pergolas in luxury villas dominican republic

8/9/2019 Pergolas in Luxury Villas Dominican Republic

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THE USE OF PERGOLAS IN LUXURY VILLAS –

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Per • go • la [ pur-guh-luh ][ Italian, from Latin pergula. ]

Pergolas are garden overhead structures used to create a shaded area or walkway, with cross beams

and open lattice usually supported by pillars in wood or stone. It is believed that the origin of the

pergola started in Italy, though this structure can be seen in several Mediterranean countries since

long ago. Even in ancient times, the pergolas were widely used by the Romans, to take advantage of

shade and coolness, but also to guide their vines and allow the fruit to receive more sun. In the middle

Ages its usage resurfaced to permanently stay. Reconsidered by the increasing need to enjoy the

outdoors, pergolas now have become structural elements of landscape design, giving the garden a

vertical dimension, built in patios, balconies, terraces, parks and even parking spaces.

It can be built as an extension of a building, and to protect and shade an outdoor terrace; some

pergolas are used to cover walkways, as a link between gazebos or pavilions, and to complement

outdoor kitchens. Pergolas are lightweight structures that not only protect us from heat and sun but also are a decorative and useful structure that

can be directional, leading to a special place or a quiet corner to sit, attached to the property, as an intermediary between the outside and the villa.

Can be constructed as a private space somewhere in the garden dedicated to rest and relax, near the pool or grill, to unite with another part of the

garden, separating areas or in front of the house, or as a welcome feature to a villa entrance. Many Dominican Republic villas integrate the pergola

into the design, to cover garden lounge areas and even second floor terraces in master suites. Whatever the reason you decide to incorporate a

pergola, the area chosen to locate it will become an essential area of the house, providing shade, coolness, rest or intimacy.



Pergola Design in the Luxury Villa Garden

For your design, you should think carefully about the place where you want it, the form and use it will be given. For this it is important to analyze

the style of the existing building because the choice of the pergola should be directly related to housing design to achieve continuity and harmony,

so must maintain a proportion with the surroundings, a garden of small dimensions will be smaller with a pergola. Once you have defined the use

for it, we must take into account the height of it and how it affects the sun at different times, it is not appropriate that the sun hits it directly at thetime that it will be used. This depends on the vegetation that you want to place, as the pergola serves to support an abundance of climbing plants.

White columns support the wood structure in this elegant pergola

We should anticipate if plant or structure will prevail, because there is no point investing in a beautiful structure, if it will be covered by foliage, so

if the structure is worth showing off, can be left bare, so it can have a greater role. However if you prefer to cover it, should decide the type and

amount of foliage plants to replace: deciduous, so that in winter it lets in some sun, or perennial, and in this case, know that as time passes it will

be more grim.



Luxury Pergola in Wood with brick flooring and fireplace

Multiple Pergola Styles

There are abundant possibilities in the choice of materials for the construction of a pergola. Formerly it was very common to use brick columns or elaborate

wrought iron designs; today there are more contemporary styles. The use of materials that fit together like bricks, cement, stone, wood, pipes, iron, bamboo,

logs, Became more flexible, Supplemented with roofs of reeds, polycarbonate, wood strips or straps, trunks (e.g. eucalyptus) or iron, canvas, fabrics, mats, steel

turnbuckles, even treillage or trellis. The installation of awnings helps filter the light right away, without waiting to grow plants.

Pergolas built with hardwoods such as quebracho, beech, eucalyptus harmonize with a trellis, covering a zone or lengthening the structure of the garden. The

thick reeds, or fine rough-hewn, are less durable, but they are very decorative. Those with brick or stone bases, are more durable but heavier visually, so you

have to choose the vine to cover it efficiently. There is no specific shape for pergolas, design can be: square, round, rectangular, octagonal, as well as space,

aesthetics and use as we decide it. The circular pergolas, which are covered with the typical roof of dried leaves of palm, straw or similar materials, assembled

near the pools, give a tropical touch to the garden. The pergolas constructed on the ground should be cemented on the legs; those built on the gallery, terrace orbalcony, should be fixed to the ground with metal or iron structures.



Selecting the Vine or Creeper Plants

A good selection of climbing plants provides not only interest in the area, but also color and depending

on the species of choice, a delicious aroma. There are a variety of species suitable for pergolas,

beginning with climbing roses, deciduous or persistent, small or large-flowered, with or without

perfume. The wisteria (Wisteria sinensis), known worldwide, is the most used because of its density and

rapid growth, with large and very fragrant spring flowering. There are plenty of jasmine for use on

pergolas and Madagascar, with airy white flowers and foliage that stands out among the group of

perennials. The Santa Rita (Boungainvillea spectabilis), is ideal with its large flowers, but dangerous for

their spines. We must think very well on which pergola to place it, especially because it is perennial. The

Clematis, white-flowered and obsolete, is ideal for media support on stone and iron. Most villas will

favor the wooden pergola with the bougainvillea plant.

When choosing them, for pergolas on terraces or patios, it is important to keep in mind: light, wind,temperature, water, soil texture and pH, nutrient-rich and other necessities. Hence the importance, to

know each plant and as adapted to the region where we live. Also in the pergola some hanging baskets

can be placed flat on the floor with the appropriate species, completing the decoration.

Featured Vine: Bougainvillea

The bougainvillea is a climbing plant known for its spectacular flowers. In hot climates without frost, blooms almost throughout the year, even in winter.

The two most common are Bougainvillea glabra and Bougainvillea spectabilis. Each one is a handful of stems with flowers (bracts) of various colors like white, pink, yellow,

orange, red, Should be clear that what we commonly call "flowers" of the bougainvillea, are not botanically flowers but bracts. The bracts surrounding the true flower, which is

tiny, white. Applications that have this vine are varied: To cover walls, pergolas, fences, walls, trusses, etc. It is usually fixed with wires and spikes. It is capable of creating an

informal hedge and flowers. Creeping plants can also be used as a landfill cover too and specially for land pending development near a luxury villa or vacation house.



Some large luxury villas in Cabrera, Dominican Republic make good use of the pergolas in second level suite terraces as seen here:

http://www.goldenkeymanagement.com/cabrera-real-estate-villas.htm

The two master suites in the second floor of villa Flor de Cabrera have pergolas (left and right) with excellent vi ews of the swimming pool and also the beach.

SOME PERGOLAS RECOMMENDED FOR DOMINICAN REPUBLIC VILLAS:






Pergolas are also used with textile covers instead of natural plant, and this gets you an immediate shaded area unlike waiting for a vine to grow.

The varieties of covers include cloth materials, woven wood, translucent plastic cover sheets and many others. There are different pergolas with

various roles in the villas, such as outdoor kitchen complement, garden entrance, dining table area, to cover a bench or swing, or attached to the

house as an extension of it. The pergolas can be enhanced with additional accessories and special patio and garden furniture, here some examples:

Garden pergola swing, wooden chaise lounge ( teak steamer ) and a classic pergola sold in the market as a pre fabricated set.

The dining table ( or breakfast table in the patio ) can be round or square, and chairs can be chosen among a wide selection. A lot of pergolas are

furnished with lounge sofas and fine furniture, giving it a interior feeling, some with glass top instead of the vines.



A beautiful pergola that can be built in oak, redwood or mahogany, featuring colonnade style double windows that open outwards, curved roof and

very intricate lattice that will filter the sun rays even with little or no vines. This structure could become the center point of your garden,

surrounded by lush green plants, shrubs and rocks. The flooring can be brick, with a stone walkway leading to a verandah in your villa, for a sense

of continuity and convenience. Other types of pergolas worth mentioning are the Asian Dragon one, the corner and the metal ones seen below.



Having a pergola can make a huge aesthetic and functional difference in a villa, and it can also turn any house into your favorite spot where you

enjoy the Caribbean breeze with family, friends or just reading a book with your favorite tea or coffee. We hope you find this article handy if you

plan to build a villa in the Dominican Republic and decide to add a pergola, should you need more information feel free to contact us.

Golden Treasures Luxury Villas D O M I N I C A N R E P U B L I C

Written by:

Edward Rivas Tel. 809-377-2038 / 829-477-2038

Sosua, Dominican Republic 2010.

Dominican Republic Villas

Some resources on pergolas:

http://www.backyardamerica.com/tuscany-pergola.htm

http://www.woodcraftuk.co.uk/Pergolas

http://www.outdoorrooms.com/store/pergolas/wood-pergolas.html

http://www.goldenkeymanagement.com/












pergolas in luxury villas dominican republic

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