External Venetian Blinds in Fairhaven Beach House | Shade Factor

Shade Factor is a leading Australian specialist in custom-made, high-performance, and long-lasting shading products for residential and commercial buildings. For Fairhaven Beach House in Victoria, Shade Factor supplied Warema external venetian blinds to deliver solar control in a demanding coastal environment.

Fairhaven Beach House is a family retreat designed by Wardle, set high on the ridgeline above Victoria’s Surf Coast. The journey through the house is staged: a compressed entry opens into a two-storey volume, then leads down to the main living spaces where expansive ocean views are revealed.

The house’s geometry is shaped by architectural intent and strict planning overlays. Volumes are adjusted to preserve sightlines, with the study cantilevered above ground level to allow native vegetation to continue beneath. Externally, cladding in green zinc helps the building recede into the coastal bushland while weathering with time. Inside, Australian blackbutt lines walls, floors, and ceilings, creating a robust and unified interior that directs attention outward to the horizon.

Environmental responsiveness underpins the project. With limited mechanical cooling, passive design strategies regulate comfort year-round. To support this, external venetian blinds provide adjustable control of light and heat while maintaining views. Wardle selected Warema systems supplied by Shade Factor for their technical precision and ability to accommodate the home’s complex geometries, including non-rectangular openings. Retractable operation ensures uninterrupted views when shading is not required.

The blinds were specified in RAL 9006 White Aluminium to integrate with the broader material palette and to withstand the site’s highly corrosive conditions of wind, salt, and sun. More than a decade after installation, they continue to perform reliably, reflecting both the durability of the product and the value of collaboration between architect, builder, and supplier.

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