Sukkot all year long? The Israeli pergola revolution extends your outdoor experience

This year’s Sukkot will undoubtedly be different from previous ones, but we all hope for peaceful days when we can host family and friends in our small sanctuaries—whether in our backyard or on a balcony. Many of these spaces are adorned with pergolas, which significantly enhance the aesthetic of outdoor areas and, more importantly, elevate the entire hosting experience.

“Pergolas serve multiple purposes, with the primary one being to provide shade and block the sun,” says Kobi Khalifa, CEO and owner of ArtPro, a company specializing in Belgian ironwork, pergola design, sunrooms, doors, and railings. “In Israel’s hot climate, the sun beats down almost year-round from the south and west, areas that need shading. The pergola is a fantastic solution, especially when the alternative is using shutters—a less popular choice for many.”

“The pergola allows us to experience the home and garden as one continuous space,” Khalifa explains. “It functions as a full-fledged hosting area, filled with garden furniture, outdoor lounges, and kitchens. Recently, we’ve seen a growing trend where people who’ve already built pergolas request to enclose them, turning them into sunrooms. This transforms the pergola into an integral part of the home by adding glass facades around the perimeter. It’s even possible to install metal walls, often used for TV screens or air conditioning units. This way, we expand the hosting space, allowing family and guests to sit in a lush outdoor area while feeling completely at home, regardless of the weather. These enclosed spaces can be ventilated and air-conditioned.”

According to Khalifa, the "Pergola Law," passed about a decade ago, significantly increased the number of pergolas built across Israel and the number of existing pergolas being converted into sunrooms. “Before the law, building any pergola—whether on a balcony or in a yard—required obtaining a construction permit, which was a bureaucratic and complicated process,” he explains. “The new law exempts pergolas from needing a building permit, provided they meet specific municipal regulations, which must be thoroughly checked in advance. In practice, you can build a pergola and apply for approval afterward, with the process usually taking a few months.”

What are the most common types of pergolas?

“The most common pergolas are made from thick wooden beams, but in recent years, we’ve seen more modern aluminum pergolas without columns and iron pergolas that are perceived as sleek, elegant, and extremely strong,” Khalifa says. “These are open to various production methods, combinations, and designs. For reference, the cost of an iron pergola ranges from 2,000 to 3,000 shekels per square meter.”

Pergolas can be covered in several ways. “The first option is using climbing plants—a very aesthetic solution, but it doesn’t provide protection from rain,” he explains. “Another option is using an acrylic material called ‘Sanatuf,’ which is affordable, but its appearance reflects that, and when it rains, the noise from the raindrops can detract from the experience. The preferred method is to cover and glaze the pergola with reinforced glass, which is not only elegant but also provides excellent acoustics. You can even apply glazing to an existing structure, as long as the posts are designed to support a future glass enclosure.”

Shay David, founder and owner of Karkom Landscape Design, agrees: “Pergolas have always been used for shading, but in recent years, standard, fixed pergolas made of steel or wood have been joined by versatile developments in aluminum, stainless steel, and glass, making the 2024 pergola much more than just a roof with four columns.”

According to David, pergolas have become increasingly versatile. “We now have electric pergolas that can open and close like Venetian blinds, pivoting or rotating to control the amount of sunlight that enters. In addition, they can be enclosed in various ways, one of the most popular being mesh screens to block insects and regulate sunlight.”

“Pergolas today don’t have to be attached to a building,” David adds. “They can be suspended on diagonal posts, placed at a distance from windows, and serve as a shading element for an outdoor feature. There are also pergolas made from different materials, like steel, aluminum, concrete, or wood, where cables or metal grids are stretched across the top, creating a framework for climbing plants. It’s important to choose plants that meet the pergola’s purpose—whether it’s vines that bear fruit in the summer or deciduous plants that shed leaves in winter, allowing the sun’s rays to warm and light the space.”