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After having a previous outdoor canvas dining canopy for 40 years, folks at the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club in Tutukaka, New Zealand, decided that it was time for a change. The club called on Baytex, of Mount Maunganui, for a solution. That canopy upgrade turned into a 2023 Awards for Excellence Winner in the category of Tents, Marquees and Air Inflated Structures, presented by the Outdoor Fabric Products Association of New Zealand (OFPANZ), now known as Advanced Textiles Association New Zealand.
“They were using a couple of secondhand canvas tent marquee roofs made by us close to 40 years ago which had never really been fit for purpose and were very ill-fitting but had served their purpose over time,” wrote Andrew Lingman, general manager NZCE mechanical, in the award entry. “We were able to offer them a bespoke design which has a fresh nautical look … . The canopy is based on a radial patterned formation with unique detailing, making it a perfect fit for its nautical setting.”
The design had to be affixed to the existing building, which was challenging because the roofline has several gables and an upper-story deck. “The integration of the canopy into the building’s balcony and three-peaked glazed entry made things very difficult to ensure it looked seamless as well as keeping a weathertight connection,” he says.
Another priority was to ensure that the canopy didn’t block views of the first-floor special events space. Finally, it needed to use the existing support poles and hardware and be manageable for volunteers to take down at the end of the season and reinstall at the start of the next.
“I’ve heard from our clients that patrons feel the lighter dining space is far nicer to dine under now,” he says. “It feels architectural with the patterning of the roof.”
The club, which also has a bar and bistro, is located on the marina and is one of the longest-running game fishing clubs in the country, sporting more than 1,200 members. The canopy is 182 square meters (1,959 square feet), and the area underneath it plus the area in front of the building can seat 120.
ATA New Zealand award winners for 2024 will be announced at its convention June 19–21.
Project Name: Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club
Location: Tutukaka, New Zealand
Design, fabrication and installation: Baytex
Fabric: Serge Ferrari Flexlight Perform 502 S2