The Extension of the Arcade: Continuous Canopies for Subtropical Streets

Design a street canopy for a subtropical East Asian city, taking the covered arcade of the old shophouse as its starting point. Show a continuous shading structure running along the shopfronts at about three and a half metres, deep enough to cover the full width of the walkway, built as slim steel brackets fixed back to the building faces and carrying a light roof, so it reads as a modern continuation of the traditional arcade rather than a separate object. Detail the roof as translucent white polycarbonate above a layer of fine expanded metal mesh, the two together giving bright shadowless shade while keeping the sky faintly visible. Show the outer edge finished with a slim fascia carrying a discreet continuous light line for evening, with no advertising panels. Detail the columns where they occur as narrow rectangular sections set close to the kerb, with a small planter of tropical foliage at each base. Show the older buildings behind as ordinary four-storey tiled shophouses with air conditioning units and hanging signs. Set it on a busy street with scooters parked along the kerb. Show hot bright overcast light. Photorealistic, everyday, white and grey over warm tile, eye-level view along the walkway.