A Look into the World of Windows
Esmond Pat of JS Aluminium Window explains why good windows are a necessity for Hong Kong homes
Aliplast sliding system
After working in the construction and window industry for more than a decade, Hong Konger Esmond Pat took an entrepreneurial leap in 2016 when he launched JS Aluminium Window, the Hong Kong distributor for top European window brands.
Pat found it perplexing that in Hong Kong — a city with some of the costliest real estate in the world — so many luxurious new builds were being fitted with basic, low-quality windows. From his experience, he knew that in many European cities, proprietary window frames were essential fixtures in high-end residential developments. He decided to introduce European proprietary window brands to the Hong Kong market, and his company’s portfolio has since grown to include Aliplast, a Belgian brand that produces high-performing casement, fixed or bi-fold windows and doors, German brand Solarlux, which specialises in customisable folding and sliding doors, and Italian brand Secco Sistemi, which offers a large selection of elegant metals for window finishings. JS Aluminium Window also represents other European brands that make system shutters, screens and framing systems.
‘A proprietary system is a thoughtfully designed and pre-tested window system that, when installed correctly, provides maximum performance,’ explains Pat, whose team carries out installations and maintenance according to each brand’s guidelines. He says that unlike standard windows, proprietary window systems have thermal insulation for energy efficiency, are pressure equalised to prevent water leakage and are much more durable and user-friendly. ‘Proprietary system frames are of a much higher quality than locally made frames, and they’re custom designed with suitable ironwork, hardware and accessories to accommodate the users’ body dimensions,’ he says.
Remembering his childhood home in Hong Kong, Pat recalls being kept awake at night by noise from the streets below, or the whistling typhoon winds coming through his bedroom windows. He also recalls times when rainwater would leak into his bedroom through the window frames. ‘When I was young, I didn’t realise the importance of good windows and how they can impact your quality of life, but now I do,’ he says. ‘High-quality windows can reduce noise pollution, protect your home from wind, rain and UV rays, and help maintain comfortable temperatures in hot or cold weather.’ And, he adds, because Hong Kong experiences strong typhoons and rains every year, good quality windows shouldn’t be a luxury, but a necessity. ‘Living in a home with high-performing proprietary window systems mean residents can relax and feel secure even when a typhoon is raging outdoors,’ he says.
Today, JS Aluminium Window is well respected in Hong Kong’s architecture and construction industry. Known for their bespoke window solutions, Pat and his team look after their clients from start to finish, helping them select the products and applications that are most appropriate for their budgets and timelines. By addressing factors like wind direction and speed, light penetration, acoustics and ergonomics, JS Aluminium Window helps architects, designers and developers better manage their time and resources to minimise cost and material wastage without ever compromising on quality.
Text / Michele Koh Morollo
Aliplast system
Solarlux Highline bi-folding door system
Secco Sistemi, Weill Building in Paris
Secco Sistemi, Weill Building in Paris
Secco Sistemi, Bailo Museum in Treviso
Secco Sistemi’s bronze windows
JS Aluminium Window installs windows according to the brand’s protocol
