Trendy London Restaurant Debuts in Miami Beach Featuring Elegant En-Fold® Stadium-Grade Retractable Awning System

MINNEAPOLIS, MN…The London-based Chotto Matte restaurant opened its first U.S. outlet in Miami Beach, complete with an En-Fold® stadium-grade retractable awning spanning a stylish outdoor bar and restaurant space.

Manufactured by Uni-Systems, LLC,  the globally-recognized leader in the design, engineering, manufacture, and installation of large-scale kinetic architectural systems, the system allows for all-weather dining in an elegant, trendy environment, while adding a unique design component to the overall aesthetic.

“The system was able to span the entire outdoor courtyard opening,” says Charles Benson, Owner, Charles H. Benson & Associate Architects, P.A., architect of record. “Its structure is uncomplicated, it has a beautiful, simple aesthetic, and operations are smooth and easy.”

The translucent En-Fold retractable canopy is made with ePTFE fabric, and it spans a light well in the ceiling that extends up through the restaurant’s second level. This feature serves as the centerpiece of the unique restaurant space below.

When fully extended, the canopy overhangs the edges of the 36' by 24' light well and offers complete protection from the elements. When fully retracted, only a slender stack of retracted fabric is visible from below. The fabric canopy is supported by two 38' long aluminum drive beams that are spaced 27' apart and are completely out of view when in the retracted position, offering an unobstructed view of the sky. The typical En-Fold drive beam spacing is 20' on center, so Uni-Systems had to push the limits of the system components to achieve a 28' drive beam spacing. None of the En-Fold structure can be seen from below, per the design team’s specification.

“The artistic aesthetic was perfect for this space,” adds Benson.

The translucent, minimalist retractable canopy has already survived the powerful Category 4 Hurricane Irma and allows the operators to dial up the perfect indoor/outdoor dining experience for their clientele at the push of a button. It is also used at the upscale Miami Beach restaurant, Juvia.

“Having used the En-Fold system at the high-end restaurant, Juvia, located right next door, I already had experienced the product and its capabilities,” says Benson. “It was also an ideal fit for Chotto Matte.”

Chotto Matte is a restaurant serving Nikkei - Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine and was completed in July of 2017. The design team consisted of architect of record, Charles H. Benson & Associate Architects and the firm, Herzog and de Meuron. The engineer of record was GLR Engineers. En-Fold was installed by Thompson Architectural, and the fabric fabricator was Lightweight Manufacturing, Inc.

For more information about En-Fold systems, visit: www.en-fold.com.