Faced with the challenge of sourcing window and door framing products for a mixed used development with a diverse range of property types, the architects found the ideal solutions in Carinya’s Classic and Select product ranges. Consisting of townhouses, apartments and retail tenancies, the architecturally designed Alba development in Melbourne’s northern suburb of Mill Park has demonstrated the versatility and flexibility of the Carinya products to suit a range of applications.  

The apartment building features 39 residences atop of five of the nine commercial tenancies (the other four are located in an adjacent retail building). With each of the apartments featuring generous balconies, Carinya Select Hinged Doors were selected for their superior style and function. The Select Doors contribute to the apartments’ modern look, while providing exceptional strength and performance. Utilised in both internal and external locations, the doors feature an 85mm wide face on all sides, giving a balanced look and providing the capacity to accommodate a variety of lock options as required in the residential apartment environment.

Meanwhile in the town houses section of the development, Carinya Classic Sliding Doors were selected to provide access to the individual garden courtyard areas of the 35 two-level homes. Developed in the commercial environment, these modern-styled sliding doors offer a range of performance specifications which have ensured their popularity. Special features, such as end caps to conceal cavities and the lack of exposed tracks, work together to minimise water ingress as well as keeping out dust and insects. Meanwhile internal weather flaps help to reduce air and water infiltration. While the general Alspec proprietary roller option was appropriate for this build, a heavy duty roller option is also available which can accommodate twice the weight of glass when larger panels are required.

Carinya Select Awning Windows were chosen for openable windows for both the town houses and apartments. Like their Select door counterparts, the Select windows are extremely strong and durable and provide a modern appearance with their designer bevelled edges. While the 92mm width frame was chosen for this build, the narrower 50mm is also an option if required. The integrated hinge gives the window frame an overall clean finish, while the large integrated sill provides a stable base for chain winders. 

In the ground level retail spaces, featuring larger fixed glass panels, two key Alspec framing products were utilised: ecoFRAMEplus 101.6 mm Centre Pocket Double Glazed Framing and Hunter Evo 150mm Single Flush Glazed Framing. The ecoFRAMEplus is a particularly versatile framing option which has energy efficiency properties and can accommodate both single and double glazing solutions with ease while the Hunter Evo has exceptional sound-reducing properties. Frequently used in commercial shopfront applications, the Hunter Evo is also desirable because of its ability to span large spaces. Both products integrate with the Carinya range, making them ideal for this build.

This diverse development is a showcase for the versatility of Carinya’s product range, ultimately delivering a modern blended commercial and residential environment which will no doubt satisfy the needs of both residential and retail occupants.

Architect: DKO Architecture
Builder: Figurehead
Carinya Fabricator: Absolute Dynamic Windows

Products used:
Carinya Select Awning Windows (92mm frame with 60mm sash)
Carinya Select Hinged Door (92mm open out doors)
Carinya Classic Sliding and Stacking Doors
Alspec ecoFRAMEplus 101.6 mm Centre Pocket Double Glazed Framing
Alspec Hunter Evo 150mm Single Flush Glazed Framing