Parametric Curved Timber Rooftop Canopy

The Sofitel Wentworth Hotel has undergone a significant $70 million transformation, restoring its status as a Sydney icon while introducing contemporary design that honours its storied past. At the heart of this redesign is the rooftop canopy bar, where H&E Architects envisioned a timber batten soffit to bring warmth and tactility to the space while being hugged by the building’s signature curve.

Working closely with H&E, Sculptform leveraged our Design-To-Reality (DTR) approach to turn this complex design into a buildable and structurally sound feature of the hotel.

Product
Click-on Battens

Materials
American Oak

Applications
Feature Walls
Feature Ceilings
Facades

Sector
Hospitality

Architect
H&E Architects 

Builder
Reward Group

Location
Sydney, Australia 

Completion Date
2024

Photographer
Richard Glover

Turning Ambitious Vision into Buildable Reality

Our Design-To-Reality (DTR) process is specifically designed to bridge the gap between creative ambition and construction efficiency, ensuring architectural vision is realised while making the installation process seamless for builders and installers.

The rooftop’s timber soffit posed complex challenges due to its curved shape and varying batten radii, ranging from 5.5 to 11 metres. Sculptform’s DTR approach was key in rationalising the architect’s conceptual design into practical construction plans. Using parametric modelling, we devised a layout that balanced aesthetic intent with structural feasibility.

Curved Timber Battens

Stress-Tested for Structural Integrity

The curved timber battens are held to the substrate by over 3000 of our direct-fix clips, precisely positioned using CNC machining and marked with level reference markers, ensuring the battens stay securely in place under an intense force of 7000 N. To handle the reactive forces created by the batten tension, we conducted a thorough bending stress analysis to determine the structural feasibility of the curved timber battens.

Below, in the Bending Stress Analysis graphic, the colours represent the amount of load on the battens based on how much they need to bend. The tighter the radius, the higher the force applied to the battens. The tests confirmed the need for substantial bracing to counteract the tension forces and prevent deformation of the plywood forms.

Visually Striking Design

The dome-profile American Oak timber battens sit perfectly in the building’s unique curved form. With a radius range of 5.5 to 11 meters, the design creates a seamless, fluid effect as the battens gently curve, enhancing the sense of space and warmth within the canopy bar. The rich, organic texture of the timber battens blends with the hotel’s refined materials, including marble, bronze, and copper, creating a welcoming and sophisticated space that connects to the Sofitel’s modernist heritage.

Streamlined Installation

Through our DTR approach, the installation team at Reward Group worked with precision-cut ply forms pre-labeled with part codes and clip locations. See graphics demonstrating this below. This streamlined methodology reduced complexity, for an efficient assembly on-site. The exact alignment of clips and battens, combined with the engineered stability of the ply forms, ensure both longevity and patron safety while achieving the design’s striking visual impact.

Sofitel Wentworth Hotel

ProductClick-on Battens

MaterialsAmerican Oak

ApplicationsFeature WallsFeature CeilingsFacades

SectorHospitality

ArchitectH&E Architects

BuilderReward Group

LocationSydney, Australia

Completion Date2024

PhotographerRichard Glover

Turning Ambitious Vision into Buildable Reality

Sofitel Architectural Render

Sofitel Sculptform DTR Model

Sofitel Wentworth Hotel Reality

Curved Timber Battens

Stress-Tested for Structural Integrity

Prototype Testing

Visually Striking Design

Want to learn more about DTR?

Acoustic and Functional Detailing

Streamlined Installation

Product Specifications

Canopy Soffit

Product

Material

Species

Profile

Radius

Coating

Mounting

Acoustic Backing

Related Projects

Desert Temple, California

Trafford Centre Eastern Garden, UK

Paparoa Visitor Centre, NZ

Aspley Mazda

MaxCap Group Office

Upper House

A Statement Ceiling for a Global Streaming Giant

A Coastal Statement in Feature Aluminium Cladding

Medibank Melbourne Hub

Canberra Hospital

Centrepiece - Melbourne Park

Co-op Live

Parametric Curved Timber Rooftop Canopy

Custom Detailing for a Cohesive Finish

Everton Park Library

Scientia Terrace

Marvel Stadium

Western Sydney University

School of Ballet

Riviere Apartments

Marnkutyi Parirna Theatre

Jacaranda Finance Office Fitout

London Luton Airport

Timber Awning Soffit on George Street

Tiwu Kumangka

Integrating Local Culture and World-Class Design

Ramsgate

Koorie Heritage Trust

Embassy of Australian - Washington

ANU Law School

TLC Whitewater

Alba Thermal Springs

Caesar’s Superdome

Warrnambool Library and Learning Centre

Sunshine Coast City Hall

The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre

HERB - Barwon Health

George Street Plaza

Prince of Wales Hospital

American Australian Association

HC Coombs Centre

Cranbrook School Bellevue Hill Campus Redevelopment

Cranbrook School Chapel

Campbell House

End of Trip Facility at 179 Queen Street

Aalia Restaurant

Heritage Lanes - 80 Ann Street