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Cartagena's Calle del Carmen has a very different look about it this summer, and after last year's debacle, when traders spent the hottest months waiting for a shade system that never materialised, the city council will be very relieved that the first phase of the Shadow Plan is finally up and in place.

 

The installation covers one of Cartagena's main commercial and tourist streets with a series of large textile panels arranged geometrically overhead. The structures filter the sunlight and reduce the perceived temperature during the hottest hours of the day, creating a shifting play of light and shadow on the pavement below that's already drawing admiring glances from residents and visitors.

 

Beyond the visual impact, the aim is a practical one. By making the city centre more bearable during the middle of the day, the council hopes to encourage people to stick around longer and keep commercial activity ticking over during the intense summer heat rather than abandoning the streets until early evening.

 

The installation is designed to provide continuous shade without making the street feel dark or enclosed, keeping the brightness of the surroundings while taking the edge off what can be extreme temperatures in the city centre during July and August.

 

Further phases of the Shadow Plan are in the pipeline, with more areas of the historic centre set to be covered as the installation continues through the coming weeks.

 

Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena