In this article, we outline the various pergola designs available in New Zealand and their ideal applications. We focus especially on medium-density housing projects, with a range of free-standing pergolas and attached pergolas to upscale your exterior design.
A pergola is an outdoor structure with columns supporting beams and rafters. The roofing can either be left open or covered and freestanding or attached to a building.
Historically, pergolas were built with timber, but modern pergolas are often made with aluminium for durability, low maintenance, and easy installation. Aluminium pergolas are also available in a range of colours and finishes, creating a striking architectural feature to match other elements, such as window joinery or shutters.
Aluminium louvres are also durable and resistant to coastal conditions, making them ideal for most New Zealand environments.
Fixed blade pergolas consist of louvre blades that are secured in position, increasing shade control, ventilation, shelter, and privacy in an outdoor space. In a pergola configuration, fixed blade pergolas create an interesting architectural feature and add dimension to the building’s exterior.
Fixed louvre roofs are available in various louvre profiles, including our Aurora Blade, Solaris Blade, Caldera Blade, and Zenith Canopy. At Aurae, our aluminium louvre pergolas are highly durable, weather-resistant, engineered to meet NZBC standards, and available in a vast range of powder-coat colours.
Fixed blade pergola configurations can be detached or semi-detached and are a cost-effective solution for terraced or low-cost housing developments.
Operable louvres consist of multiple blades that can be adjusted, either manually or with a motorised mechanism. This gives you the ability to enjoy natural sunlight and ventilation or close the roof when weather conditions are unfavourable.
Based on years of research and development, our louvre roofs are robust, reliable, simple to install, and architecturally appealing. Made with aluminium and finished in your choice of powder-coat colour, all Aurae louvre roofs are engineered to meet NZBC standards.
Our operable louvre roofs are available in various louvre profiles, including our Aurora Blade and Solaris Blade.
When a structure cannot be added to the main building’s exterior, a free-standing pergola is a great solution. You can still install an operable louvre roof, with a manual adjustment to open and close it as required. If you want a motorised louvre roof, we will work with your project’s electrician to run the wiring under the patio or deck before it is built. You can also choose an automated sensor that closes the louvres when it rains.
When a connection to the house is possible, an attached pergola with a motorised louvre roof is an effective way to extend the living space outdoors. This also adds depth to the building’s exterior and enables you to get creative with your aesthetic vision.
Want to achieve something unique? We can work with you to create custom louvred pergola solutions for your projects. Some custom solutions we have worked on include louvred fences, chimney cowls, and triangular pergolas. You’d be surprised what can be achieved — enquire today!
Our range of louvre blades comes in three different shapes. Each shape comes in multiple sizes, giving you plenty of choice. These aluminium systems are highly durable, weather resistant, engineered to ASNZ standards, and available in an extensive range of powder-coat colours.
The Aurora Blade has an aerofoil shape, with a 90mm to 600mm blade size. These blades can be motorised or manually operable, attached with a clasp bracket or end fixing. We also have a cable-mounted option available.
The Solaris Blade has a rectangular shape, with a 110mm to 1,000mm blade size. These blades can be motorised or manually operable, attached with a clasp bracket or end fixing. We also have a rear channel-mounted or cable-mounted options available.
The Caldera Blade has a parallelogram shape, with an 88mm to 390mm blade size. These blades can be motorised or manually operable, attached with a clasp bracket or end fixing.
Medium-density housing brochure
At Aurae, we make houses look good, enhancing architectural character with a variety of practical exterior features:
Our aluminium products provide complete peace of mind that your exterior is attractive, will stand the test of time, and is engineered to meet NZBC standards. Download our medium-density housing brochure below for more specifications, products, and inspiration.