"Our client wanted to offer a point of difference with higher thermal performance and more comfortable homes.

"So, we specified the aluplast 4000 uPVC joinery with double glazing, mechanical ventilation systems and improved the insulation," says Joseph Lyth, associate architect and certified Passive House designer with Respond Architects.

Lyth was working on Sullivan, a collection of 15 contemporary terraced homes adjoining parkland in the Auckland suburb of Mangere Bridge, currently under construction by Nest or Invest Group and originally designed by Wendy Ryan and Cici Zheng from the Respond Architects team.

Nest or Invest is a private developer that seeks to build medium to high-end homes offering a better quality of living.

Lyth says they presented the facts on thermal efficiency in homes to Nest or Invest managing director Jasnish Gujral.

"We explained how buildings lose energy and increase condensation risk via thermal bridging, and the importance of energy balancing in homes. Jasnish then discovered the advantages of Passive Houses and asked us to explore what changes would be required for the homes to achieve the Passive House standard."

So, Respond Architects energy modelled all 15 home designs and found a block of five terraces already close to the thermal performance required by Passive House standards, so Jasnish said ‘let’s do it!’. Lyth says they didn't need to upgrade the aluplast uPVC window joinery. Instead, they further enhanced the glazing and insulation specification and insulated the top of the ground floor concrete slab.

"It's not that difficult to create a Passive House in Auckland, especially if you consider it upfront," Joe remarks.

"As I said before, you just need better windows, insulation, minimize thermal bridging,  and include a balanced mechanical ventilation system; all assessed by an energy model to ensure they achieve the performance requirements, before the project even starts on site"

Lyth said he had specified Starke Windows and Door systems on previous projects and recommended the developer look at uPVC systems with Starke.

"uPVC offers a large boost in thermal performance over standard aluminum joinery, and is much less likely than powder-coated aluminium to fade in sunlight. It also offers better security, airtightness and acoustic protection," he says.

Lyth and the team at Respond specified the German-designed and manufactured aluplast Ideal 4000 series in black from Starke for the terrace homes, complementing the terraces’ high contrast modern exterior schemes.

The aluplast Ideal 4000 series is Australasia's most popular uPVC window and door system. It's noted for its sustainability, made by aluplast with recycled materials and 100% recyclable. The system's high insulation properties leads to significant energy savings​​.

The Ideal 4000 series is manufactured in Germany and carries the RAL seal of approval, ensuring high-quality production and regular external auditing. This certification adds a layer of trust and reliability to the product​​​​.