Project. The Soho Beach House is a world-class private members club, hotel and spa on the site of the historic Sovereign Hotel. Its redesign and expansion required a delicate balance of old and new, as well as of aesthetic and functional requirements in a tourist and hurricane-prone area. On the first floor, the retractable awning provides cover for patrons and natural light for trees at Cecconi’s Garden, an upscale restaurant. On the second floor, a similar awning provides cover for the Club Bar.

Concept/Design. SEFAR®Architecture TENARA® fabric, smartly and elegantly outfits two levels, maintaining the building’s historic charm while adding modern convenience. The fabric provides style, light transmission, durability and protection from severe weather conditions, all in a brand new automatically retractable roofing system. Utilizing framework around each level’s outdoor environment, the retractable roof drives the folding TENARA® fabric with mechanization units, gently unfolding it until it stretches out completely. It has the ability to fold repeatedly without suffering any consequence and the material is fire rated, making it an ideal canopy material for a restaurant. 40% light transmission was a key consideration for the project team, as trees under the fabric roof were specifically chosen from various locations throughout the Miami area and needed to receive a certain amount of light to stay healthy.

Construction. In terms of severe weather resistance, Uni-Systems built a state-of-the-art automated computer weather program, which monitors wind over time and retracts when the conditions are unfavorable without any need for human interaction. At the same time, the cost and unsightly look of sprinkler pipes was spared because the roofing system retracts down to a compressed package of less than 48 inches. It can be tensioned to over 600 pounds per running foot and despite the open terraces and balconies above the fabric, it is extremely easy to keep clean and white.