The European-designed sun sails taking outdoor shading solutions to the next level

In the late summer of 2018, Kate Grubb and her partner Josef were enjoying the first signs of the warm weather. Josef had recently relocated from his native Austria to live with Kate in their Arrowtown home, and he remarked that New Zealanders particularly loved sitting outdoors enjoying nature  – but the sun was searing, UV ratings were high, and the choice of retractable shade solutions was lacking. Permanent, non-retractable shades or umbrellas were common, but these didn’t offer flexibility when conditions changed.

This represented a significant point of difference when comparing his experience in Europe, where such solutions were relatively commonplace. Josef was very familiar with one solution in particular: a range of high-end retractable sun sails from Austrian manufacturer Soliday, which is based near his hometown. He immediately recognised that these sun sails would be perfect for Aotearoa’s conditions – and so a few months later, he and Kate founded their company SunCraft in order to supply Soliday’s products.

Since then, SunCraft has become the sole distributor of the Austrian company’s products in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific, with dozens of sun sail installations under their belt. To find out more, ArchiPro spoke to Kate about the benefits of Soliday’s shade products and how New Zealanders are using them to keep the sun at bay.

Kate Grubb: As sun protection has become a necessity due to the extremely high UV ratings New Zealand encounters each summer, increasingly we’re seeing customers turn away from cheap and cheerful sailcloths to seek more robust shade systems with proper UV protection ratings. 

Over the past few years, we have also noticed a preference for European products due to their reputation for exceptional quality, attention to detail and timeless design.  

Architects, hospitality venues and homeowners now see shade systems as a design feature as well as sun protection and more emphasis is being put into integrating our products into the architectural composition. 

KG: The Soliday sun sails combine excellent design with state-of-the-art technology. Every product in the range is fully retractable to ensure any surrounding scenery is not obstructed when the sail is not in use. With a maximum cover span of up to 110 square metres, they can come in both motorised and manual options, making them ideal customisable shade solutions suitable for both residential and commercial spaces. 

There’s a huge selection of UV protective fabric colours, as well as various options for pole shape and colour. Each system is individually adapted to the architecture of the building and thus becomes an essential part of it, as a style element in shape and colour.  

A major benefit is that motorised systems can be equipped with wind and sun sensors, allowing the system to intuitively close or open based on the weather conditions, so you can relax knowing that it will safely retract if the weather deteriorates quickly. Sudden stresses, such as strong gusts of wind or extreme rain, are cushioned by the incorporated tension system that allows the sail to move with the wind then automatically return to full tension. This is a game-changer for customers living in high-wind zones. 

Our sun sails stand out in New Zealand as there is nothing else quite like them available. We have especially found our commercial installations to be attention-grabbing, with many people contacting us after having seen them in action and wanting one at their place.

KG: The draw of European design and manufacturing lies in their exceptional craftsmanship, innovative approach to design, use of high-quality materials, adherence to rigorous manufacturing standards, commitment to sustainability, and reputation for reliable and durable products. 

We recently had a customer – an expat living in Switzerland – who was so impressed with the performance of the sail on his Swiss rooftop he specifically asked his architect to include a Soliday sun sail in his New Zealand house design. 

The process starts with providing customers with a preview of what a Soliday sun sail would look like in their outdoor space with the help of specially-developed 3D simulation software. This uses GPS location and photos or plans to demonstrate how much shade will be provided at different times of the day, throughout the year.  

Once that has been organised, we will design the system specifically for the chosen space. Once the final design has been approved and the order is placed, the installation time is usually within four to eight weeks. The poles are the first thing to install; then we measure for the fabric; it’s then manufactured in Austria and sent by airfreight to New Zealand. 

As we draw closer to summer our installation slots fill up very quickly, so it is always best to plan well ahead to secure your spot. 

Learn more about SunCraft and its Soliday sun sail solutions.