News24

Photographs Adam Houghton | Styling Amanda van Wyngaardt.

WHO LIVES HERE? Gabriel, Anthea and Constantine Fortuna with their three Cocker Spaniels

WHERE Linden, Randburg

SIZE Pergola 30m²; pool 32m²

When Gabriel and Anthea Fortuna bought their home in 2017, the back garden didn't have a dedicated entertainment area. The space was completely bare, consisting only of a lawn, some stone steps and terraces, and a few haphazard flowerbeds.

As a family that enjoys being outdoors, transforming their yard moved to the top of their priority list. "We were lucky that the house had already been renovated for the most part, which meant that after saving up we could put some money towards sprucing up the garden," explains Anthea.

Taking inspiration from the clean lines of Anthea's design ideas, construction company DSB Construction used RhinoBoard Moisture Resistant Board to create the appearance of a floating ceiling, without the need for any cornices. The existing masonry merely had to be smoothed to create a level base for the new stacking doors and tracks. Sunflex stacking doors installed by Grey Glass Systems; caf chairs from Block & Chisel.

Anthea describes herself as "typically A-type" and she thrives on planning, so naturally she took the time to gather information first. The family knew that they wanted a pool and some form of entertainment area close to it, and Anthea used this to guide her in creating Pinterest boards.

They were also set on having a space separate from the rest of the house. In their previous home, the patio was attached to the lounge, which darkened the space. Anthea didn't want to repeat the same mistake in their new, light-filled living areas. On top of that, she argued that having a less complicated structure separate from the house would eliminate the need for an architect.

Careful planning

The pool was built by Splendid Pools a year before the pergola went up. "It's a much bigger job to build a pool," explains Anthea. And separating the projects helped with budgetary planning.

In the meantime, Anthea came across a "bioclimatic pergola", a simple structure that utilises building materials and design principles that make the most of the climate for year-round use. This can include a roof with an insulated ceiling or an automated louvre system that opens on sunny days to adjust the angle of the sunlight entering the space or closes completely in bad weather. The structure allows for natural ventilation and should be positioned for optimal effect in all seasons; construction materials are durable and weather-resistant.

Anthea painted an old outdoor table in Private Estate's Dusk of Day and combined it with caf chairs. Private Estate paint from Paintsmiths.

The design also begged for stackable glass doors. "It gives us so much versatility in terms of opening and closing up the space as the weather changes," adds Anthea. Enclosing the space meant that building plans had to be approved prior to construction. As a rule of thumb, open-sided pergolas under a certain size qualify as minor constructions, but enclosing doors all round requires council approval.

The finishing touches

Once complete, Anthea carefully furnished the space in such a way that the family could make full use of it on a daily basis. There's a large dining table for family dinners and entertaining, and nook stools that fit underneath the concrete counters for a refreshing drink or a quick bite in-between swimming. The couple also installed a gas braai, as well as a cast-iron plate for the sake of convenience. "There's no waiting for a fire - we can use it any day of the week for quick burger nights or whatever we feel like."

The recent addition of a cabinet also created storage space for crockery and cutlery, which the family simply washes inside. "My kitchen is just a few steps away from the pergola, so I stack dirty dishes on a tray and carry them in," says Anthea.

The Fortunas opted for Eva-Last decking around the pool - a bamboo and plastic composite material that's low-maintenance and kinder to the environment. The daybed is big enough for Gabriel, Anthea, Constantine and their three dogs. They like to use it for reading and snoozing. Daybed from Creative Living.

The pergola has become the spot for lunch and dinner - and the Fortunas also enjoy breakfast here every weekend. With a combination of the solar-heated pool, a large daybed and the fully kitted-out dining area, they've truly created a space conducive to entertaining and relaxing. "The water really feels like a bath some days, and I love that we replicated a ‘resort feel' right in our back garden," says Anthea.