Awning. They’re a great way to reduce the need for AC by providing shade in treeless regions.

80% of the flats where I live have one above their balcony - and we are not even close to treeless.

I was really bewildered by the idea that someone might not know what these are…

I mean you have trees, so they’re mostly on the balcony. I live in a large city (not many trees) of mostly row homes, and they’re on like every window of the side of the houses that face the sun. Not just patios.