ARCHITECTURAL UMBRELLAS & MODULAR SHADE STRUCTURES
Kingston Butter Factory, QLD
Grilled Sunshine Plaza, Maroochydore QLD
Glenelg Public Foreshore, VIC
Shute Harbour Marina, Airlie Beach QLD
ENGINEERED SHADE STRUCTURES
Australia’s intense sunlight and harsh environment make shade structures a vital part of our built landscape. Schools, sporting venues, retail precincts, hospitality outlets and public spaces can all benefit from our range of premium-quality engineered shade solutions, designed to offer UV protection, outdoor comfort and long life-span.
WHY WE NEED SHADE STRUCTURES
With one of the highest UV indexes in the world, Australia faces a significant public health challenge: prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays is a leading cause of skin cancer. Providing adequate shade in outdoor public space is more than just an amenity – it’s a necessary health measure.
ENGINEERED SHADE STRUCTURES VS. SHADE SAILS
While common shade sails offer a lightweight solution (usually using HDPE mesh fabrics), they often rely on single-point sewn connections and lack structural rigidity.
Engineered shade structures, like those offered by MakMax Australia, offer more durable and long-life shade protection. The key difference lies in their construction: MakMax engineered shade structures utilise durable, corrosion-resistant steel frames that allow for strong, multi-point tensioning systems. Corner connections feature membrane plates and use cables for edge tension. The steel frame and multi-point connections allow for precise tensioning of high-tech membranes such as PVC and PTFE, ensuring optimal performance in blocking harmful UV rays and withstanding varying weather conditions.
By contrast, shade sails, with their simpler, lighter materials, are cheaper and easier to install, but are often more vulnerable to wind loads and typically offer less durability and much shorter design life.
THE MAKMAX ADVANTAGE
The MakMax range of engineered shade, comprising Architectural Umbrellas and Modular Shade Structures; offer several advantages over common shade sails:
» Durability: The steel frame construction ensures that MakMax structures can endure long-term exposure to the elements, far outlasting the typical lifespan of lighter-grade shade sails.
» Strength: The robust support allows for doublecurvature membranes, creating a more stable structure, capable of withstanding wind and weather extremes.
» Precision Tensioning: Unlike shade sails, which can sag or lose tension over time, MakMax structures are tensioned using stainless steel cables and hardware to maintain shape and structural integrity.
» Flexible Design: Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours, these structures can be adapted to suit any outdoor environment, adding both functional and aesthetic value.
» Low Maintenance: The architectural-grade fabrics are easy to clean, UV-stabilised, and resistant to fungi and microbial damage, making them a long-lasting and low-maintenance option.
MATERIALS AND DESIGN
Our tensile membrane canopies are crafted from longlife, 100% UV-stabilised fabrics. Whether you choose a waterproof membrane structure or mesh fabric for shade protection, each canopy is welded and reinforced for strength and durability. The frames are manufactured using a four-step protective system, ensuring their longevity in Australia’s tough outdoor environments.
Stainless steel components, UV-resistant plugs, and spun aluminium elements complete the design, making MakMax engineered shade structures not only strong but also aesthetically refined.
DESIGNED FOR AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS
MakMax Australia’s Architectural Umbrellas and Modular Shade Structures are engineered specifically for local conditions and are designed to meet all relevant Australian Standards for structural integrity.
ARCHITECTURAL UMBRELLA RANGE
ARCHITECTURAL UMBRELLA OPTIONS
CENTRA
CENTRAL COLUMN PERMANENT UMBRELLA
The most popular and versatile umbrella in the MakMax Architectural Umbrella range, Centra is the perfect entertainer - ideal for cafés, restaurants, hotels, pubs, sports clubs and bars.
LEVA
CANTILEVER COLUMN PERMANENT UMBRELLA
The cantilevered pole on the Leva umbrella allows for maximised use of space. Ideal for applications where a central column is not practical, such as over a pool or alfresco dining area, offering shelter without the need for a column through the table.
PORTA
CENTRAL COLUMN PORTABLE UMBRELLA
The Porta umbrella is easily opened and closed, portable and ideal for applications where persistent wind is not a factor. Small and light, Porta is great for street furniture, as well as cafés, restaurants and bars without a permanent alfresco area.
The MakMax Architectural Umbrella range consists of high-quality, commercial umbrellas designed and engineered here in Australia. The MakMax range of permanent commercial umbrellas have flexible options to add stylish and durable shade elements to almost any outdoor space.
UV PROTECTION
A modern and stylish addition to any venue, MakMax’s architectural PVC umbrellas offer superior UV protection.
DESIGN FLEXIBILITY
Available in a range of shapes, sizes and colours, these architectural umbrellas offer flexible design options for parks, playgrounds, shopping precincts, schools, cafés, restaurants... and more!
DURABLE CONSTRUCTION
Designed for permanent installation, the steel frames and premium fabrics used in MakMax Umbrellas are extremely durable in all environments.
WIND RATED
These wind rated architectural umbrellas last longer than other commercial umbrellas in Australia.
ARCHITECTURAL UMBRELLA RANGE
Poppins Playhouse & Bush School, Tamworth NSW
Shannon Reserve Playground, NSW
Perth Cultural Centre, WA
Charles Sturt University, NSW
Sydney Olympic Park, NSW
CUSTOMISE YOUR UMBRELLA
FABRIC COLOURS
Stand out with a splash of colour! Coloured umbrellas add personality, enhance your branding and brighten up any area. Choose from 10 Standard Colours.*
STEEL FRAME COLOURS
MakMax Architectural Umbrella models are built with steel frame components finished with a multi-layer paint system. We use premium quality paint for a high-quality and longer-lasting finish. A range of steel powdercoat colours are available.
You can also choose to upgrade to polished stainless steel frame on selected Centra models.
GROUND FIXING OPTIONS
MakMax Architectural Umbrella models come as standard with a baseplate ready for mounting on a concrete footing or slab.
Upgrade to a Pavement Socket, Timber Deck Bracket or a heavy concrete block/planter box base for flexible installation options.
LIGHTING & HEATING
Your MakMax umbrella can be upgraded to include an Electrical Ready Pole, which makes it possible to add lighting or heating options under your umbrella.
LED lighting options, such as strip lights or small flood lights, as well as ceramic outdoor heaters are available through our lighting partner supplier.
LINKING SYSTEM
The MakMax linking system is created using a separate infill section of membrane that secures underneath the umbrella canopies.
A powder-coated aluminium channel runs down the centre of the membrane infill to direct rain-water runoff.
GUTTERS & BLINDS
Provide extra protection for your covered area by using blinds or side curtains.
MakMax can recommend a range of third-party supplied options including clear, tinted or a perforated colour PVC blinds for rain and weather protection.
*An extended colour range is also available for even more flexibility. Further customisation options also available, including Wind Rating Upgrades and Height Adjustments.
CUSTOMISE YOUR UMBRELLA
MODULAR SHADE STRUCTURES
MODULAR SHADE STRUCTURE OPTIONS
Central column umbrella-style structure.
PAVILION
Corner column conical structure.
QUASAR
Central column Hypar structure.
ST TROPEZ
Central column inverted-conical structure.
ORBIS
Cantilever circular shade structure.
HELENA
Large saddle-shaped structure.
The MakMax range of modular shade structures are designed and pre-engineered to be easily adaptable for almost any shade structure application. Permanent, durable and aesthetically unique, these tensile membrane modular shade structures are an easy way of incorporating an architectural shade feature into your school campus.
ADAPTABLE BY DESIGN, ADAPTABLE BY NATURE
Adaptable by design, our range of modular structures offer shade solutions with a choice of shapes, sizes and layout options. Multiple units can be joined together to create larger shade areas.
PRE-ENGINEERED
Pre-engineered designs mean we can offer clients short turnaround from concept to completion for a premium steel-framed shade structure.
ALL WEATHER PROTECTION
From a shady lunch spot to sheltered bus stop, our high-quality PVC-covered shade structures offer permanent shade and weather protection elements for the school campus.
RANGE OF ACCESSORIES
The MakMax modular range can be integrated with a range of accessories, such as lighting, heating, gutters and blinds for year-round use.
MODULAR SHADE STRUCTURES
Olympic Park, Sydney NSW
Lakelands Primary School, WA
Oran Park High School, NSW
Monash University, VIC
Perth CityLink, WA
Elliston Family Community Centre, VIC
MONACO
ST TROPEZ
ORBIS
HELENA
DESIGN FLEXIBILITY
While our standard range is pre-engineered and ready to fabricate, we are also able to adapt our modular range to almost any configuration.
Flexibility is a hallmark of the MakMax Modular Range.
» We can adapt the size and shape of most of our designs.
» We can link structures together to create a larger single canopy area.
» Upgrade to premium long-life PTFE.
» Add colour to your structure - both fabric and steel.
» Include LED lighting, heating or roll down blinds.
» Add or include gutters, downpipes and plumbing.
» We can increase steel column widths for tropical weather regions or higher wind zones.
Note: All linked modulars use continuous fabric
Linked Monaco with roll-down blinds & LED lighting
Single Membrane with St Tropez Columns
Linked Linear Monaco with Extra High Columns
Linked Quasar with side-support columns
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ARCHITECTURAL UMBRELLAS
Canopy Architectural-grade PVC polyester fabric with PVDF coating on both sides.
White - Serge Ferrari Soltis 502 (Porta Umbrellas)
MODULAR SHADE STRUCTURES
Architectural Fabrics
White - Mehler FR700N (Centra & Leva Umbrellas)
Standard Colours (Choice of 9) ) - Serge Ferrari Soltis 502.
Extended Colour Range
Steel Frame
White - Mehler FR700N (7m structures & smaller)
White - Mehler FR900N (8m structures & larger)
PVC Mesh - range of options available (Orbis)
Additional Serge Ferrari Solits 502 Colours and the Mehler FR580 Colour range available as an upgrade (Architectural Umbrellas and Modular Shade Structures 7m and smaller).
Structural steelwork is designed and fabricated in accordance with the requirements AS4100.
CHS Steel is finished with four-part powdercoat protection system (choose from a range of standard powdercoat colours).
Cables Stainless steel cables with stainless steel terminations.
Hardware
Structural Design
Wind Rating
CHS steel is finished with 3 coat polyurethane premium architectural paint system (Choose from a wide range of steel colours).
All hardware inclusive of nuts, bolts, washers, and rigging screws are stainless steel. Arm end plugs are UV resistant nylon.
Top Hats are spun aluminium with polyester powdercoat.
Structural design is to AS/NZS1170.0, AS/NZ1170.1, AS/NZ1170.2, AS4100, AS3600 and AS1170.4.
Our base model Architectural Umbrella and Modular Shade Structures are designed to AS 1170 wind speeds for most “A” wind region locations and are rated “W33” or Vdes,0 41 m/s.
Extremely exposed locations, along with the coastal perimeters of Northern NSW, QLD, NT and Northern WA, have higher winds and we can offer wind rating upgrades to most models to suit site specific wind loads in other areas.
Contact us to discuss your project location and the appropriate wind load model to select.
» We provide you with an in-house engineering and design team.
» Available world-wide through MakMax Group companies and our network of local distributors and installers.
» A Commitment to Quality, Safety and the Environment; ISO certification ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001. For more information on our capability and design solutions contact our team.
Union Place Hotel, Sydney NSW