The History of Pergolas

(How) Residential and Commercial Pergolas Travel(ed) the World…

• Ancient Egypt and China
  A source of shade to both nations, angular and long Egyptian pergolas are comprised of and house vines of fruiting trees like figs and grapes, while curved, rounded Chinese pergolas are used for housing and temples.
• Rome
  Vine training systems are introduced to the Romans after the conquest of Egypt, later becoming prominent in Renaissance architecture, particularly in homes of the aristocracy.

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• Italy… then France
  During King Charles the VIII’s raid of Italy in the 1400’s, the art form of the residential pergola is plundered. France mansions soon begin showcasing these beautiful shade structures.
• England
  Victorian era commercial and residential pergolas fade as naturalists reject the artificiality of the stone and masonry structures they’ve morphed into. Then 19^th century horticulturist Gertrude Jekyll and famous architect Sir Edwin Lutyens step-in, imbuing the shade structures with new life by mixing the softness of garden life with the pergola’s classic structure – the basis for many of today’s modern pergola plans.
• America
  Migrants carry various pergola plans to the Americas, where they take on new life and evolve into today’s innovative new designs, such as adjustable residential and commercial pergolas.

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Residential and Commercial Pergolas Today…
Today’s residential and commercial pergolas have morphed into stunning displays of architecture and technology. Newer pergola materials such as aluminum make pergolas easy to install and care for, as well as add a lifetime of durability. Innovations in technology such as the addition of versatile, louvered roofs, boost functionality and contribute to the rapidly rising popularity of outdoor living spaces. Individuals now seek out pergola plans not only to escape the sun or inclement weather, but to enhance and extend their outdoor experiences, cementing a long-lived future for this well-loved piece of worldly architecture.

Are you ready to play a part in pergola history? Contact Denver Pergolas and discover your perfect pergola plan today.

The pergola is one of the oldest styles of garden architecture still in use today. It’s long, rich history is multi-cultural, and far from boring.

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