featuring marble rebates and material inlays, a level of customisation that ZEN has become known for. The doors and windows become more than a necessary part of a building, they become part of the architectural language and atmosphere.

Initially drawn to the feel and experience of steel, this is what informs every design John creates for his brand. Slim sight lines are carefully balanced against structural performance. Heavy pivot doors are engineered to feel substantial, yet easy to use. And surfaces are developed with the same level of refinement found in the automotive world: where that love for this material first began. 

“We always compare our finishes to automotive paintwork,” says John. “There’s depth to it. It has that same smooth, refined quality.”

The technical side is equally important. ZEN’s steel systems undergo extensive fabrication and finishing processes, including galvanisation and multi-stage fluorocarbon coating systems designed for durability and longevity. Their steel windows and doors are also tested to Australian Standard AS2047 for external glazed applications. 

Yet for all the technical complexity, the goal is ultimately emotional.

“We want people to look at the product every day and still love it years later,” he says. “That’s probably the most rewarding part; seeing these products become part of someone’s home and knowing they’ll likely stay there for decades.”

For John, there will always be steel-framed windows and doors in his homes. 

“I will always have a ZEN product or products in my home, whether it’s an existing or new home, or a renovation. They genuinely add value to a space, not just financially, but emotionally.”

John’s story is a reminder that great design is often the result of personal pursuit. What started as a desire to find architectural steel doors and windows for his own development projects evolved into a brand that now helps shape some of the country’s most beautiful homes and commercial spaces. From statement entry doors to slim steel-framed glazing systems, each design is crafted to shape how a space feels, bringing together materiality, atmosphere and craftsmanship in a way that endures long after installation.

If you’re inspired by brands like ZEN, ArchiPro makes it easy to discover the designers, products and projects shaping exceptional homes across Australia and New Zealand. Explore completed spaces featuring architectural steel systems, save inspiration for your own build or renovation, and connect with professionals who can help bring your vision to life.