project

Le Coco Beach Hotel, Mauritius – 28m Clear-Span Conical Membrane Roof Designed for Cyclonic Winds

Membrane
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General information

  • Home page
    https://www.architen.com/materials/pvc-polyester/
  • Location address
    Le Coco Beach Hotel, Mauritius
  • Location country
    Mauritius
  • Name of the client/building owner
    Sun International
  • Function of building
    Entertainment & recreation
  • Degree of enclosure
    Open structure
  • Climatic zone
    Tropical - hot and wet all year
  • Number of layers
    multi-layer
  • Primary function of the tensile structure
    • Rain protection
    • Sun protection

Description

At Le Coco Beach Hotel in Mauritius, a single conical tensile membrane roof shelters the hotel's open-sided atrium and pool bar. Built for the hotel's owner, Sun International, the roof spans a clear 28m in diameter, so the social heart of the resort sits beneath one sweeping canopy with no intermediate columns to interrupt views or movement.

The membrane is PVC-coated polyester, chosen for its strength, durability and economy in a hot, humid, coastal environment. Because the sides are open, sea breezes pass freely through the space, while the translucent roof gives shade from intense tropical sun and shelter from heavy rain.

The defining engineering challenge was the climate. Mauritius lies in the path of Indian Ocean cyclones, so the roof, engineered with Arup, was designed to withstand cyclonic wind loads. Its conical form, with the membrane prestressed into a stiff, double-curved shape, resists both uplift and downward pressure efficiently, keeping the structure lightweight despite the extreme design loads.

The project shows how a large clear-span fabric roof can create an open, airy and resilient social space for tropical hospitality.

Client/building owner: Sun International. Engineer: Arup. Membrane fabrication and installation: Architen Landrell.

Description of the environmental conditions

Coastal tropical site in Mauritius: hot and humid, with intense sun, heavy rain and exposure to cyclonic winds. The open-sided conical PVC-coated polyester roof provides shade and rain protection while allowing natural ventilation.

Material of the cover

  • Cable-net/Fabric/Hybrid/Foil
    Fabric
  • Material Fabric/Foil
    Polyester
  • Material coating
    PVC

Main dimensions and form

Duration of use

  • Temporary or permanent structure
    Permanent

Involved companies

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