For supporting design of arcades which improve the amenity in urban area, typical examples of modern arcades in West Japan after the world war II were arranged historically and analyzed systematically. In consequence, these examples were classified into four groups in chronological order, the period of invention (silver awning and silver arcade), the period of fashion (the arcade of the "Gassyou" type), the period of expansion (the arcade of the louver type), the period of maturity (the arcade of the dome type). The social conditions which had changed the role and design of modern arcades were investigated.
