A multi-award-winning home that is cool by design
Platinum Homes Rodney has designed and built a family home in Milldale that takes comfort seriously. The goal was simple and occupant-focused: a house that stays warm in winter, cool in summer, and consistently comfortable and quiet to live in.
‘This house is stepping into the future to where we see construction is heading,’ says managing director Sam Watt. ‘Everything about it is designed to be warm in winter, cool in summer, safe and energy efficient.’
That intent has been recognised with two industry awards: a 2025 Master Builders Awards Regional Gold and a Regional APL Environmental and Sustainable Excellence Award in the Show Home category. Ambiance uPVC windows and doors are an integral element of the home’s high performance.
Comfort, modelled early
With its elevated stud height, 29-degree vaulted ceilings and generous glazing, the home is designed for light and openness. But those qualities can come with familiar trade-offs – heat loss, condensation, and rooms that never quite feel settled. Here, the team addressed those risks early by modelling performance during the design phase and treating the building envelope as a priority, not an afterthought. ‘The building envelope is one of the critical components in high-performance housing,’ says Sam.
Joinery that supports the envelope
Ambiance uPVC windows and doors were selected as part of that envelope-first approach. Rather than relying on heating and cooling to make the interior comfortable, the joinery helps keep the external environment out and the internal environment stable – temperature, moisture and noise included.
‘Looking at a range of joinery options, the thermal rating of Ambiance’s uPVC windows and doors really caught our eye,’ says Sam. ‘They have the air-tightness and the acoustic values to keep the interior both warm and quiet, and when you add in the moisture control, you’re getting a real benefit.’
He points to the details that matter in day-to-day living: ‘Ambiance uPVC windows and doors have a double rubber seal and four locking points with German hardware for both air-tightness and security. There is never any condensation on the frames as uPVC is an excellent insulator.’
A shared view of what homes should be
Ambiance and Platinum Homes share a broader ambition to lift expectations for New Zealand housing – not by making comfort a premium add-on, but by designing it in from the start.
Ambiance uPVC windows are nearly 50% more thermally efficient than thermally broken/traditional aluminium frames, with a recessed design that brings the window in line with the wall insulation. They also offer strong noise reduction (up to 45dB), helping interiors feel quieter and more settled.
‘It’s about keeping the external environment out and controlling the internal environment,’ says Sam. ‘We’re looking at doing something different with these high-performance homes, and joinery is a huge component. With its air-tightness, thermal balance and noise reduction, the Ambiance range just ticked all the boxes.’
Find out more
Talk to us about Ambiance uPVC windows and doors, request a sample or book a consultation for your project. Email the specification team here
