Sliding canopy transforms Tivoli Utrecht 

The former Tivoli on Utrecht's Oudegracht, once the venue for countless concerts and club nights, is getting a new use. The property now houses a hotel with restaurant, wine bar and stage. The heart of the complex, the historic monastery garden, is equipped with four large sliding glass roofs, supplied by Ittalum. These roofs are each three-quarters sliding. This makes the courtyard garden a pleasant place in all weather conditions.

The Tivoli project illustrates what Ittalum stands for: customization in a niche market. Owner Mike de Groot: “We specialize in sliding roofs for the hospitality industry and individuals. The systems are produced in the Netherlands and comply with the CE standardization with execution class 2, a level that is rare within this industry.”

Another hallmark of Ittalum's approach is the close involvement in the projects of their partners, in this case dealer Vitrona. “We never just let them swim. For example, we took the lead to coordinate the detailing and steel construction with the architect and structural engineer. This took several weeks. Then Vitrona took over from us and concentrated on the practical implementation.”

Complex implementation in downtown

Four sliding roofs of 8.75 by 4 meters in aluminum and glass were chosen, without many uprights. The green color is coordinated with the steel structure in the building. “The color and the construction really give the feeling of being outside,” says De Groot. “It has become an indoor garden, or rather a courtyard. This way, visitors feel like they are sitting outside in the heart of downtown, without the adverse influences of the weather.” To regulate heat, WGM solar blinds from Weinor BV were chosen.

The location on the Oudegracht made the installation complex. No crane could be used, so all parts had to be moved indoors. “This was a challenging job in a unique location, one that we were proud to work on as a team. In the process, the specialists did a very nice job. It is very important that our clients have the technical knowledge to handle a project like this.”

The roofs come standard with laminated safety glass and are powered by Somfy motors. They are electrically operable and easy to connect to existing home automation systems. In addition to sliding roofs, Ittalum provides substructure systems, always with flexibility in mind. This makes Ittalum an interesting player for specialists in the external envelope and hospitality industry. “We offer a nice complete program, with all possibilities to sit outside, without being bothered by the weather conditions.”