Pergolas

Pergolas are a durable element of street and garden furniture that gives green spaces a distinctive character — their open-frame structure, readily covered by climbing plants, creates natural, pleasant shade and defines a place to relax in a park, a private garden or on a residential estate.

They are a popular choice when designing relaxation zones and social meeting places, in both public and private spaces. Available in timber, steel or aluminium, with the option of an additional polycarbonate roof, the structure can be matched to the character of a given location — from a city park to an intimate garden beside a house. Pergolas form part of a wider family of shelters, smoking shelters and pergolas in our range — if you are looking to cover a larger area, it is also worth browsing the other solutions in this group.

The choice of structural material affects a pergola's visual character and maintenance requirements — impregnated timber looks natural and blends well with greenery but requires periodic renewal of its protective coating, whereas aluminium remains maintenance-free for years while offering slimmer, more modern proportions of the structural profiles.

An additional polycarbonate roof turns a pergola from a purely decorative feature into a functional area offering protection from rain and partial protection from the sun — a solution frequently chosen for pergolas covering a seating area with garden furniture, where the aim is to be able to use the space whatever the weather.

The choice of climbing plants covering the structure should be matched to the location and the desired effect — Virginia creeper quickly covers the entire surface and takes on beautiful autumn colours, wisteria offers spectacular flowering in spring, while climbing roses, which require more care, are well suited to locations with regular horticultural maintenance.

The modular design of many pergolas allows the structure to be extended as needs grow — from a single segment above a bench to an extensive walkway linking several relaxation zones in a park, without having to redesign the whole at each stage of expansion.

Combining a pergola with benches, tables or hammocks beneath its cover creates a complete, shaded relaxation zone — such combinations are increasingly planned at the land development design stage rather than added as an afterthought to an existing space.

The method of fixing pergola posts in the ground — on foundation footings or in anchor sleeves — is selected according to the height of the structure and the expected wind load, which is particularly important for pergolas with a full polycarbonate roof.