Protecting Public Spaces from the Summer Heat

A playground that empties at 11 a.m. is public money sitting idle. Shade is what turns a built investment into a daily community asset.

Why Shade Matters in Urban Environments

For local councils, every public space is a commitment to residents. Without adequate shade, playgrounds become deserted by mid-morning, fitness areas go unused throughout summer, and public squares—despite significant investment—are uncomfortable for most of the day. Effective shading transforms these spaces into vibrant, usable community assets, maximising the value of public investment.

Malta Design partners with local councils to assess each site and specify the right shade structure for its unique exposure, usage, and budget. From site surveys and civil works to installation and after-sales support, every stage is managed by a single accountable team.

Engineered for the Mediterranean

• Pergola by Urbidermis

  

  Customisable pergolas with adaptable canopy materials and multiple configurations. Ideal for playgrounds, fitness areas, and public squares. Supplied, civil-worked, and installed in Malta by Malta Design.

• Onda by Urbidermis

  

  A modular urban pergola that creates shaded living areas along promenades and squares. Alternating slim crossbeams provide dappled shade and natural ventilation, making it well-suited to coastal environments.

• OMBREL·LA by Escofet

  

  A modular hexagonal shading system in anodised aluminium. It regulates solar exposure, promotes natural ventilation, and can scale from a single canopy to a full public square—adaptable to any council brief.

• Scob Lattice by Escofet

  

  Manufactured in high-performance UHPC concrete, this modular system of screens and canopies acts as a climatic filter—modulating solar exposure and improving thermal comfort in transitional and outdoor living spaces.

Every site is assessed against its specific exposure profile—UV index, coastal wind loads, salt spray proximity, and seasonal sun angle—ensuring each structure is specified for its unique environment. No two installations are identical.

Shade in Action: Real Projects, Real Impact

One Ocean Marina Port Vell, Barcelona

Sant Salvador Avenue, Badalona

At One Ocean Marina Port Vell in Barcelona, a UHPC concrete brise soleil wraps the building and shapes transition spaces, delivering passive climate control at public scale. On Avinguda Sant Salvador in Badalona, the Ombrel·la structure is integrated alongside seating to create year-round gathering spaces, extending the usable hours of the public realm during periods of high solar exposure.

Is Your Public Space Ready for the Summer Heat?

Malta Design assesses your site’s UV exposure, wind loads, salt proximity, and seasonal sun angle, recommending the right structure for your brief and budget. No obligation, no generic catalogue solutions.

Request a shade study for your site

For more information, contact Malta Design at +356 27 45 08 01 or sales@malta-design.com.