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The technology behind adaptable outdoor living

featuring Lahood Window Furnishings

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As New Zealand moves towards summer, advances in fabric tensioning and automation are expanding the possibilities for outdoor spaces that balance comfort, shelter and openness.

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  • Alice Thompson

With summer fast approaching, attention is returning to outdoor living. Yet, even the most carefully considered covered deck can become uncomfortable when afternoon sun slips beneath the roofline or changing winds interrupt an otherwise sheltered setting. For architects and specifiers, the challenge is finding ways to manage these conditions without compromising the openness that makes outdoor spaces so appealing.

While exterior blinds have long provided a practical solution, developments in screening technology are expanding what's possible, particularly when it comes to larger openings, wind resistance and ease of operation.

A different approach to exterior screening

One example is the Luxaflex Evo MagnaTrack exterior sunscreen, available through Lahood Window Furnishings. Unlike conventional systems, its patented magnetic side channels allow the fabric to respond to wind pressure rather than resist it rigidly. As gusts subside, the magnets realign the fabric to its original tension, while a self-correcting mechanism enables it to return to the channel if displaced.

The system can accommodate openings up to 6.5 metres wide, reducing the need for multiple screens across expansive outdoor areas. Combined with reinforced Spectra fabric and Somfy motorisation, it offers a flexible approach to solar control, with performance characteristics that warrant consideration during specification.

Responding to the conditions

The practical value is evident at a Remuera residence, where low afternoon sun was making summer dining uncomfortable despite an existing covered deck. A Somfy-automated MagnaTrack screen now provides adjustable shade while maintaining garden views and allowing airflow through the screen fabric.

The project illustrates a broader consideration in outdoor design: effective shelter is not simply about providing cover, but about creating spaces that can respond to changing conditions throughout the day.

As summer approaches, the relationship between overhead shelter and adaptable vertical screening deserves closer consideration. On ArchiPro, specifiers can explore Lahood's exterior screening range alongside a wider selection of outdoor blinds and shelter and shade systems to inform both new designs and improvements to existing outdoor spaces.

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From the top: How the roof can contribute to a higher-performance building