More space with the Artares slatted roof 

'Our guests are raving!'

Playa has been the location in Cologne for parties and sports activities for more than 20 years. For this purpose, operator Lars Meyer converted a pure beach volleyball facility into a facility with permanent outdoor cafe. This required a load-bearing canopy that would allow flexible response to weather conditions. In spring 2019, the choice fell on the new Artares slat roof from Weinor, which now covers an area of no less than 160 m2 at Playa. 

Originally, the outdoor café was protected by a temporary canopy, which had to be moved depending on the season and weather conditions. Since this was time-consuming and quite impractical, this canopy had to be replaced by a fixed but flexibly usable roof. Protection from sun and rain and a stylish appearance were the requirements for the roof structure. "We needed a canopy that met the highest requirements," explains operator Meyer. "But it was not so easy to find something that was both functional and looked attractive." 

Fine climate through intelligent slats

Stefan Brüggeman, product manager at sun, rain and wind protection expert Weinor, came up with the idea of a suitable product for Playa. "The weather in northwestern Europe is naturally very changeable. The Artares slat roof is the perfect answer to that! With its robust construction and flexible options, it combines rain and sun protection wonderfully!" 

"It was also important to us that the guests would not be too hot under the blinds," adds Lars Meyer. "Thanks to the intelligent slat technology, the Artares offers just the right solution. When it gets too hot, the slats allow themselves to open a slit width, allowing the warm air to escape upwards, keeping the temperature under the roof pleasant. Climate control naturally, in other words!" 

If guests get cold, on the other hand, integrated radiant heaters, which with their rectangular design fit perfectly into the overall picture, heat the room under the slatted roof. Thanks to infrared technology, they provide pleasant heat immediately. Vertical blinds protect against glare from low sun and wind. Like the slats and patio heating, they can be operated by remote control. In addition, they retain heat on the patio longer in the evening. "With the radiant heaters, as well as the vertical awnings, we extend the outdoor season and are no longer as dependent on the weather as before," Meyer says. "Even in autumn and winter, our guests still enjoy using the outdoor bar under the stylish slatted roof!" 

Atmospheric lighting for demanding audiences

Lars Meyer is especially enamored with the Artares' colored LED lighting. "We were planning to go with indirect lighting," he says, "but once the slatted roof was in place and the lights came on, the lighting was so beautiful that we abandoned the old plan!" 

Colored LED strips on the beams and uprights of the canopy immerse the whole in an atmospheric light with a wide spectrum of dimmable colors. LED strips with warm white light on the slats always provide the right lighting under the canopy. Everything can be controlled remotely with a handheld transmitter. "The operation is easy," Meyer concludes, "and the play of light and shadow is really great!" But he is even happier with the visitors' reactions to the Artares slat roof: "Our guests are raving about it!"