Wimbo Park Umbrellas
Project Details
Location: Surrey Hills, NSW
Completion Date: April 2025
Size: 2 x CS50 & 1 X CS38 Architectural Umbrellas
Fabric: PVC - Serge Ferrai 502 (Carrot) & PVC Mesh - Serge Ferrari Soltis 86 (Orange)
Client: City of Sydney | Regal Innovations
Photography: © City of Sydney
Wimbo Park, located in the bustling inner-city suburb of Surry Hills, is a vibrant urban green space designed by the City of Sydney to offer a welcoming recreational area for local residents. As part of the new park development, shade structures were required to enhance the comfort and usability of the space, particularly around the seating areas and play elements. MakMax Australia was engaged to deliver an eye-catching and functional Wimbo Park Umbrellas.
The Brief
In collaboration with the City of Sydney’s design team, our team was tasked with designing and fabricating a series of architectural umbrellas that would complement the contemporary park design. The Wimbo Park Umbrellas needed to be both effective and aesthetically appealing, with an emphasis on playful colour and material variety. A key requirement was to maximise shade cover for fixed elements, such as bench seating and in-ground trampolines, while working around planned landscaping, including new tree plantings.
The Concept
A geo-located 3D animated sun study was used to simulate solar movement during a Sydney summer, ensuring optimal umbrella placement and canopy sizing. The initial plan called for three large CS50 Centra Architectural Umbrellas (5m wide), however, the sun study allowed us to refine the design. We revised the layout to include two CS50 umbrellas and one smaller CS38 umbrella—perfectly accommodating a nearby tree while maintaining shade coverage.
The Materials
For maximum visual appeal, the umbrellas featured a mix of vibrant colours and fabrics. One CS50 was covered in Serge Ferrari 502 solid PVC in Carrot, providing full rain and sun protection. The second CS50 and the CS38 umbrella featured Serge Ferrari Soltis 86 mesh PVC in Orange, allowing dappled light through to enhance the play experience below. The powder-coated steel columns were also colour-matched to complement the fabric choices, creating a fun and coordinated design.
The Result
The Wimbo Park umbrellas deliver exactly what the City of Sydney was after, functional shade with a bold, cheerful twist. Installed by the councils nominated builder, Regal Innovations, the MakMax Architectural umbrellas were strategically placed and thoughtfully designed, bringing both comfort and character to the park.
“It was great to be able to choose a specific colour for the umbrella and for the pole. Also liked the option for different fabrics for the umbrella to be able to have a different level of solar and rain access to the ground below.”
– City of Sydney Representative
The finished installation is a standout feature in the park, inviting residents to enjoy the space in comfort, whatever the weather.
