In contemporary building design, acoustics and ventilation are frequently framed as competing priorities. Openable façades are essential for fresh air and thermal comfort, yet they are often seen as a liability in noise-affected environments. The reality is more nuanced: sound, air, and water all move through the same weaknesses in a building envelope. The issue is not ventilation itself — it is how well the façade system manages those pathways.
Sealing and System Integrity
Acoustic performance is rarely dictated by the glass alone. It is the interfaces — gaps, sliding junctions, and poorly sealed frames that undermine outcomes. Even when closed, insufficient sealing allows sound to bypass glazing entirely. High-performance louvre systems address this through rigid frame construction, controlled blade alignment, and compression sealing, reducing unintended leakage paths and allowing the façade to perform predictably under varying conditions.
Designing for Real-World Use
Buildings are not used under fixed conditions. Noise levels fluctuate, weather changes, and occupant needs vary. The most successful projects give occupants flexibility — the ability to open spaces when conditions are favourable, and to close them when weather or noise becomes disruptive. Well-designed louvre systems support this by creating façades that respond dynamically, rather than forcing a permanent compromise.
Case Study: Meriton Luna Apartments, Lewisham NSW
Located directly alongside an active train line, Meriton Luna Apartments presented a demanding acoustic environment, particularly for apartments incorporating balcony wintergardens intended to function as semi-enclosed living spaces.
Rather than enclosing these spaces with fixed glazing, the architect selected Safetyline Jalousie louvre windows to form a controlled acoustic barrier. Specified with an engineered frame, robust sealing, and appropriate glazing, the system achieved a weighted sound reduction index of Rw (C;Ctr) = 33 dB (0;−1) — meaningfully reducing rail noise when required, while preserving the design intent for ventilation and connection to outdoor space.
Critically, this performance was validated beyond the lab. Post-installation acoustic testing by Koikas Acoustics confirmed the installed systems performed as intended in the real operating environment — a key step in demonstrating that the solution was not just theoretically sound, but effective in practice.
View the Meriton Luna Apartments project →
Comfort and Compliance as Complementary Outcomes
Balancing acoustics and ventilation does not require defying physics; it requires respecting it. When façade systems are engineered, tested, and validated to manage air, water, and sound as a cohesive whole, architects are no longer forced to choose between sealed façades that rely on mechanical systems and operable windows that compromise comfort. Acoustic requirements can be demonstrated under defined conditions, ventilation objectives met without unnecessary mechanical reliance, and occupants provided with spaces that respond to changing needs.
Access Acoustic Performance Data
Independent acoustic test results for Safetyline Jalousie louvre window systems are available in our technical design manuals, accessible via the Downloads page of the SJ website.
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