Ever notice how many newer shopping centers and commercial buildings in South Florida no longer provide effective outdoor protection from the weather?
It used to be good business to provide a continuous shade and rain canopy to attract and retain customers. Now it seems most awnings and other architectural features are designed for looks instead of function.
Compare the brilliant design of the Sears Town Shopping Center (1956) by Robert Law Weed to the new Harbor Shops off of 17th Street. I know it's not fair to compare a fully leased new center with a decades old one, but architecturally, where would you rather be on a hot or rainy day?
South Florida's cities need to learn from Seville, Spain. There, at midday, retractable awning are unfurled to provide shade over the main streets, then they're rolled up as the sun goes down. (Orange trees as the street tree would complete the picture ;-)
ReplyDeleteWe can certainly learn from Seville, and many other subtropical cities as well. The walkable urban areas of Brisbane and Gold Coast, Australia are well protected. Canopies are connected between properties throughout the city.
ReplyDeleteFort Lauderdale also once had a beautiful network of arcades and canopies - as evidenced by the many photos of our former downtown archived in the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and the Broward Historical Commission.