Case study: Vortex Air Con Cover on Melbourne high-rise Balcony

Apartment balconies are small, and an air conditioner can take up a big chunk of one. This Melbourne high-rise is a prime example.

Here’s how we covered a Fujitsu Airstage outdoor unit with a Vortex SplitStream™ air conditioner cover, and what the balcony looks like now.

The problem

The balcony had a lot going for it: expansive city views, a covered outdoor area and enough room for a lounge setting. But the Fujitsu Airstage outdoor unit sat right in the corner, big, white and impossible to ignore.

It’s a common complaint in apartment living. Outdoor units are necessary, but they’re rarely nice to look at, and on a balcony this size there’s nowhere to put them out of sight.

What the cover needed to do

Any cover over an outdoor unit has to let it breathe. Restrict the airflow and the unit has to work harder, which can mean higher running costs.

It also had to suit the building, and fit within strata rules. This balcony has dark window frames, glass balustrades and a grey feature wall. A cover in the wrong colour would just swap one eyesore for another.

The solution: Vortex SplitStream™ in Monument

We fitted a Vortex SplitStream™ cover over the Fujitsu Airstage. Its fixed aluminium louvres hide the unit from view while leaving space for air to move through.

The cover is powder coated in Monument, a deep charcoal that sits comfortably alongside the window frames and the grey wall behind it. From the living room, it reads as part of the building rather than something added later.

Aluminium suits high-rise living too. It’s lightweight and won’t rust, so it holds up well to the wind and weather you get on a balcony this far above the street. With no structural fixings, and no fixings to the unit, the shroud is easy to install, and easy to remove for cleaning and maintenance.

The result

The before and after says it all. The white box in the corner is gone, and in its place is a clean, dark panel that matches the rest of the balcony.

The space now feels like an extra room. Somewhere to sit with a coffee and take in the view, instead of looking at the back of an air conditioner.

Thinking about covering your unit?

If your outdoor unit is the first thing you see when you step onto your balcony, a cover is a simple and cost-effective fix. The Vortex SplitStream™ can be finished in a colour to suit your building, from dark tones like Monument to lighter shades, and comes with a 10 year warranty. To make even more functional use of your balcony space, we also fabricate a barbecue and kitchen add on, which you can find on our VistaGrille balcony kitchen website.

Take a look at our air conditioner covers, or get in touch and we’ll help you find the right fit for your unit and your space.