OUTSTANDING PROJECTS THAT GENERATE SHADE IN PUBLIC SPACES
As climate change makes hot summers more intense – especially in dense cities – the need for intentional, well-designed shade in public spaces becomes more and more critical. Architects and urban designers have a rich toolkit at their disposal, drawing on both time-tested traditions and cutting-edge innovation to create shaded oases in the urban fabric. Highlighting a diverse spectrum of approaches, we dive into solutions, ranging from monumental structures to intimate, human-scale interventions.
From reinterpreted architectural archetypes to ephemeral urban gestures, today’s shade-making strategies fall into a number of recognizable yet evolving categories. Among the oldest and most enduring is the colonnade — a classical solution that offers both structural clarity and solar protection. These columned corridors have long defined civic space, guiding rhythmic movement while casting shadows that cool and animate the surroundings. Lighter in presence but equally time-honored, pergolas create a more permeable kind of shelter, filtering sunlight through latticed framework and often inviting climbing plants to deepen the shade. Expanding on the gesture, canopies introduce bold overhead surfaces — projecting from buildings or standing alone — to create shaded zones for gathering, pausing, or passing through. Unlike pergolas, their shade is often generated entirely by their own form and material, making them powerful sculptural statements. However, not all shade needs to be monumental. Thoughtfully designed street furniture can incorporate shading elements to provide comfort at a human scale, enhancing the daily experience of pedestrians and sometimes, the line between a functional shade structure and a piece of public art is completely blurred. Some installations use form, material, and color to create a unique aesthetic while simultaneously providing welcome shade.
GARDENS BY THE BAY BY GRANT ASSOCIATES AND WILKINSON EYRE
Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay, Singapore | image © Gardens by the Bay
The Supertrees at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay are a futuristic take on the traditional pergola. Conceived by Grant Associates with engineering from Atelier One and Atelier Ten, these 18 structures stand between 25 and 50 meters tall. Beyond their dramatic appearance, they are vertical gardens with a multitude of functions. Their robust steel frames support a diverse array of climbing plants, which form a vibrant, living sunshade for the ground level.
EMERALD SCREEN PERGOLA BY WUTOPIA LAB
Emerald Screen Pergola at Bogong Island Ecology Park in Wuxi, China | image © CreatAR
This modern pergola by Wutopia Lab reimagines classical Chinese garden architecture into a white steel mesh corridor, spanning over a kilometer. Described by the architects as a ‘wandering dragon-like’ form, its intricate design creates a dynamic interplay of light and shadow, and serves as a significant symbol in Chinese art and culture. The design’s final stage will see climbing plants like wisteria and jasmine ascend the framework, transforming the pergola into a lush, vibrant green sunshade.
JAMES-SIMON-GALLERY BY DAVID CHIPPERFLIED
the James-Simon-Gallery and its modern colonnade extend the historic forum, Berlin | image © David Chipperfield Architects
As the new entrance building for Berlin’s museum island, the James-Simon-Galerie by David Chipperfield features a grand, modern colonnade. The design serves as a continuation of the forum architecture originally envisioned for the site, using a rhythmic sequence of slender, elegant columns to create a vast, shaded promenade. This not only provides a sheltered route to the Pergamonmuseum and Neues Museum but also carves out a key public space that protects visitors from the sun, forming an integral part of the masterplan to transform the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
BOSQUE DE LA ESPERANZA BY GIANCARLO MAZZANTI
Bosque de la Esperanza by Giancarlo Mazzanti, Colombia | image © Jorge Gamboa
Bosque de la Esperanza by Giancarlo Mazzanti is a standalone canopy structure that serves as a public plaza and sports court in the town of Altos de Cazuca, Colombia. Its 700 m² canopy is comprised of prefabricated dodecahedrons wrapped in a light and porous expanded steel mesh, which provides shading while mimicking a cluster of trees. The project’s primary purpose is to create a vast, continuous shaded space and a community meeting point, with integrated lighting that allows it to act as a glowing public forum at night, transforming a previously neglected area.
HIYOSHI RIBBON TERRACE BY JORGE ALMAZÁN AND KEIO UNIVERSITY STUDIOLAB