Engineered shading solutions have an interesting history that can be traced back thousands of years. The Greeks and Romans built porticos to provide shade from the elements, and many of these static structures can still be admired throughout historic sites in many European cities. While the porticos were effective, they had no moving parts, which is a key aspect of an engineered shading solution. However, a few of today’s popular shading solutions that meet our definition of engineered shading solutions originated in earlier times: roman shades, venetian blinds, and roller shades.
The Roman Shade
In the heyday of the Roman Colosseum (AD 70–80), crowds were entertained with spectacular gladiator contests in the open air. To protect the spectators from the harsh Italian sun, awnings were constructed that partially covered the arena and offered sun protection. The awnings were an elaborate system of ropes and pulleys called the Velarium. The Velarium was the Latin name given for this retractable awning system in the Roman Colosseum.
When they were not in use, the shades folded back on themselves, much like the modern shading style—the roman shade. What a feat of innovation and success that even in AD 70–80 they were able to effectively reduce solar heat issues while creating a truly beautiful engineered shading solution. 
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