The present invention relates to sunshades and methods of constructing sunshades, particularly, sunshade canopies installed at a fixed location in the temperate zones.
In a first aspect of the invention, a sunshade element is configured such that the sunshade element is viewed from a reference shade point as a thin profile between adjacent apertures over predetermined days in winter, thereby maximising the admission of sunshine to the shade area; and configured such that the sunshade element presents the maximum or near maximum breadth of its during predetermined days in summer; resulting in the admission of sunshine in winter and the blocking of sunshine in summer. During the spring period winter, sunshine is gradually replaced by summer shade, and during the autumn period, summer shade is replaced by winter sunshine, such that the sunshade elements provide effective blocking and admission of sunshine to the shade area over the annual solar cycle.