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The Forgotten Space Between Indoors and Outdoors

The Forgotten Space Between Indoors and Outdoors

When designing a building, attention is understandably given to what happens inside it. However, some of the busiest areas of a site can actually be the spaces outside the building. Entrances, pathways, waiting areas, drop-off points and routes between buildings, which form an important transition between indoor and outdoor environments. During autumn and winter, these spaces become particularly noticeable.

What Happens When People Leave the Building?

Consider a school at the end of the day or a healthcare facility with patients waiting for transport or employees moving between buildings on a commercial site. The moment occupants step outside, they are exposed to the weather. Providing strategically positioned shelter can make these transitions considerably more comfortable without requiring the creation of additional enclosed floor space.

Wall mounted canopies can provide shelter immediately alongside a building, while covered walkways can connect entrances, modular buildings, car parks and other facilities. Freestanding structures can also provide shelter where connection to an existing building isn’t appropriate.

Small Spaces Can Have a Significant Role

A covered area doesn’t necessarily need to be particularly large to improve how a site functions, shelter outside an entrance could provide somewhere for visitors to wait out of the rain. A covered walkway can help create a more comfortable route between buildings. A canopy alongside a school building can provide valuable additional space during busy breaktimes.

The important question at the design stage is therefore not simply “Where could we put a canopy?” It is “Where would shelter improve the way people actually use this site?”

Designing Around Movement

Pedestrian flow should be central to this process, columns, foundations and drainage need to be considered alongside doors, accessible routes, vehicle movements and emergency access.

On particularly busy sites, seemingly small design decisions can have a significant impact on how comfortably people move around the space. Early coordination between the architect, contractor, structural designer and canopy manufacturer can therefore help identify potential conflicts before work reaches the site.

More Than Weather Protection

Thoughtfully positioned external shelter can also help make outdoor areas more useful. A circulation route can double as a waiting space. An entrance canopy can provide shelter while strengthening the visual identity of the building. A larger covered area can accommodate seating, dining or informal meeting spaces.

For architects, this presents an opportunity to treat canopies and shelters as part of the architecture rather than accessories added at the end of the project. As autumn and winter put external spaces under greater pressure, it becomes much easier to see the value of designing the space between indoors and outdoors with the same care as the building itself.

Able Canopies Ltd. design, manufacture and install commercial grade canopies, shade sails, awnings and shelters across the UK. We specialise in servicing the education, leisure, healthcare and retail sectors and have extensive experience working with architects and contracting firms on small and large projects.
For more information or to find out how to submit a tender please contact us

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