Designed for all seasons
A major new residential precinct in Auckland has commenced with two eye-catching apartment buildings using AGP's Solux-E® and Solux Ultra® for maximum, all year-round thermal comfort for residents.
The colourful brick-clad buildings, known as ‘Toi’ and ‘Whetū’, sit within Mt Albert’s 11-hectare brownfields ‘Maungārongo’ development. Designed with performance in mind, the apartments feature a complete thermally efficient window system — combining AGP’s high-performance Solux-E® and Solux Ultra® double glazing with APL’s Metro Series ThermalHeart+® with Centrafix® frames. Together, the glass and framing work to manage solar heat gain, reduce heat loss and maximise natural light, helping create interiors that feel bright, comfortable and consistent across the seasons.
Designer Hannah Chiaroni-Clarke of CC Studio adopted a deliberate and sophisticated approach to window specification across the 142 apartments on Carrington Road. Given the strong exposure to westerly sun, glazing performance was a primary consideration. Solux Ultra® IGUs were specified to the west-facing elevations to mitigate overheating and reduce fabric fading. On all other elevations, Solux-E® was used, with its Low-E coating reducing winter heat loss while limiting summer heat gain. Mirror glass was also incorporated on portions of Toi’s western façade to further manage solar load.
The design also sets a strong benchmark for sustainable urban living, with its 6 Homestar rating reflecting a commitment to healthier, more energy-efficient buildings and smarter use of resources. Projects like Toi and Whetū show how thoughtful design can deliver comfort, community, and environmental performance while supporting a more sustainable future for New Zealand.
The two buildings are the first apartment blocks within the wider Maungārongo development, a residential-commercial project led by Ockham Residential in partnership with five-iwi organisation Marutūāhu, on the former Unitec Institute of Technology campus site. Over the coming decade, the Maungārongo precinct will evolve into a mixed-use neighbourhood incorporating retail, recreation, childcare and hospitality amenities alongside communal spaces.
The window and door systems for both towers were manufactured and supplied by Auckland-based Altherm fabricator Door + Window Systems.
Architecturally, Toi and Whetū draw their colour and decorative motifs from the growth stages of harakeke. The seven-storey Toi is clad in green glazed brick, while the ten-storey Whetū features predominantly red glazed brick referencing flax flowers. All residential units incorporate 2.4m-high sliding doors, finished in Duratec Matt Black powdercoat.
