Arcades have been used for thousands of years to shield pedestrians from the elements... but then we just stopped building them.
This is why we stopped – and why we should start building them again...
![Portico di Via Farini - Bologna, Italy](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="900" height="600"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>)
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![David Watson 🥑](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="96" height="96"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>)
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Throughout history, arcades and colonnades have served as places of commerce and social connection for their cities, all while protecting their occupants from the elements.
![Santa Fe, New Mexico](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="667" height="992"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>)
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As cities modernized throughout the middle of the 20th century and people began to reshape their lives around cars, the charm of pedestrian arcades faded. Arcades, once vibrant centers of the urban experience would give way to strip malls, big box stores, and vast parking lots.
After a century of car-centric planning, our society has come to recognize the pressing need to reincorporate pedestrian-focused places into our built environments. With climate change driving extreme heat and unpredictable weather events, the future of our cities is at stake.
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Sweltering heat and intense weather caused by climate change can make it miserable for pedestrians to navigate cities. Arcades offer a practical, sustainable, and aesthetically beautiful solution, encouraging walking and reducing our carbon footprint.
![Yucatán, Mexico](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="797" height="1200"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>)
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Imagine strolling through a city lined with elegant arcades, protected from the scorching sun and heavy downpours. These beautiful structures not only add charm to our buildings but also promote a sense of community and intimacy, making our urban spaces more inviting for everyone
![Piacenza, Italy](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="1119" height="1116"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>)
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Providing these types of enjoyable walking experiences is the best way to reduce car dependence, which is why we should start thinking seriously about how our cities can encourage porticos in future pedestrian-oriented projects.
![Kerman Old Bazaar, Iran](data:image/svg+xml,<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="1024" height="683"><rect fill-opacity="0"/></svg>)
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Let's learn from history and embrace the potential of pedestrian arcades to transform our cities. As we face ongoing challenges due to climate change, these spaces offer hope, practicality, and beauty, all while making our urban environments more sustainable and resilient.
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