Awnings have been used for thousands of years, they are remarkable building features in that they have changed little over the course of history.
The Roman Empire made use of large retractable fabric awnings, using them as shelters for the main seating areas of amphitheaters and stadiums. They have even been written about in ancient poems; “linen-awning, stretched, o’er mighty theaters, gives forth at times, a cracking roar, when much ’tis beaten about, betwixt the poles and cross-beams.” was a description given by the Roman poet Lucretius in 50 BC
In the 19th century, awnings were simple constructions, often improvised for utility over aesthetics. Their basic design consisted of timber or cast iron posts set along the sidewalk edge, linked by a front cross bar.
Today awnings come in many different designs and colours, used commonly to attract customers and display company branding and logos. In the modern age, what an awning represents visually is often more important than the function itself.