abodes
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EXTERIORS
PACIFYING PERGOLAS
Open-air structures admit breezes, invite relaxation by AUDREY POST
106
January-February 2021
TALLAHASSEEMAGA ZINE.COM
utdoor living spaces can be many things: a patio, a deck, a covered porch (screened or not) or a pavilion. A pergola, however, can transform your outdoor space into an oasis like no other. What exactly is a pergola? At its most basic, it is a free-standing, opensided structure with a top of parallel cross beams. But there are a lot of variations on that theme. For example, a structure attached to a house or outbuilding on the property is a sort of pergola, even though only three sides are open. A seating area framed by four beams and covered with a shade cloth instead of parallel beams on top is generally considered a “hybrid pergola.” Some people consider a shade sail, a triangular-shaped cloth suspended by three hooks high above the seating area, as a form of pergola — although purists would scoff at that idea. So what exactly are the advantages
of a pergola over other types of landscape shade structures? It depends on what you want. Compared to a gazebo or pavilion — which are fully roofed, standalone structures in the landscape — a pergola’s “open weave” roof offers more access to breezes. Coastal areas get far more breezes than inland areas such as Tallahassee, so capturing every bit of breeze that’s out there is a blessing in the Capital City during our North Florida summers. It’s pretty nice at the coast, too. If a space that offers protection from the sun and rain is your goal, a gazebo, a pavilion or a covered porch might be a better option. However, if just reducing the amount of sunlight is your goal, while keeping as much air movement as possible, a pergola could be the answer. The parallel beams across the top don’t fully block the sun, but they block enough to reduce the heat to
PHOTOS BY ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS: ALABN (TOP) AND KATARZYNABIALASIEWICZ (BOTTOM)
↖ A white, unadorned pergola helps define an outdoor dining area and adjoins a fire pit.
