A well-designed space should consider shading, and in particular retractable shading. The combined effect of reducing the impact of the sun during the summer and making the most of available light and warmth in the winter enables extended use of our outdoor spaces. Using an all-weather retractable protection shade sail, the owners of this lovely home now have a fully functional outdoor space for year-round enjoyment.

The Architect owners of this lovely home in Adelaide’s leafy Eastern Suburbs have recently created this wonderful outdoor raised deck, perfectly complementing this modernist style house.

Durable shade sail

To provide protection from the elements and maximise the use of this space, the architect installed a fully retractable Shaderunner® shade system. It extends from the house out over the deck, with the running wires then extending to posts in the garden.

Most Shaderunner® systems usually consist of durable polyester mesh fabrics for shade protection. However, this system uses waterproof PVC fabric, which features a PVDF lacquer coating on the top side for ease of keeping clean. This lightweight PVC is translucent and offers good light transmittance even on overcast days, whilst providing shade and all-weather protection on demand.

Automatic shade sail system

Most Shaderunners® feature an easy to use manually operated endless cord system but an increasingly popular choice is remote motorised control. For this application, the home builder selected a motorised operation, featuring a durable Somfy motor housed in a slimline powder-coated headbox. For the ultimate convenience, the homeowners can use the easy-to-operate remote controller to extend and retract the Shaderunner as and when required.

If required, further automated control can be provided by the addition of sun or wind sensors to extend or retract the Shaderunners during weather events. At the touch of a button, the homeowners can deploy the Shaderunner to provide thermal comfort when required, or an automated sun sensor can also perform this function automatically. Similarly, the owners can use the remote controller to fold back the Shaderunner when not in use. But with the addition of a wind sensor, if the winds pick up the sensor will automatically retract the system.

Flexible design

During the manufacturing process, The Shaderunner uses durable components, including marine grade 316 stainless steel fittings and Ronstan yachting ball bearing pulleys. As a result, the Shaderunner provides a robust retractable shade solution for a range of residential and commercial applications. The flexible design of the Shaderunner® enables the home builder to install it for a range of support structures, such as existing or purpose-built pergolas, between walls or fascias or on support posts. The unique qualities of Shaderunner® enable large areas to be spanned and protected with a minimum support structure.

The Shaderunner® Retractable Shade System is suitable for a range of applications around the home, from outdoor entertaining spaces and patios to swimming pools and courtyards. However, the applications also span commercial projects, such as aquatic parks and hotels. With a wide range of fabrics and colour options available, the Shaderunner® complements all architectural styles, from contemporary suburban homes to traditional country residences.

For more information

Shaderunner

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The Shaderunner® Retractable Sail System is ideally suited to a range of applications around the home, from outdoor entertaining spaces and patios to swimming pools and courtyards. With a wide range of fabrics and colour options available, Shaderunner® complements all architectural styles, whether that’s contemporary suburban homes or traditional country residences.

This contemporary home in the Adelaide beachside suburb of Somerton Park is a stone’s throw from the seafront and just a short walk to an array of cafes and bars, providing the ultimate in suburban coastal living. The property has a north-facing outdoor area, so the owners elected to construct a functional swimming pool including this stunning Shaderunner® Retractable Sail System.

Adelaide’s Urban Oasis was engaged to construct the well-designed courtyard pool with its impressive water feature. To provide welcome respite from the harsh sun, the stylish Shaderunner® Retractable Sail System was chosen, providing practical and controllable shade on demand. Perfect for shading swimming pools, the Shaderunner® system can be extended as and when required to provide swimmers and pool users with UV protection and welcome shade. In the cooler months, it can be retracted, enabling thermal heating of the pool from the winter sun.

The Shaderunner® was manufactured using Outlook ‘Chalk’ fabric, which perfectly complements the beach feel of the home with its matching white render. Being near the seafront and in close proximity to the pool, the support frame was painted white using an extra-hard-wearing three-coat coastal paint system. The steel support frame was designed to be integrated into the swimming pool structure, with the support posts cast into the concrete shell. Between the posts at each end is a beam to which the running wires and operation cord connect. The owners elected to have the manually operated system, which features an easy-to-use endless looped cord system with tie-off horn cleat.

Available with either manual or motorised operation, the Shaderunner® can be supported by a number of structural systems from an existing or purpose-built pergola, between walls or fascias or on support posts. The unique qualities of the Shaderunner® enable small or large areas to be spanned and protected with minimal support structure.

So when designing an outdoor area, entertaining space or swimming pool, practical shading should be at the forefront of the design process. A well-designed space should consider shading and, in particular, retractable shading. The combined effect of reducing the impact of the sun during the summer and making the most of available light and warmth in the winter not only enables greater usage of outdoor spaces, but can also aid with passive solar design strategies.

The Shaderunner® Retractable Sail is constructed using only the most durable marine-grade yacht fittings and Ronstan ball-bearing pulleys, ensuring years of trouble-free shading with minimal maintenance. The Shaderunner® is manufactured from a range of rigorously tested fabrics, from 95 per cent polyester mesh to waterproof PVC. Each fabric is mould-resistant and offers protection from glare and the sun’s harmful rays, with a wide range of colours available. The unique qualities of Shaderunner® enable it to be utilised for a multitude of applications, from the smallest domestic setting right up to large-span commercial projects, such as aquatic parks and hotels.

With distributors available in each state, the Shaderunner® is available throughout Australia. Contact Shaderunner® Australia today to discuss your residential or commercial project.

For more information

Shaderunner

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With a great range of fabrics and colour options available, it complements all architectural styles, from contemporary suburban homes to traditional country residences.

A year ago, the owners of this lovely home in the Adelaide beach suburb of Brighton had a terrace that was generally underutilised. Recognising the potential of this north-facing outdoor space, the owners put into action a comprehensive makeover of the area, resulting in this well-designed and stylish entertaining space. By constructing a stylish timber-clad pergola, they were able to easily add a functional Shaderunner retractable sail system, for controllable shade as and when required.

Complemented with stylish paving, contemporary flower boxes and the stunning Shaderunner sail, this outdoor space can now be completely enjoyed throughout the hotter months. During summer, the Shaderunner can be fully extended to provide maximum shade, UV protection and thermal comfort on demand. In the cooler months, the system can be retracted, making the most of the winter sunlight and consequent solar gains.

This stunning pergola features three stylish timber rafter and column modules and is ideally suited to retrofitting the Shaderunner to. The owners opted for the manually operated system, which features an easy-to-use continuous looped cord mechanism with tie-off horn cleat. Available with either manual or motorised operation, the Shaderunner can be supported by a number of structural systems from an existing or purpose-built pergola, between walls or fascias or on support posts. The unique qualities of Shaderunner enable small or large areas to be spanned and protected with minimum structural support.

So when designing an outdoor area, entertaining space or swimming pool, practical shading should be at the forefront of the design process. A well-designed space should consider shading, in particular retractable shading. The combined effect of reducing the impact of the sun during summer and making the most of available light and warmth in winter not only enables greater use of outdoor spaces, but can also aid with passive solar design strategies.

Passive solar design aims to lessen the impact and usage of mechanical air-conditioning and heating systems by the combined approach of reducing unwanted solar gains during summer and maximising solar gains through winter. Being a fully retractable shade system, the Shaderunner can help achieve this, while also providing a visually appealing addition to the home.

The Shaderunner retractable sail is constructed using only the most durable marine-grade yacht fittings and Ronstan ball-bearing pulleys, ensuring years of trouble-free shading with minimal maintenance. The Shaderunner is manufactured using a range of rigorously tested fabrics, from 95 per cent polyester mesh to waterproof PVC. Each fabric is mould-resistant and offers protection from glare and the sun’s harmful rays, with a wide range of colours available. The unique qualities of Shaderunner enable it to be used for a multitude of applications, from the smallest domestic settings right up to large-span commercial projects, such as aquatic parks and hotels.

With distributors available in each state, the Shaderunner is available throughout Australia. Why not contact Shadeform today to discuss your residential or commercial project?

For more information

Shadeform

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Flowing lines and swathes of seasonal colour give the rural garden areas of this 30-acre (12.1-hectare) property — tucked behind Mount Lofty in the Adelaide Hills — a relaxed, inviting feeling. The house is set on an elevated position with commanding views of the grounds and the surrounding wooded hills, creating for the owners the ideal rural retreat.

Designed by Geoff Heppner of Accent Landscapes in consultation with the owners, Geoff describes the garden design as “very much freeform, befitting a rural setting”. From the heavily mulched woodland-style garden beds to the decorative use of bush rock and the fire pit, with its circle of log seating, the overall ambience is relaxed, inviting and full of natural appeal.

The initial brief was to construct a rural garden to the front of the house. At the time, the area was little more than a tangle of weeds with a challenging 45-degree slope. The owners were happy to leave the key design decisions to Geo — all they asked for was the inclusion of conifers and groundcovers and that the extensive views of the beautiful hills enveloping the property be preserved.

Work on the front garden began five years ago and has since extended to other parts of the vast property. This work has been comprehensive and has included the demolition of an older house that sat behind the present one, the remodelling of the property’s entrance (which included lining it with trees and shrubs, including advanced maples and pears), the grading of roads and the laying of bitumen, the widening of a bridge and the construction of stone sides.

The property is situated in a high rainfall area and, although the soils are heavy clay, plants tend to grow quickly. As the garden is vast, the list of plants incorporated into the landscape is long, varied and too extensive to repeat here. However, some of the plants you will find as you stroll around the extensive property include deciduous trees, both deciduous and evergreen shrubs (some of them natives), native groundcovers (particularly grevilleas) and many perennial plants. For hedging, Geoff chose westringias and viburnums.

“A very extensive irrigation and fire system was installed,” explains Geoff. “All plants are watered by a drip irrigation system and lawns are watered where possible with low-flow sprinklers. A bore positioned down in the valley is used to pump water to a tank located at the highest point on the property. The irrigation systems for all the plants and lawns are gravity fed from that tank, which means the owners don’t have to rely on mains water.”

Getting the planting to such a lush and healthy point has not been without its challenges. “As the site is on the top of the hill, the land first had to be graded to form usable areas,” explains Geoff. “And as the site receives high rainfall it has been a battle to control winter run-off.

“Plants that were thought of as being more usable in drought conditions have not always survived winter cold and wet,” he adds. “And because the garden is in an elevated position and therefore exposed, a combination of wind and wet soils have caused problems for some plants. Wild deer have also been a problem, particularly during rutting season, when males like to mark advanced trees.”

Enhancing the bucolic ambience, Accent Landscapes constructed extensive low dry stone walls, using stone sourced from a local quarry. Local stone adds to the sense of place and reduces the garden’s carbon footprint. Thanks to the careful design and thoughtful selection of plants and materials, this lovingly maintained rural landscape offers something to savour at every turn and during every season. It is also a rural garden that continues to mature and endure.

Written by Karen Booth

Originally in Backyard Magazine, Volume 9 Issue 4

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Stepping into this dazzling backyard by The Galvin Group, you are greeted by the sparkling pool and water feature sitting beside the lavish pavilion and sun deck. Almost ethereal in its presence, the pool sits centrepiece in this place of fun and relaxation that can be enjoyed by the entire family year-round.

The owners requested a landscape design that would express feelings of opulence and spaciousness in their yard while providing a safe and enjoyable area for their young family to enjoy. After comprehensive consultation from design director Alex Pritchard and construction supervision from managing director Rob Galvin, The Galvin Group created this luxurious and modern resort-style backyard, exceeding expectations of beauty and functionality.

Custom exfoliated granite pavers strike a path to the pavilion and pool, with frameless glass fencing providing both safety and visual appeal. Bisazza glass pool mosaics adorn the back-wall water feature, with LED strip lighting bringing the cascade to life at night.

The shaded pavilion complements the pool by providing a space where the family can relax and marvel at their beautiful surroundings. With a storage room for pool equipment and utilities cleverly hidden behind the structure, the area is easily kept clean and tidy. The raised boundary garden bed, lush planting and large grassed area complete the picture, giving the owners the perfect place for their young family to live and play.

The team at The Galvin Group strive to design and build beautiful and luxurious spaces that seamlessly blend from indoors to out. The team design and construct all over South Australia, specialising in high-end outdoor living areas, swimming pools, home renovations and new home designs. With more than 30 years of experience, the team has developed expertise, experience and knowledge that great design needs to not only look fantastic, but also be practical and suitable for each client’s individual needs.

The Galvin Group is a member of the Master Builders Association.

Project details:

Heating: Solar pool heating

Coping: Custom polished granite coping

Tiles: Bisazza glass pool mosaics in the water feature

Pavers: Custom exfoliated granite pavers laid on concrete

Landscaping: The Galvin Group. Plants include super-advanced London plane trees, flax and agapanthus

Lighting: LED pool lighting, multi-colour garden lighting, light box feature

Decking: Composite DECKER decking

Fence: Frameless 12mm glass fencing

Designed and built by The Galvin Group

www.galvingroup.com.au

Originally from Poolside magazine Volume 43

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Perfectly positioned to capture panoramic views of the Adelaide plains, this infinity-edge pool looks as if it is floating amid the clouds. Flanked by timber decking and mere steps away from a stunning outdoor dining and kitchen area, the pool forms the centrepiece of a space that is nothing short of luxurious.

Having travelled the globe, staying at many exclusive hotels and resorts from which they drew inspiration, the owners knew they wanted a sleek, modern design with strong geometric lines. They also knew that being able to both relax and entertain was important, so Alex Pritchard and Rob Galvin from The Galvin Group set about designing a world-class outdoor living and entertaining zone.

The fully automated pool, which has a swim-out ledge, is clad in white mosaic tiles and features multi-coloured LED pool lights. The coping is of Western Grey granite, which is the same stone used for the paving. Adjacent to the pool is a large cantilevered deck that juts out towards the city lights. Under the deck, which was built of ebony-stained Pacific teak, the pool equipment room is hidden from view, along with large-capacity storage and workbenches.

Just a short distance from the pool is a steam room, massage room and change room facilities, emulating the opulence you would expect of a five-star hotel. The outdoor kitchen is equally sumptuous. It incorporates bar fridges, an oven, a built-in barbecue and wok burner, an ice maker and a dishwasher. The benchtops are of polished Western Grey granite, adding to the lavish look and visually linking the kitchen to the rest of the outdoor space.

The clean, modern lines of the overall design were juxtaposed with sculptural plantings, such as mature dragon’s blood trees and cycads. As the block is north-facing and takes on the full punishment of a hot summer, the plants needed to be tough and water wise, not just aesthetically appealing.

The biggest challenge faced by The Galvin Group was the construction of the pool. As it had to be built 5m above natural ground level, the pool needed to be engineered to be supported by a floating concrete beam and pier system founded on natural sloping bedrock. Despite the difficulties of building on a steep slope, thanks to The Galvin Group’s 30 years’ experience tackling tricky projects, construction proceeded without a hitch.

For more information

Landscape design and construction by The Galvin Group 519 Torrens Road, Woodville SA 5011

Phone 08 8268 9915

Mobile 0412 395 245

Email info@galvingroup.com.au

Website galvingroup.com.au

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