Khmaladze Architects Create Mesmerizing Dynamic Canopy for Meama Collect – Beach

 

Meama Collect – Beach – The project brief called to create a space that would become a meeting point with a small beach bar serving coffee and cocktails, that would be inviting and visible from far. Visitors would hang out, refresh, read books and enjoy beach atmosphere. Our response was to come up with a simple but a strong gesture, that could become a small focal point in its vicinity.

Architizer chatted with Giorgi Khmaladze, founder and lead architect at Khmaladze Architects, to learn more about this project.

Architizer: What inspired the initial concept for your design?

Giorgi Khmaladze: The initial concept comes from the site itself. From the vast openness of the sea shore, which is a place of endless movement, the waves and the breeze that create various rhythms was something we would like to use as a force, create a structure which would respond to these rhythms, and in a way be in a dialogue with its environment.

What do you believe is the most unique or ‘standout’ component of the project?

The dynamic canopy which we came up with, that is sheltering the entire space but is touching ground in one anchoring point. It is light, composed with suspended fabric belts that respond even to the gentlest wind makes it look like a cloud which is in a constant motion.

What was the greatest design challenge you faced during the project, and how did you navigate it?

The main challenge was to design a structure, which would be strong enough to withstand strong winds, but at the same time would be very light in appearance. In addition, it would have to be anchored in one point, but due to the requirement that the structure had to be temporary, the foundation could not be deep. We have closely worked with the structural engineers, made several modifications to fine tune the shape, sections of the profiles and the design of all the elements to make this possible.

Team Members

Tinatin Sherazadishvili, Giorgi Khmaladze

Consultants

Cubicon – structural engineers, Lightstudio – lighting

For more on Meama Collect – Beach, please visit the in-depth project page on Architizer.

Meama Collect – Beach Gallery