Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Canopee?

A Canopee is an environmentally sensitive, technologically smart shade structure using natural foliage combined with an innovative element of urban art and sculpture.
Urban Canopee’s expertise lies in the design, engineering and installation of lightweight composite structures in “gridshell” patterns. These structures are then used as support for climbing plants to grow and flourish. The plants’ optimal growth is assisted by a proprietary smart connected irrigation system.
Canopee originates from 15 years of experience in innovative building materials research and engineering on light structures at the Navier laboratory from the prestigious Civil Engineering School ParisTech.
The Canopee shape is inspired by time-proven shapes found in the natural world such as flowers and mushrooms. It is a solid design providing symmetrical weight distribution.

Tech

What is the Canopee Made of?

The lightweight funnel shaped structure is made of composite glass fiber rods. The base of the Canopee is a mix of galvanized steel and powder coated steel.

How does the cooling effect work?

It is a combination of two things. Firstly, creating shade blocks the sun's rays from hitting the ground directly. In that way, creating shade creates cooling. Cooling also happens through evapotranspiration. The water travels from the pot to the leaves for photosynthesis purposes. Some water droplets are also released in the direct vicinity of those leaves creating a cool micro-climate. So all around the trees or the plants, there is increased humidity in the air, which ends up cooling the air.

How does Canopee help the environment?

• Creates shade areas combating heat island effects. • Creates a green canopy over public spaces, roofs and facades • Re-establishes urban biodiversity in locations where it has typically not been possible • Improves air quality • Uses renewable power (solar) • Optimisation of water storage and use

Installation

How long does it take to install a Canopee?

The installation is made of two phases. The first phase happens if a foundation is required. The second phase is about installing the actual Canopee installation, .
Canopee is brought to site, assembled, elevated, anchored and commissioned in a day (with the exception of multiple units).

How definitive is it ?

We've got two models of Canopees. One that requires foundations anchoring and everything's above ground so it can always be removed, but you end up with a process that is not simple to move and you end up with a base underneath a Canopee that is not that appealing.The other option is to have the free-standing version, which is designed to be completely free-standing and relocatable. So you've got four cliff pockets built into it that allow you to move it at will

Is the Canopee self supporting or does it require a fixed footing?

Canopee requires minimal floor space and is modular, autonomous,relocatable and with very little to no impact on the environment. Canopee is designed to be self-balancing and free-standing, however anchoring will be required for most installations.

How is Canopee fixed to the required surface?

Canopee generally needs to be anchored via bolts/fixings. Depending on ground-specific topography, different anchoring methods are used. The structure’s weight distribution and anchoring will be engineered for each project, taking into account site-specific conditions. Wind and tear-off resistance are thoroughly checked through design and engineering-certified calculations to ensure compliance with local regulations.

What if the surface slopes?

Installation would be dependant on meeting the required engineering solution. A Canopee can be installed without any adjustment on a slope of up to 5% gradient. Past that threshold, some means of leveling will be required.

Pricing

How much for a project?

It depends on the size of the Canopee. The small Canopee retails for $20,000 the large one for $35,000. You then need to take into consideration what foundation you're gonna require, typically adding about $10,000 for installation delivery. So you're looking in between $30,000 and $50,000 for a single Canopee depending on its size and options.

Maintenance

What about the maintenance

The Canopee structure itself doesn't require any maintenance. However, maintenance of the plants is required. The plants need irrigation. We look after that with an in-built design solution. Maintenance, including pruning and fertilization, is also very important. We offer that as a service or the client can directly make that happen if they have a sufficient amount of horticultural knowledge.

Who maintains the Canopee?

Maintenance program through Urban Canopee related to complex components, including grid shell structure, Sensopee IoT sensors, solar panels, and plant growth.

Plants

How are the climbing plants for the Canopee selected?

Plants are handpicked according to the local climate and environment as well as their ability to secure themselves and grow on the peculiar Canopee structure as well as their abilities to flourish in a potted environment. The shortlisted plant species fulfill three major functions to fight heat island effects. The reflection of solar energy (albedo) drastically reduces heat storage in the ground The creation of a large green canopy cover providing shade natural air-conditioning through evapotranspiration of the plants, cooling the surrounding air volume The open nature of our structures also allows for optimal air flow through it the ultimate selection process will be done in partnership with the client to decide on deciduous vs evergreen, flower colors, flowering patterns, overall appeal, targeted biodiversity etc.

How do you choose the plants?

Combinations of two main factors. So through our research, we've identified the main criteria that the plants needs to take in order to be a plant suitable for the canopy structure. So that is the starting point and then we look at the local climate in the area where the project is being installed and with a combination of those two factors we handpick a list of suitable plants that are fast growing and are going to cover the canopy as soon as possible.

Options

What options do you have?

We have multiple options in terms of size, inground or not, complementary street furniture around the Canopees, and shade sails that can be attached to the Canopees, and we can also provide customised options as required.

Can Canopee be used for lighting?

Yes and can be adapted for plant growth over time.

Competitors

Why do you do that

The goal is to really accelerate the greening and the shading of those areas that are difficult to green. And so the goal is to have as many canopies as possible out there to make our clear cities more climate resilient and to reconnect people with nature.

Who is your main competitor

We don't really have direct competitors.However, we are somewhat competing with shade sails or trees but what we provide is truly innovative.

Compliance

Is it dangerous in a children playground? Like how can you get back in school?

It's not dangerous by any means. The challenges could be around little kids getting their fingers trapped into a structure somehow. We cater for that.

How about wind-loadings?

Canopee is engineered to exceed the required European wind and snow-loading standards. The patented lightweight structure enjoys the mechanical strength of steel, is four times lighter, provides far greater longevity (corrosion-free and highly resistant to weather extremes) and is inherently electrically isolated. Wind rating compliance would be determined by normal engineering parameters.

How about fire resistance?

The structure’s composite material uses fibreglass. It offers far superior fire resistance compared to standard synthetic materials issued from other manufacturing technologies. This is primarily due to a high glass fiber composition ratio which is an incombustible material. This material offers excellent results in fire conditions.

Is Canopee certified for Australian conditions?

Canopee is already certified to European Standards and will also be certified for Australian conditions. In addition, each installation includes individual engineer certification.

Where

Where are we based?

We're based in Tullamarine (Northern Melbourne) in Victoria, Australia.
From tradeshows to discussion with clients, here above are the most asked questions.
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