Asian Pergola

Among the many pergola styles available, the asian inspired pergola design is idea for those who want something different from the traditional types of pergola designs.

Asian Inspired Pergola Design

Diane Turnbull

An Asian inspired pergola can be a wonderful addition to your garden. It has particular design features that make it a beautiful and individual structure; very different to the more traditional pergolas we are used to.

When choosing a pergola style, it is important for it to blend in with the overall garden design. If planning a new garden, it is easier to combine this type of feature with other design elements; in fact, it is likely that, having chosen your pergola, it will dictate the way that the design plan evolves. This is because an Asian inspired pergola has a very distinctive look and feel.

For existing gardens, a little more thought is needed to make the pergola fit seamlessly into the garden design. With a little care, this needn't be too much of a problem. But don't force it. If a traditional pergola is a more suitable option, go with that: it will look better in the end. So, what is it that makes a pergola 'Asian inspired'? Well, if we think of a traditional pergola, the rafters tend to be straight horizontals. With an Asian inspired pergola, the open rafters or pergola roof, use curved sections.

The inspiration for this style comes from the sacred buildings, pavilions, pagodas, tea houses and shrines of Asia. Some have layer-upon-layer of turreted roofs, and can be very large and imposing structures. The turrets are like a curved and inverted 'V' shape, making them distinctive. Others have curved, inverted dome-shaped rafters, reflecting the large colourful flowers of Asia, which also gives an oriental feel to the structure.

Because of the sacred associations of this style, this type of pergola can give the surrounding space a feeling of calm and serenity; something greatly needed in our busy lives. It can transport us into a different place; a place of beauty and simplicity.

So the features we look for in this style are:

- turrets
- domes
- curved rafters

A truly Asian pergola would, most likely, be too big a structure to have in the average garden. However, there are many Asian inspired, manufactured pergola kits on the market today, which allow us to include a taste of the orient in our own garden designs. Used with sympathetic planting, features and accessories, they become a stunning focal point!

Diane Turnbull has designed and built many gardens. For further information on pergolas, including pergola plans for beginners, pergola kits, sourcing and choosing climbing plants, pergola ideas, garden furniture, accessories, and more, visit http://www.pergolaplans4free.co.uk