A guide to choosing the correct design for covered walkways

A&S Landscape has more than 40 years’ experience installing canopies across the UK.

Covered Walkways

Covered walkways not only add to the aesthetics of a project, but deliver shade and shelter for those using the buildings. A&S Landscape has installed covered walkways for schools and public buildings across the UK. The company says they are designed and created specifically for each project and allow people shelter as they walk around a school, college campus or hospital.

There are many design options available from fabric shade sails, to straight and curved roof steel and polycarbonate canopies, linear or cantilever designs.

A&S Landscape says it manufactures canopies in the UK. Quality is ‘paramount’ and many of its designs are said to have galvanised and PPC steelwork, unbreakable roofing and aluminium rainwater systems. A&S Landscape says its canopies ‘stand the test of time’, and its growing list of repeat customers is said to be a testimony to this.

Steelwork is available in any RAL colour and roofing options are said to include nine variations of coloured polycarbonate. This can add some interest and personalisation to your covered walkways, and you could match it to your corporate branding or team colours. Whatever your thoughts on design, A&S Landscape says it would be glad to make recommendations and suggestions.

Case Study: Great Barr Primary School, Birmingham

A&S Landscape worked closely with architects on Great Barr Primary School in Birmingham to install a covered walkway between several buildings. Motiva Wave canopies at 11,300mm x 2,930mm, 14,300mm x 4,230mm and 27,500mm x 3,200mm were installed which created a covered, sheltered walkway between the school buildings.

The Motiva Wave is reportedly a popular variant within the Motiva range and features a playful wave design that makes it an especially popular choice for entrance and walkway canopy designs.
The head teacher of the school said: “Our canopy was completed on time and on budget and is a fantastic addition to the school.”

Shade Sails

Shade Sails or tensioned membrane structures, are available with PVC fabrics which provide UV protection, in addition to being waterproof. There are 40 colours of PVC fabric to choose from and the sails can be arranged in any formation to suit the walkway to be covered. Posts can be straight or curved, to add another design dimension.

The sails can be any shape, set individually or overlapping, depending on the space. A&S Landscape says it can work on bespoke solutions to meet your requirements.

Key considerations for planning a covered walkway include:

• The size of the space to be covered, width and length
• Any height restrictions
• Colour themes or branding considerations
• Position and number of posts, does this restrict movement or flow of people traffic?
• Groundworks
• Materials – steel and polycarbonate or PVC shade sail.

For more information about covered walkways from A&S Landscape, please click here.