Walkway Pergola

This pergola was designed to guide visitors down a small, simple, straight walkway around to a small hidden seating area, and utility space. It was important that the pergola create some visual interest from afar because it sat at the end of a driveway.

What I would like to point out about this pergola is that to enhance the perspective issues we cheated in the construction of the pergola;

1. Post heights were lowered in 4″ increments.
2. This means cross beams were each 4″ lower going front to back.
3. Cross beams were also shortened as we went front to back.
4. The walkway was 6″ narrower at the back than at the front.
5. This means back post were closer to each other in the back than at the front.

Why? To enhace the illusion of perspective, to speed up what the eye was seeing, or enhance what the eye was seeing. Something fun to do.

So it wasn’t perfect in height, and the support bracing actually ran down hill-ever so slightly. But in the end it worked to create a walkway to some unknown place, hidden away and unseen to the public.

[Finishing the cutting for the cross-beams, we couldn’t mass cut because each one was a smaller version of the previous.]

Before those cards and letters roll in, yes that is a saw-horse being used as a step ladder. Remember we’re Professionals so don’t try this at home:

Some other thoughts:

• We used Eastern Red Cedar, this job was in South Carolina.
• Stainless steel for the hardware. Galvanized bolts and screws tend to bleed at entry point.
• I think we started at 9.0′ in the front for the 1st cross beam.
• Those are Unilock pavers for the walkway, same material as the driveway.
• Those horizontal notches on post break up the simple post line but add a something to the construction. I guess I would call it “simple on simple”.