Marwell Zoo

A Second Canopy for Cafe Graze

Marwell Zoo based in Winchester is home to 149 species of exotic and endangered animals. Set in a 140-acre park the zoo welcomes over 500,000 visitors each year. It is their mission to conserve biodiversity, inspire care for the environment and connect people with nature.

Following a successful project at Marwell Zoo Streetspace were invited back to work with the wildlife park to install a second canopy at the onsite eatery, Cafe Graze. Previously Streetspace had installed an ORION Barrel Vault Tensile Membrane canopy over the outside dining area to the front of the popular cafe and Marwell Zoo wanted a similar solution installed to the rear of the cafe to further enhance the visitor experience, especially during hot or inclement weather.

The second canopy was installed over the rear decking area with views over the zebra enclosure helping to extend the dining space available to families stopping for lunch at the cafe.

Before installing the canopy over the newly refurbished decking area, Streetspace removed an existing timber structure which had started to deteriorate and an ORION Cantilever tensile membrane canopy was erected in its place. The 23000mm x 4000mm structure was designed and manufactured to follow the building radius, creating a spectacular covered space for the restaurant. Tensile membrane structures offer opportunities for flexible design, meaning irregular shapes can be accommodated while making the most of the available space. Single rows of columns can be positioned centrally or, as with this project, offset to create striking cantilevered structures.

The one-piece tensile fabric membranes provide effective all-weather protection, offering a good balance of positive light transmission and shade both directly underneath and to the adjacent glazed section of the cafe. The soft membrane helps to absorb echo and the sound of voices, making it ideal for a busy eatery located close to animals in the park. The PVC-based architectural fabric has a PVDF surface coating preventing dirt from becoming ingrained, helping to keep cleaning and maintenance to a minimum.