Footing Ideas

We've gone over several ideas for how the footings for the structure of the canopy should look, trying to create something that works with our design while still being structurally sound and meeting all of the requirements that the structural engineer has told us. We've been told to use footings that are 4ft x 4ft, and 18 inches deep, which would be a very massive footing visible on the ground. So we've been thinking of ways to taper the footing up, submerge part of it, or to even elaborate more on the massiveness of the footing by making something out of it. I think there is the opportunity to create minimal visual impact and to resist any heaviness on the site by submerging the footings in the ground so you don't even see them, and then you just have a very slender pole coming up out of the ground that is supporting this "floating" canopy. This would have the effect that the entire project is coming down and touching the ground as lightly as possible.