Operable facade
Bunurong Memorial Park
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Curved Louvre Facade
Luigi Rosselli Architects
Precision Engineering and Refined Design
Architecture
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Project details
COOGEE, NSW | BIDJIGAL
2024Architect: Luigi Roselli Architects
Project team: Atelier Alwill, Ginardi, Dangar Barin-Smith
Photographer: Oliben MediaDrawing inspiration from the sparkling water of Gordons Bay, 'Emerald Sound' is a stunning reinvention of a tired beach house into a luxury coastal retreat.
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Background
Perched on a clifftop overlooking the ocean and shrouded by native plants, this home has been created with a focus on the natural landscape. The revitalised design blurs the line between indoor and outdoor spaces, enabling the owners to feel immersed in their surroundings.
Sustainability was central to the brief, with the owners highlighting the importance of reducing impact through reuse of the existing home, material recycling, and the preservation of the coastal marine environment. Luigi Rosselli’s creative response included modifying the existing footprint while making enhancements to improve flow and maximise liveability.
The hero feature of the home’s design is its organically shaped curved facade, made with emerald glass louvres and complemented by a glazed roof, creating a modern interpretation of a verandah. The window system features glass louvres that rotate and slide along a curved frame, allowing a seamless connection between the master suite and the outdoors, while creating a functional extension of the room.
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Concept sketch by Luigi Rosselli -
Our Approach
Luigi Rosselli Architects engaged Tilt’s design team to undertake a design study for the unique window concept and develop a methodology to create a refined and functional system.
Tilt’s rigorous design study process involved CAD modelling, engineering assessments and design reviews. The system was further refined through prototyping and testing to ensure compliance with performance standards for structural design, wind, steel structures and glass in buildings.
Shop drawings and documentation for manufacturing were also produced by Tilt to assist builder, Ginardi, in managing the final stages of construction of the louvre system.
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- Built for longevity
Made with tempered and cured glass, precision-crafted stainless steel, and UV-resistant resins, the system is designed to endure the corrosive nature of sea air.
- Precision engineering
An intricate network of gears and chains synchronizes the louvres, allowing the master suite to be filled with ocean breezes and abundant light throughout the day.
- Celebrating design
In a deliberate design decision, the frame remains exposed, celebrating the mechanical beauty of the system rather than concealing it. Custom brass window locks, meticulously crafted by Tilt, complement the industrial aesthetic while maintaining its sleek and timeless appeal.
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Tilt Services
In collaboration with Luigi Rosselli Architects and utilising iterative industrial design methodology, Tilt developed the concept into a sophisticated system with seamless operation.
With the design fully realised, Tilt provided comprehensive project management to support the architect, overseeing the fabrication, installation and commissioning processes.
Tllt provided:
- Project Consultation
- Detailed Design inc. CAD, structural engineering review and certification
- Construction documentation
- Fabrication management inc. shop drawings and procurement
- Installation, site documentation and handover
- Project Management
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Outcome
The bespoke window design is a striking fusion of refined design and innovative engineering, crafted with the liveability and connection to place at its core. This home is a seamless dialogue between architecture and the environment, where nature isn’t just considered, it leads.
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“The intention for the design was to create a dialogue with its natural rather than its man-made surroundings.”
Luigi Rosselli, Luigi Rosselli Architects
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Tilt Team
“This design with curved glass panels rotating along a curved axis, challenged us to develop a completely bespoke system while ensuring each louvre operates with absolute precision and seamless motion.”
Jake Robinson, Senior Design Engineer – Mechanical
Project Team:
Project Manager: Jake Robinson
Design Manager: Mariano Garcia Iza
Installation: Simon Thorby -
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Media
See this project featured in:
- The Local Project, 2025
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