DESKTOP
MOBILE
What’s not to love about louvres? In the North Island, where the climate is temperate, they allow natural ventilation while protecting from the sun and rain. That means win/win in most weather, including those endless spring showers.
The word ‘Louvre’ is French in origin, and apparently derived from the noun l’ouvert ‘the open one’ and in medieval times referred, not just to the horizontal slatted windows we know so well, but to a lantern-like wooden cupola built into the roof to admit air and allow smoke from cooking or heating to escape. Another word for louvre is jalousie – again French and, it has been suggested, perhaps because one can peer through the slats and not be seen (like a jealous lover we presume).
The louvre is endlessly adaptable, both inside and out. The system is invaluable where airflow is important such as on toilet doors or walk-in wardrobes. The fact that louvre windows provide a more consistent airflow through the house makes any home healthier. Louvres in bathrooms allow steam to escape so there’s less reliance on an extractor fan. And, where privacy is an issue, they can be frosted to provide it – without blocking out all the natural light.
Outdoors, they are used to regulate the sun. Finnish architect Alvar Aalto was a louvre aficionado who adopted them as brise soleil on his buildings. They operated as a sun baffle to reduce heat gain and diffuse light. And a louvre roof above an outdoor room gives you more control over the vagaries of a New Zealand summer.
The Box™ design team loves louvres for all of the above good reasons – and more. Architecturally, when used in combination with casement windows and glass sliders, they bring a change of pace to the façade while a bank of floor-to-ceiling louvres in bathrooms somehow captures a resort feel.
Finally, a trick missed by most: louvres offer an opportunity to bring personality to a home – multi-coloured Perspex louvres, such as the ones we used at the entrance and in the bathroom of a Waiheke escape. Viewed from the outside, the panels in blue, red and orange brought a sense of playfulness to the scheme; inside they threw a rainbow-light artwork onto the floors and walls.
What’s not to love about louvres? In the North Island, where the climate is temperate, they allow natural ventilation while protecting from the sun and rain. That means win/win in most weather, including those endless spring showers.
The word ‘Louvre’ is French in origin, and apparently derived from the noun l’ouvert ‘the open one’ and in medieval times referred, not just to the horizontal slatted windows we know so well, but to a lantern-like wooden cupola built into the roof to admit air and allow smoke from cooking or heating to escape. Another word for louvre is jalousie – again French and, it has been suggested, perhaps because one can peer through the slats and not be seen (like a jealous lover we presume).
The louvre is endlessly adaptable, both inside and out. The system is invaluable where airflow is important such as on toilet doors or walk-in wardrobes. The fact that louvre windows provide a more consistent airflow through the house makes any home healthier. Louvres in bathrooms allow steam to escape so there’s less reliance on an extractor fan. And, where privacy is an issue, they can be frosted to provide it – without blocking out all the natural light.
Outdoors, they are used to regulate the sun. Finnish architect Alvar Aalto was a louvre aficionado who adopted them as brise soleil on his buildings. They operated as a sun baffle to reduce heat gain and diffuse light. And a louvre roof above an outdoor room gives you more control over the vagaries of a New Zealand summer.
The Box™ design team loves louvres for all of the above good reasons – and more. Architecturally, when used in combination with casement windows and glass sliders, they bring a change of pace to the façade while a bank of floor-to-ceiling louvres in bathrooms somehow captures a resort feel.
Finally, a trick missed by most: louvres offer an opportunity to bring personality to a home – multi-coloured Perspex louvres, such as the ones we used at the entrance and in the bathroom of a Waiheke escape. Viewed from the outside, the panels in blue, red and orange brought a sense of playfulness to the scheme; inside they threw a rainbow-light artwork onto the floors and walls.
Related Articles
Natural selection
Weathered tiles in a natural tone set the scene for this nature-accented bathroom with a wood-finished double vanity – the wet zone includes a brass rainhead shower and sculptural tub
Compact design – big spa vibes
A his and her vanity, corner bath and feature textured tile all come together to give this ensuite a spa-like treatment
Tactile by the sea
How best to evoke a coastal theme for a bathroom by the sea? Here, the use of natural stone and timber-look finishes gets the vibe just right
Portfolios
View Industry Specialists
Portfolios
View Industry Specialists
Askö
Furniture designed for life. Ethically made dining and living furniture and accessories by international and New Zealand designers where refined elegance meets sleek, contemporary form. Explore our extensive range of designer furniture via our Christchurch showroom or browse online.
Plumbing World
Plumbing World is New Zealand’s most prominent 100% Kiwi-owned national plumbing merchant, operating over 50 branches from Kerikeri to Invercargill. Plumbing World offers a wide range of bathroom, kitchen, laundry, heating, and hot water products, catering to trade professionals and homeowners.
Landmark Homes
Founding directors Paul and Debbie Clarke established Landmark Homes in 1977. Their vision was to offer “something more exciting” than the average home: a home that made creative use of space but was also beautiful to live in.
Poggenpohl
Poggenpohl is a premium German kitchen brand known for its innovation, timeless design, and precision craftsmanship, offering bespoke kitchen solutions that blend luxury with functionality.
Mastercraft Kitchens
Founded in 1985, we are the largest group of independently owned and operated kitchen businesses in New Zealand, operating under a national banner. Our licensees have been carefully selected and are experts in their craft. We share an absolute passion for the design, manufacture and installation of high quality, well designed kitchens and other household cabinetry provided with personalised, friendly local service. Think national - be local.
Kitchen Studio
At Kitchen Studio we are very proud of the fact that we are been voted the most trusted kitchen brand in New Zealand for the ninth year running, and there are good reasons why more Kiwis trust us to transform their kitchen than anyone else.
Box™.
Box isn’t like other New Zealand architecture firms; we’re a building design company responsible for every part of the process, from design to construction. If you’re looking for a team of designers or builders in Auckland, we can help.
The best architects know what it means to design both beautifully and practically, ensuring the best builders can, in turn, build more efficiently and collaboratively with you and the designer or architect.
Our consistent and attentive involvement of each team throughout the entire design-build process includes our in-house cost estimation team, who value-engineer projects to ensure the highest quality and value, while respecting your vision as our client.