Invisible Frames – Vitrocsa’s Trailblazing Window System

Invented in 1992 by Swiss watchmaker Eric Joray, window company Vitrocsa has pioneered a revolutionary paradigm in modern, minimalist window systems. The company’s foray into Oceania in 2008 heralded a new stage for its portfolio, with products adapted to suit warmer climates. Today, Vitrocsa Australia has an Australian manufacturing base and an in-house team of architects and designers who liaise with clients, customising the Vitrocsa system to fit each project and environment.

Informed by the technical precision of Swiss watchmaking, Vitrocsa has minimal visible components and is the slimmest window system in the world. The design is characterised by a combination of unique bearing systems, invisible tracks, cutting-edge micro-mechanics, and a frame that recesses into the architecture. Every component is micro-engineered down to the smallest possible dimension, without compromising on strength or performance. Consequently, the glass panels – which can be scaled up to monumental proportions – elimate vertical sightlines removing the barrier between indoor and outdoor. Over the years, the company has expanded across the globe, remaining the leader in its field.

Today, Vitrocsa manufactures locally, honouring the brand’s Swiss heritage whilst complying to Australian Standards.

In 2008, Founder Eric Joray partnered with a small team of architecture professionals to bring Vitrocsa to Australian shores, tailoring the system for the harsh Australian environment with the help of leading architect Wendy Lewin. Today, Vitrocsa manufactures locally, honouring the brand’s Swiss heritage whilst complying to Australian Standards. An in-house team of architects works closely with clients to tailor unique solutions across residential, commercial and public spaces. One client of note is Shaun Lockyer, founder and principal of Shaun Lockyer Architects, who has been using Vitrocsa for nearly a decade. The primary reason, he states, is the system’s ability to provide uninterrupted door architecture. “The almost invisible thresholds not only look great but also provide the highest level of protection against water ingress. The minimal nature of the product means that our aspiration to connect the interior spaces with the world outside is done in the most poetic way possible.”

 “With the salt, wind and water, it was less like designing a house and more like designing a ship because of all the exposure to the sea,” says Nick Tobias. “And yet, here we are over a decade later and it all looks perfect.”

Architect Nick Tobias of Tobias Partners began using Vitrocsa when it first launched in Australia and considers it a quantum leap in window innovation. “It was also, at the time, a quantum leap in cost. But our clients are very interested in value. So, the question is not ‘is it expensive?’, but ‘does it represent value?’,” he observes, adding that the brand’s aesthetic, quality, durability, installation and after-sales service have proven the latter. He cites the example of Deepwater House, a seafront project in Bondi Beach he completed in 2015. As he recalls, the brutal environmental conditions and limited access prompted some initial hesitations. However, Vitrocsa was well suited to the challenge. “With the salt, wind and water, it was less like designing a house and more like designing a ship because of all the exposure to the sea,” says Nick. “And yet, here we are over a decade later and it all looks perfect.”

Shaun and Nick are part of a growing collective of architects seeking to achieve superior design innovation in Australia. As the global frontrunner in minimalist window design and manufacturing, Vitrocsa has shown promise of meeting them halfway.