For this project, Juralco dealer HomePlus North Shore supplied and installed a SunPivot Louvre Roof directly into the existing premises' beams, not as an additional standalone system, but structurally integrated. For designers and homeowners alike, this should be an interesting proposition, given the medium-density architecture, as it was not an addition but rather designed into and detailed around the existing site.

The project brief was simple in intent to deliver outdoor living that performs like an interior space within the existing building constraints. The automated pivoting louvre control gives the homeowner the ability to shift from daytime light control or shelter from inclement weather, all at the touch of a button.

The SunPivot roof was custom-engineered to the geometry of the existing framework with support spans and fixing details resolved for wind loading and drainage. SunPivot is available with a Producer Statement (PS1) and has many different fixing details, including for integrated design, with the intention of simplifying specification documentation and the council approval process.

The result is the addition of a flexible use living area with more usable hours per year, controlled sunlight and airflow, which has seamlessly blended into the existing aesthetic of the surrounding area. When LEDs, built into the beams, are used at night, the effect is a practical and striking look, which the homeowner has noted has added even more potential interest for similar retrospective work on their neighbours' adjoining properties.

For architects and designers working on staged developments where future retrofit potential matters, this project shows the value of a louvre roof that is specifiable, custom-built, and able to be engineered into an existing line of structure. Similar functionality applies to the Juralco SunFold opening/folding louvre roof system also.

Optional performance upgrades such as Glaslide glass sliding panels, SolarZip exterior blinds, or Louvrelite 88 aluminium side infills further extend homeowner comfort and seasonal usability.

SunPivot key attributes:

• Custom-manufactured in NZ
• Powder coated to order from the Dulux range of colours
• Precision aluminium blades
• Automated pivoting control (or opening/folding for SunFold)
• Integrated gutter and beam detailing
• Suitable for new builds and existing structures
• Available nationwide via HomePlus stores