The Canopee the best of both world ? Trees and Shade Sails comparison
Are you old School or new ways?
Considering options to transform your cityscape into a more vibrant and greener place?
You would probably have thought of planting trees.
In this article, we dive into old and new ways of dealing with urban greening and their pro and cons blowing the traditional boundaries between Urban Greening, Placemaking and Green Architecture.
Trees have long been synonymous with urban greenery, offering shade, oxygen, and habitat for wildlife. They're natural, time-tested solutions that enhance the aesthetics and well-being of urban environments. However, their growth requires space, maintenance, and time to reach maturity. That goes without saying that you need to make space -in an already saturated underground- for the roots to grow.
People often forget that there is no shortage of choices, ranging from traditional tree planting to cutting-edge innovations like the Canopee.
Below, we'll delve into the characteristics of both and explore how each contributes to urban transformation.
UV-Protection and Nature
Comparison | Tree | Canopee | Shade Sail |
Provide Shade | YES | YES | YES |
Protect from Skin Cancer | YES | YES | YES |
Provide Cooling (Evapotranspiration) | YES, naturally done by the leaves | YES, naturally done by the plants | NO, just mechanic shade |
Social Impact
Comparison | Tree | Free-Standing Canopee | Shade Sail |
Create a Hotspot for People to Gather | YES | YES | NO |
Greening and Wellbeing effect | YES, Naturally Distressing | YES, Naturally Distressing | NO |
Architectural Appeal | NATURALLY! | YES, MADE FOR IT! | NO, SORRY! |
Lighting | YES | YES | NO |
Sustainability
Comparison | Tree | Canopee | Shade Sail |
Bring more nature | YES | YES | NO |
Carbon Neutral | YES (INSTANTLY) | YES (within 5.5 years) | NEVER |
Dimensions and costs
Comparison | Tree | Free-Standing Canopee | Shade Sail |
Need for Underground Anchoring and Deep Soil Access | YES | NO | YES |
Depth of Underground Anchoring and Roots | 6-12 times the height of the tree | NONE (Constraint in a pot) | >1 Meter |
Installation Time | A FEW DAYS of process | < 1 DAY | A FEW DAYS of process |
Canopy Growth Timeline | A FEW YEARS | 3 TO 4 YEARS | INSTANTLY |
Maximum Height | Sky is the limit! | 3 m for the Small Canopee
5 m for the Large Canopee | |
Predictable Nature (avoid root problems, branch interference, ...) | NO | YES | NO Nature |
Modularity | NO. Difficult to move a tree | YES. Fully relocatable / refitable | NO. Once anchored, you will need heavy machines to remove the Shade Sail. |
Green Cover | 50 square meters of shade (for a 5-meter tree) | 20 square meters for the Small Canopee50 square meters for the Large Canopee | No Nature |
Cost | $150-$2,5k depending on the height | $20k-$35k depending on the height | from $2,5k depending on the sail size |
Removal cost | $300 – $10,000 | < $300 is the price of a forklift rental for a day. This is all you need to move the Free-Standing Canopee. | $1,000 |
Options
Comparison | Tree | Free-Standing Canopee | Shade Sail |
Lighting | YES | YES | NO |
Integrated Table or Bench | NO | YES | NO |
the three questions you need to answer
Can I dig into the ground?
- YES! You have the choice! A Tree would be a good solution if you have no further constraints.
- NO! You should think about the Free-Standing Canopee. It would mimic the benefits of a tree without digging.
How permanent do I want it to be?
- NO LIMITS! Well, you can go all the way with a tree that can last decades! The Canopee can last as well and should resist for at least 15 to 20 years.
- I AM NOT SURE! The Canopee is the solution. It can be tested in a place and then relocatable as many times as you want.
- TEMPORARY! You won't have the time to see a tree growing, but you can go for a Canopee. In fact, some events hosted Canopees with integrated plants... for a day, for a week, or for a year, the Canopee may be the perfect solution.
Is it a dense area?
- YES! The saturated underground of cities scape can embody risks for the roots. The unpredictable branches can reach the electric cables... If you want to have a predictable integration of Nature both underground and on the ground, we would advise you to go for the Canopee!
- NO! If you have the space, feel free to run for a classic tree. The old school is still great!