A freestanding, structural implementation of ABI's Strata™ system, this series of structural umbrellas was commissioned by the exhibit "100 Years of Construction Innovation" at the Building Centre Trust in London.

Three kinetic shading units were created, each having a square plan that retracts into a slender profile. The shading surfaces are treated in transparent blue glass; the structural members are constructed from aircraft aluminum.

As illustrated by the images above, these units can be arranged in a variety of ways—as a rectilinear esplanade, for example, or a square configuration. They can be either freestanding or integrated into the building structure, creating a courtyard that can transform from indoor to outdoor use.