Company:
Fresco Shades NZ Limited Wairau Valley,

Project Details

Fabric 1

Précontraint 502
Producer: Serge Ferrari North America Inc.
Supplier: W Wiggins Ltd



Please describe the project specifications

The brief was to enclose a small outdoor area in a high wind zone so the owners could use the space and create an extension to their living space. While this was a small canopy, it was large on design and a technical challenge fitting the canopy and curtains around many obstacles, including a fire place. The result is a truly weatherproof extra room outside, and a room that gets used constantly.


What was the purpose of this project? What did the client request?

Our client had a modern house in a very windy spot, so windy they rarely used their outdoor space, let alone their new outdoor fire. Their brief was to create a sheltered area between the fireplace and the house, so they could enjoy this space and block the wind. While small in area, this job required enormous attention to detail and creative solutions.


What is unique or complex about the project?

Our designers had to work hard on this one. This was a reverse sloping canopy that was highly customised. Among other challenges, we had to fit around a large sloping eave, work around brick columns which were obstacles for the curtains, and seal our canopy against a brick chimney. In order to fit around the fireplace we used large amounts of framing, also underneath the roof extension. Angled framing had to be cut to fit the existing structure – further we needed to cut polycarb filler to plug the gaps so no wind made its way in.
Getting the curtains to fit was a struggle working around the existing posts, while stretching the fabric over the frame right beside a chimney was not a job our installers enjoyed. Our most experienced installer spent many hours making this canopy work, but the end result really impressed the customer.


What were the results of the project?

We turned a little used space into an extra room, and enabled the customer to use his fire and use the space regardless of the weather.
The project was so successful that the customer now keeps his ranch slider open to the outdoor area all day, knowing that the area is now weather proof and a true extension to his home. He has referred us to others in the area and we have already had orders from the referral.


Content is submitted by the participant. IFAI is not responsible for the content descriptions of the IAA award winners.