The Brief
With the development of the existing Belleview Hotel in Cairns into the new Flynn Hotel by Crystalbrook Collection, the design brief was to be “all about bold, vibrant, living in the moment”. This brief resulted in a proposal to use PTFE fabric to create a striking series of canopies covering the lower street-facing areas of the hotel, including the pool area and the Boardwalk Social restaurant and bar.
The Concept
The innovative and complex use alternating translucency fabrics (coated mesh and solid PTFE) in the same structures help to create a stunning visual light transmission for patrons enjoying the 5-star facilities of the hotel.
The Materials
The geometry on the structures made detailing and modelling quite challenging, having to satisfy both the architect’s vision to create an iconic design, and the engineering requirements of fabric structures in a tropical region prone to monsoonal rains and cyclonic winds.
Originally proposed to be a relatively small canopy of PTFE fabric on the lower level of the new hotel, the design, fabric type and number of canopies changed due to council requirements and weather studies. The final project was larger than initially proposed.
The Result
Overall, almost every aspect of the installation was of a high level of difficulty and risk, with delays caused by site access and weather, yet the final product has a 5-star finish, as befits a new 5-star hotel. The end result creates a beautiful, weather-protected social space for the new Flynn Hotel.
