Along with nice weather comes the desire to be outside, and one needs to start thinking about how to create comfort in our terraces and balconies.
By comfort one doesn’t mean just having a really nice sofa and a table, it also means, for instance, shade for the sunnier days.
In this article we explore some of the types of pergolas available on the market.

Depending on your garden, balcony or terrace, it might make more sense to choose one over the other. We all know the best option to create shade is, obviously, to have trees or climbing plants, but this isn’t always possible.
The noblest and most beautiful pergolas are made of wood, which, despite being higher priced, are quite resistant, fit in nicely in most spaces and create a wonderful extension to your indoor spaces.
But there are other options, more modern and different looking: made of iron or aluminium.
And for there are also several awning options for the covering, like plain canvas, crossed or tensioned, manual or electric. They are usually acrylic and quite resistant, but what is truly ideal is that they deflect UV rays, and are, of course, washable.

Another quite modern option is the bioclimatic pergola, made out of aluminium, with multi-angle guided blades, depending on sunlight orientation or preference. These may also include lighting, to make the most of the outdoor spaces at night and are monitored via remote control.

A more rustic option is to create a plain structure making use of sticks or straw, aligned to create shade, allowing you to regulate the lighting depending on the rhythm.

Each case must be assessed according to how you want to use your space, as well as other constraining aspects. Even aesthetically, one pergola might be a better fit than the other.

Amália Souto Miranda
Landscape Architect