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EXTENDING LIFE OUTDOORS
EXTENDING LIFE OUTDOORS
A well-designed deck can create a natural transition between indoor and outdoor living.
Whether it overlooks a garden, connects to a pool, creates space for outdoor dining, or becomes a quiet place to relax, the design should respond to the way people actually use the space.
We explore the relationship between:
Indoor and outdoor spaces
Views and circulation
Seating and gathering areas
Pools and outdoor amenities
Planting and surrounding landscape
Materials and architectural character
The goal is to create an outdoor space that feels like a natural extension of the home.
DECK & PERGOLA
DECK & PERGOLA
STRUCTURE. SHADE. OUTDOOR LIVING.
STRUCTURE. SHADE. OUTDOOR LIVING.
A deck or pergola can do much more than add usable outdoor space. It can extend the living environment beyond the house, create a sense of structure, and define places for gathering, dining, relaxing, and enjoying the landscape.
At GBCAL, we approach decks and pergolas as part of the overall design. Their form, scale, materials, and placement should connect with the architecture of the home, the surrounding landscape, and the way the space is meant to be experienced.
DESIGNED AS PART OF THE WHOLE
DESIGNED AS PART OF THE WHOLE
At GBCAL, we believe individual features should contribute to a larger experience.
A deck is not simply a platform.
A pergola is not simply a shade structure.
When thoughtfully integrated with architecture, planting, circulation, materials, and outdoor living, these elements can help transform separate features into a connected landscape.
FROM STRUCTURE TO EXPERIENCE.
FROM STRUCTURE TO EXPERIENCE.
Outdoor spaces are at their best when architecture, landscape, and everyday life come together.
PERGOLAS: SHADE WITH CHARACTER
PERGOLAS: SHADE WITH CHARACTER
A pergola can provide more than shade.
It can define an outdoor room, frame a view, create rhythm and structure, and add architectural character to the landscape.
Its proportions, orientation, materials, and relationship to sunlight can all influence how the space feels throughout the day.
A thoughtfully placed pergola can create a comfortable setting for dining, outdoor kitchens, lounges, or quiet garden spaces while maintaining a connection with the sky, light, and surrounding landscape.
MATERIAL. FORM. CONNECTION.
MATERIAL. FORM. CONNECTION.
The choice of materials plays an important role in the character of a deck or pergola.
Wood can bring warmth and a natural quality. Composite materials can offer a clean and consistent appearance. Metal and other structural elements can introduce a more contemporary expression.
The design process considers how these materials relate to:
Architecture
Landscape
Planting
Hardscape
Lighting
Outdoor Furniture
The strongest result comes when these elements work together rather than competing with one another.
CREATING OUTDOOR ROOMS
CREATING OUTDOOR ROOMS
Decks and pergolas can help organize a larger landscape into meaningful spaces.
A pergola may define an outdoor dining area.
A deck may create a transition between the house and the garden.
Together, they can become part of a larger sequence:
HOUSE → DECK → OUTDOOR LIVING → LANDSCAPE
This relationship is an important part of our design approach.
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