Project Background：
- Project Type: Residential Home
- Product Series: Architect Pro Pergola | 2117
- Project Location: Poland
- Project Time: 2024
The Homeowner's only wish:
“To turn this empty space in front of my house into a place where I’d like to sit for a while every day.” — There’s no complicated list; he just wants to be able to sit down whenever he opens the door.
Site Conditions (Before)：
Outside the entrance is a square paved area of approximately 3.3 × 3.9 m, facing slightly south, receiving intense afternoon sun and strong afternoon sun.
The entrance directly faces the passageway and garden, lacking shelter and privacy.
Rainfall easily creates a drainage ditch in front of the entrance, splashing dirt onto the paving stones and making it uncomfortable to sit on.
Our first site survey was conducted around 4 PM. The shade was very short, and the temperature at the entrance was significantly higher than on the garden lawn (due to heat radiation and lack of shade).
Our Design：
- Structure and Dimensions：
A freestanding, electrically operated aluminum alloy louvered pergola with a graphite black exterior is selected to match the color scheme of the doors and windows. The final bay opening is calculated by working backwards from the door width and passageway to ensure the main passageway is **≥ 1.2 m**.
The louvers are oriented east-west to effectively block the afternoon sun. The remote control has two commonly used angles: 35–45° at noon and 55–70° in the evening.
- Drainage and Ground：
Hidden gutters are installed within the beams, and the columns conceal drainage to a gravel blind drain on the paved side. This eliminates the need for a water curtain in front of the door and prevents rainwater from splashing onto the paving tiles.
The original paving is maintained without cutting: independent foundations (independent support platforms under the columns) are used to avoid placing the load-bearing capacity on the paving layer.
- Wind and Privacy：
The side facing the field experiences the prevailing winds. We have pre-installed side screen tracks on the columns on the windward side (initially not required). These tracks can be pulled out to create a windbreak/privacy zone when needed.
- Mechanical & Electrical Upgrades：
Embedded Lighting and Power Supply: Soft linear lighting along the beams + functional lighting for the dining table; wiring runs within the columns to a waterproof junction box behind the flower bed, allowing for future additions of fans/electric heaters without damaging the surface.
- Materials and Maintenance：
6063-T5 aluminum alloy + AAMA 2604 powder coating; exposed fasteners are made of stainless steel. Routine maintenance includes quarterly cleaning + annual drain cleaning; no painting or fabric replacement required.
Construction and Compliance：
Without altering the existing paving, drilling will be conducted to locate the anchor points, lower the reinforcing cage, and cast small, independent foundations. The columns will be installed after the foundations have reached the required strength.
A package of documents will be provided, including site plan/elevation drawings, anchorage details, product manuals, and electrical schematics. The local town government will implement a simplified procedure for this area and form (based on local regulations), and on-site acceptance will be conducted according to the drawings.
