Airies Inlet

Aireys Inlet Shipping Container Home – BAL-40 Rated, Solar-Passive Performance with Miglas Aliclad Windows

Aireys Inlet Shipping Container Home – BAL-40 Rated, Solar-Passive Performance with Miglas Aliclad Windows

Located on Victoria’s Surf Coast, this unique off-grid-ready home demonstrates how thoughtful design, high-performance window systems and prefabricated construction can deliver exceptional bushfire resilience and year-round comfort. Designed by the owners in collaboration with their architect and built using repurposed shipping containers, the 115m² residence sits lightly within an intact coastal woodland ecosystem in Aireys Inlet.

Meeting BAL-40 Requirements with Miglas Aliclad Windows & Doors

With the site nestled in dense native vegetation and within a high-risk bushfire zone, the project required a BAL-40 compliant window and door solution. To maintain views while meeting strict fire-resilience requirements, the design team selected Miglas Aliclad framed windows and doors, combining the strength and durability of external aluminium cladding with the warmth and thermal stability of solid timber framing.

The result is a system capable of meeting stringent BAL standards without compromising the home’s minimalist aesthetic or its connection to the surrounding bush landscape.

High-Performance Glazing for a Solar-Passive Home

Orientation and solar gain were essential drivers of the design. The four converted 40-foot shipping containers were arranged in a T-shaped configuration, precisely oriented 30 degrees north-west to optimise winter sun and capture expansive views of the surrounding Ironbark woodland.

Miglas supplied super-insulated double glazing to support the home’s solar-passive performance goals. The highly energy-efficient glass helps maintain stable internal temperatures, reducing reliance on heating and cooling while delivering exceptional clarity and light. The airtight metal shell, combined with high-performing windows and a heat-recovery ventilation system, enables the building to function with passive-house-like efficiency even in Victoria’s variable coastal climate.

Designing for Bushfire, Biodiversity and Comfort

The property’s steep, biodiverse bushland setting demanded thoughtful siting and minimal ecological disturbance. The prefabricated modules were craned in and mounted on screw-pile footings to avoid deep excavation. This, paired with BAL-40 compliant Miglas window systems, allowed the owners to retain mature eucalypts and preserve the site’s ecological value.

Large Miglas picture windows and glazed doors frame views of messmate, manna gum and red ironbark trees, creating a sense of living within a bird hide. The home remains warm, quiet and protected even during coastal storms, with the glazing providing thermal stability and acoustic comfort.

A Compact, Resilient and Beautiful Bush Retreat

Delivered in just 20 weeks after meticulous off-site preparation, this compact home proves that sustainability, bushfire safety and modern aesthetics can coexist seamlessly. The combination of Miglas Aliclad windows, solar-passive design and robust prefabrication has produced a sanctuary that feels grounded in its landscape while offering exceptional performance.

For architects and designers seeking a BAL-rated, low-maintenance, high-performance solution, this project showcases how Miglas Aliclad windows and doors support resilient design in Australia’s most challenging bushfire zones.