Experience transformation - Unleashing your home's potential with a pergola

An artist's paradise

When Danish artist Mamakan Oustrup Laureijis first arrived in New Zealand, she very quickly fell in love with our native bush. Fast forward five years and she has developed Velskov, a forest farm in Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges where Oustrup Laureijis and her team grow and forage native herbs and produce that are sold to restaurants and cafes around the city. Velskov also offers mead making classes and the pergola is a great space for corporate events, team building sessions and luxury dining experiences.

“In order to provide chefs with this fresh native produce, we needed a place where we could host them and our other visitors. The goal was somewhere that felt totally immersed in nature, while being protected from the sun, rain and wind.”

Determined to work with local craftspeople, she contacted Sanctuary Pergolas who helped capture her vision and designed and built something completely unique.

Working closely with the company’s in-house architectural designer Jordan Breetvelt, they came up with a design inspired by the shape of the piwakawaka (fantail). Oustrup Laureijis says the new pergola is not only a practical solution to her need for shelter, it blends in perfectly with the surroundings. 

“So many people have told me it looks like it has always been there. I think that’s the greatest compliment you can give,” she says.

The space also serves as a bush boardroom for corporate events or team meetings.

“Sanctuary Pergolas were so easy to work with; they really understood what I was wanting,” she says. “I was so impressed by their attention to detail. It’s a structure that will stand the test of time. It’s not something you put up for a year or two; it’s something you want to have long-term.”

The pergola the team designed for Velskov is all about clean, uncluttered design that lets the beauty of the location shine. The aluminium framing has integrated gutters and the six millimetre acrylic sheeting looks like glass, but is a more practical alternative that offers UV protection. 

“It means if a branch falls, which obviously could happen in the forest, it won’t shatter like glass,” says Oustrup Laureijis. “We’ve also got blinds we can pull down if it’s raining or windy, but you still feel like you’re outdoors.”

While a freestanding pergola was the perfect solution for bush-clad Velskov, pergolas are a great addition to existing homes. They can expand the living area of a home, providing a space that can be used year-round in all weathers. In more built-up suburban areas, they are a way of creating privacy, offering a secluded outdoor area that’s ideal for entertaining.

For owners of businesses such as cafes and restaurants, pergolas help them to accommodate more patrons who can enjoy the beautiful outdoor spaces while soaking up the fresh air and sunshine.

Breetvelt discovered a gap in the market for pergolas that were a triumph of both function and form, crafted individually to suit each property and the needs of the customer.

“The common dilemma I kept on coming across was that people had an outdoor area that they couldn’t use, especially with the extremes of weather we are seeing now. It is either very hot or very wet. The company was built on the idea of transforming outdoor areas into exceptional living areas.”

Breetvelt was delighted when his son Jordan, an architectural designer, decided to join him in the business. 

“When Jordan came on board, he said he wanted us to have 100 percent customer satisfaction and we work very hard to achieve that.

A trusted process

Sanctuary Pergolas’ emphasis on a unique and personalised product is their point of difference from others in the market.

“Ours is not a cookie cutter approach,” says Breetvelt. “Each pergola is designed to complement and enhance the site and we work closely with the client to achieve that. We don’t have off-the-shelf design kits.”

An extensive photo library of work the company has done previously often helps give new clients an idea of what’s possible. After an onsite consultation, a computer-generated image of the final design is produced for signoff before work begins.

“It’s about really listening to the client to understand what they want, then delivering something that exceeds their expectations.”   

The pergola is custom-built on site so it fits perfectly in the space. Each installation is backed by a 10-year guarantee on materials and workmanship. In the rare case that council consent is needed, Sanctuary Pergolas liaises with the council to get consent.

“Another point of difference is that our pergolas have hidden brackets, which means our joins have to be exceptional,” says Breetvelt. “The aim is to have clean, sophisticated lines and a contemporary look. I think we achieve that.”