Canopies keep citydwellers cool during heatwaves
Developed by SNCF Gares & Connexions subsidiary AREP for the City of Paris, the new RIVA shade canopies are designed as temporary cooling spaces. They were co-created with manufacturer SERI and are now popping up around town.
Adapting urban spaces and caring for the most vulnerable
Designed for quick installation and removal, the new modular RIVA canopies are suited to all sorts of public spaces, offering temporary shade during heatwaves. They provide a place to rest and cool down, especially for those most at risk, such as the elderly, young children, pregnant women and the homeless. These shaded areas are placed in parts of the city where planting trees is difficult. And as part of the “Paris s’adapte” climate adaptation initiative, they’re focused on areas where pedestrian traffic is highest.
Up to
100 m²
of shade per canopy
More than
80%
recycled steel content
Installed in
15
locations across Paris in 2025, with more to come
Sustainable, modular furniture
Depending on their configuration, RIVA canopies can offer anywhere from 7 to 100 m2 of shade. Over 80% of the frame is built from recycled steel, and the roof uses PEFC-certified Douglas fir slats sourced from sustainably managed forests. This design maximizes shade throughout the day without blocking natural air flow.
A perfect fit in the Paris streetscape
RIVA canopies are produced by SERI, a specialist in French urban furniture. They fit seamlessly into the Paris streetscape thanks to design cues that reference iconic features of the city’s heritage:
- public pavilions steeped in history like the garden pergolas that line the Champs-Élysées and flower market stalls on île de la Cité
- the unmistakable curves of Davioud benches that are a mainstay of Paris parks and gardens
- the silhouettes of the city’s 19th-century metallic architecture
- lightweight open-air market stalls that assemble and disassemble effortlessly
Nearly 30 years of know-how in France and abroad
A subsidiary of SNCF Gares & Connexions, AREP is now a multidisciplinary engineering and design firm. Since its founding in 1997, it has developed wide-ranging expertise in architecture, urban planning and project management. With over 1,000 employees from 40 countries, AREP delivers practical, sustainable solutions to environmental challenges in France and around the world, guided by its integrated EMC²B approach that combines energy, materials, carbon, climate and biodiversity.
Shady stroll
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