Architectural screens as art
We’re living closer to our neighbours than ever, so how do we ensure privacy, asks Colleen Hawkes.
With high-density housing now a fact of life in many of our cities, there’s an increasing demand for architects and designers to come up with innovative ways to assure privacy and security.
And increasingly, architectural screens are proving to be an ideal solution. Not only do they allow light to filter through while providing privacy, they also allow for ventilation without compromising security. They’re an aesthetic consideration as well – they create changing patterns of light and shadow, and are a perfect way to add a personal touch to your home.
For one New York-based family that holidays in New Zealand, things got very personal when Crosson Architects designed their Coromandel bach – the team used the family’s DNA to determine the pattern on the screens that wrap the home.
The family had their DNA sampled and the coded patterns were combined to create the ‘‘delicately structured perforation pattern’’ on a series of bifolding screens that surround the house, which won a Housing Award in the 2018 NZIA Waikato/bay of Plenty Architecture Awards.
Another award winner this year who used screens in his project is Ben Brady of Linestyle Architectural in Christchurch. Brady’s Papanui Townhouses project was commended in the ADNZ Canterbury Residential Multi-unit Dwelling Architectural Design Award.
Brady designed screens for the front of each townhouse to enhance the aesthetics and provide privacy for the entry space behind. Both screens feature raw stainless steel, with the pattern on one screen punched and the other laser cut.