Wanaka Residence

A framed glass balustrade chosen to hold onto north-facing views of Sticky Forest and the mountains beyond, without adding a lower rail to interrupt the sightline. Built by Jared Miles and designed by Jessica Shipard of Ess Architecture, this new Wanaka home is clad in vertical timber shiplap weatherboard. Viewtec, the Wanaka-based authorised UNEX fabricator on the project, specified the UNEX Siena Framed Glass Balustrade from the outset to protect the property's private, north-facing outlook. Siena's 3-sided frame and full-pane glass, with no lower rail, kept the view uninterrupted while UNEX's interchangeable rail options let Viewtec match the balustrade to the home's timber cladding. The balustrades were finished in Flaxpod to align with the joinery and hardwood decking. Beyond the fit with the home's design, the Siena system priced comparably to traditional balustrade alternatives and is built to handle Wanaka's exposure to wind and storms with minimal upkeep.