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Traditional Uses for Arches and Pergolas

Garden arches and pergolas have become a compulsion these days. Since these are available in a range of shapes and sizes, people also get a lot of choice for selecting one. Both arches and pergolas also serve a number of functions. They not only provide shade to the users but also enhance the beauty of the home. These structures are in practice from years. The word pergola comes from the Latin word “pergula” which refers to eaves protecting the house from sideways. This post contains detailed information regarding the traditional uses of arches and garden pergolas.


The most common use of arches is as framing entrance. Earlier the purpose of constructing archway was to connect two different portions of the garden. The arches can not only be used as entrance to the garden but as entrance between different portions too. It attracts the visitor to have a look over what is lying beyond the arches. The main benefit of including arches in garden design is that it creates a vertical element in the house. No doubt, this can also be achieved through trees also but trees may take years to attain considerable height. The addition of vertical element makes the house look more beautiful. Another traditional use of arches is to frame a particular view or create a focal point. For instance, this structure can be used to highlight water feature or a statue in the garden.


Pergolas can be considered as continuation of multiple arches supported with beams. These have been in use for years and in Egyptian times, they were used for supporting grapes. Even today many home owners use it for supporting climbing parts. Another observable trend is that the pergolas were more common in warmer regions earlier. This is because they also provided good shade. All of us require some space on garden area protected from sunlight. Later, these structures became common and associated with beauty of the home. As a result, pergolas became common even in cooler regions. Arbors were originally used for creating small tunnels in the garden area. However, now they mainly serve the purpose of being a focal point. They are generally smaller than the pergolas too.



A number of considerations might be required while constructing arches or pergolas in the garden. First thing to consider is the size so that it matches with the garden size and surroundings. For instance, there is no point in creating a huge pergola in a small garden. Another important thing to keep in mind is the purpose of creating the arches or pergolas. For instance, if you have plans to get the climbing plants supported with these structures, make sure that they are stable. Similarly, the materials used for construction should complement the garden design to enhance the overall appeal. This is because such plants can put a lot of strain on the arches in future. In simple words, you need to analyze your requirements and budget before making the final selection.