Libart makes light work of hot task
A UAE restaurant owner was finally able to use more than half of his outdoor restaurant space during the summer, thanks to a viable solution in the form of a retractable roof system offered by Libart.
01 January 2013
Libart, a specialist in retractable roof systems for over 22 years, has recently boosted its global project portfolio with the completion of an innovative solution for a restaurant in the UAE.
The Turkish brand, which provides kinetic architectural solutions that provide a roof on airy outdoor spaces, is claimed to rank fifth among the top 100 companies in the world in the field of retractable roof systems. It exports to 22 countries from its three factories located in Canada, the US and Australia.
Its latest project in the Gulf has provided a solution for restaurant owner Aldaba Aldarmaki who wanted to use the patio of his Alhan restaurant all year round. At a whopping 450 sq m, this space forms over half the restaurant’s total footprint but is virtually unusable especially over summer, when temperatures peak between 40 and 50 deg C.
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The Ahlan restaurant in Abu Dhabi ... before (top) and after installation of Libart’s solution. |
“The challenge put across to us by the owner was to create a retractable, light structure that would allow year-round use of his amazing patio,” says a spokesman for Libart.
“Providing unique authentic local cuisine and five-star services to its customers, Alhan was constantly hampered by the unforgiving climate. In Abu Dhabi, especially during Ramadan, the evenings are packed with diners at the Alhan. However, due to the discomfort of eating outdoors the revenue per table had really suffered,” he says.
In previous years, Aldarmaki used to build a tent over this area to accommodate all the Ramadan customers. Although a temporary solution for the period, during all other times of the year, the patio was practically deserted.
“This is where Libart, a leader in retractable roofing solutions all over the globe, stepped in. The company was contacted in May 2012 to provide a solution for Alhan restaurant,” says the spokesman. “Our talented architects and engineers designed a structure that would not only cover the entire 450 sq m but also provide enough room for a striking wooden trellis that is featured on the balcony.”
The innovative construction is inbuilt with glazed sliding windows featuring tempered glass. The structural system comprises 16 tonnes of steel on which the Libart RRP (retractable roofing and wall system) is installed.
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The finished project contains four sections, three of which retract and a fourth which extends over the roof and is fixed over the previous open space (below). |
The roof contains reinforced polycarbonate (PC) sheets with ultraviolet (UV) radiation protection and high solar protection to allow in optimal amount of sunlight while ensuring the comfort of diners. In addition, it has a motorised system, which allows the roof to retract up to 17.7 m from a central control unit as well as an automatic close function in case of rain.
Libart’s solution also enabled the owner to act proactively with regards to anticipated legislation on smoking in enclosed areas. However, he has found out that these customers can still enjoy their privileges using Libart’s systems, which are retractable.
“Due to the new smoking regulations on closed spaces, a simple extension wouldn’t have sufficed. With Libart retractable roofing polycarbonate glass, all or part of the area can be converted into a smoking area,” says the spokesman.
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Once the specifications were completed, Libart began to work with its partner in the UAE, contracting company Efco. Libart worked from 9 pm until 5 am to avoid the blazing heat of day, “but the conditions also helped general manager Tammam Mounla and his expert crew understand the plight of Alhan and the purpose of their elaborate contraption”, the spokesman says.
Working tirelessly for approximately three weeks under these conditions, Efco and Libart were finally able to complete the project in late July last year just after the start of Ramadan.
The finished project contains four sections, three of which retract and a fourth, which extends over the roof and is fixed. The first and largest section, which stretches over the main dining area, measures 23.6 m by 9.3 m and is able to retract 75 per cent of its total surface area to combine outdoor freedom with indoor comforts. The second and third sections, which measure 9.3 m by 7.5 m and 9.8 m by 7.5 m respectively, extend between the stairwell and over the crescent of the front of the restaurant retracting inward for two-thirds their surface areas. The last section extends behind the first and measures 23.6 m by 4 m and remains fixed to provide a roof over the area.
“Project 3185, as it is known, is Libart’s opus in the major metropolitan area and allows Aldarmaki year-round use of his restaurant’s patio for any occasion. It nets him an amazing return on investment by allowing him to place more tables inside his restaurant and net more usage out of each table. The collaboration of entrepreneurs and engineers provides the most unique dining experience in all of Abu Dhabi,” the spokesman comments.
The company has also successfully implemented a project that applies, for the first time in the world, a circular system for a palace for the ruling family of Abu Dhabi.
Libart International’s CEO Cem Çomu attributes the company’s success not only to its product quality and technologies but also to its project team and staff who have shown a commitment to their work.
“The team members have shown the same dedication and energy for all projects they have realised, making the company well-known not only in its domestic market but also by world giants such as General Electric, Nasa and Boeing,” he concludes.
