Patio World

How an Iron Arbor and Gate Added an Old World Element to a New Swimming Pool and Patio Area

Executive summary about Patio World by Jeff Halper

 

At face value, many might assume that an iron arbor would clash with vegetation and other natural features. A wrought iron arbor can provide a very elegant compliment to gardens, walkways, patios, and swimming pools. We built them a new swimming pool that was straight on both sides, but was distinguished by rounded ends that extended a gentle invitation to enter the water. Large parties could now gather around the pool and all sit together. To prevent children from entering this area unsupervised, we erected a 48" iron fence with a 54" arched, locking gate. This was added partly for landscaping aesthetic, and partly to satisfy city safety codes that require pool locks to be constructed at this height.

The addition of the fence had the effect of separating the portion of the patio nearest to the house from the larger area surrounding the pool. This smaller patio area in turn provided an ideal location to construct the arbor the Macalister's had always dreamed of having built. They did not want a heavy wooden structure, but instead preferred an iron arbor that would ornament the landscape with an Old World touch, and more easily allow summer breezes to blow though its center. In order to better unify the iron arbor, fence, and gate with the natural landscape, we laid down flat stones between the driveway and the new structure; adding monkey grass between the stones to create the sense of a living walkway. An iron arbor such as the one we built for the Macalister's can be used in many similar applications to connote elegance, historicity, and a grounded sense of proportion. One more benefit that wrought iron arbors and fences offer is adaptability to almost any type or size of environment. We see them everywhere from corporate lawns to private suburban homes, and all the way up to large custom homes surrounded by vast acreages.