Shade to suit all tastes

We all love the sun, but we also know the importance of protecting ourselves from it!

It is essential to design outdoor spaces with shady areas, nice living or passage spaces, where we can feel comfortable.

Currently there are many interesting shading systems, depending on the intended area and function.

Shading systems may be made from different materials with varying costs and distinct degrees of opacity. Some of them also double for protecting from the rain.

From small houses to large public spaces, shady areas are essential to provide pleasant outdoor spaces.

Here are a few shading examples for different spaces:

Drop cloth shade via marthastewart.com

House shade in Formentera by Maria Castello Martinez via homedsgn.com

Concrete pergola at Casa 8x8 by Marià Castelló Martínez via archdaily.mx

Eco Pavilion shading in Mexico City by Studio MMX via revistacodigo.com

Shanghai Houtan Park  shading via greenspiration.pt

Fabric structure shading system in Bedford Square

Metal shading structure in Adliswil bySAM Architekten und Partner via architektur-schweiz.ch

Shade at the Raleigh Museum of Contemporary Art via topboxdesign.com

Commercial Street shading at Calle del Arenal in Madrid via hitchhikershandbook.com

Suspended umbrella at a commercial street in Águeda via lostateminor.com

Centro Abierto de Actividades Ciudadanas in Córdoba, by Paredes Pino Architects via megalife.com.ua

The largest tensioned structure in the world, Pickathon Indie Music Festival, Oregon via guildworks.com

Street shading Cielos y Suelos, Badajoz via florianseimpere.wordpress.com

Shadind at Cultural Centre, Thailand via architizer.com

A different idea that is worth mentioning is the work of a group of students from the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, who designed a shading kit for public spaces, the Public Space Shading Canopy Kit. This kit comes in various sizes (S, M, L, XL) and is very practical to assemble.

In just four hours, the authors, along with the population of the Favela do Pilar in Recife, Brazil, set up the XL kit, consisting of suspended 15 meters yellow cloth in an overlooked public space and eventually making it more attractive.

It is interesting to see how 3 ingredients - architectural quality, social responsibility and pragmatism - come together in this idea to conceive a practical and useful object.

Public Space Shading Canopy Kit at Favela do Pilar in Recife via etoood.com