OVERHEAD STRUCTURES

Changes in height and openness coupled with elevational change on the ground plane make for a variety of spaces. Their heights, patterns, and character can be as varied as the walls and fences used in the design. In addition to ceilings being varied in height and in openness, it is important to use them to support other spatial furnishings. It is important for designers to realize the potential of overhead planes as they relate to (1) height, (2) degree of openness, and (3) support of other furnishings. Figure 11-103 shows three examples of how overheads can be varied in height, character, and pattern and can provide places for hanging potted plants, swings, and lights. The far left spaces in both sections are closed and intimate in scale. Overhead structures should be given as much attention and used in similar ways as ceilings in­side homes are used. This overhead structure provides shelter from the elements over the table space and identi­fies a subspace beneath the lower patterned overhead to the right. Outdoor ceilings are very important design elements. Not only can ceilings be altered to provide for different senses of scale, they can also be designed with varying degrees of openness for functional and aesthetic pur­poses. As one moves through the other spaces to the right, they open up and become larger in scale. The last element that should be considered during spatial composition is overhead structures such as gazebos, arbors, and pergolas. In cases like these, clients may wish to have some partial protection from the hot afternoon sun. Fig­ure 11—102 demonstrates how a patterned overhead arbor can be used to provide protection from the sun. All these have outdoor ceilings that provide scale and protection from the elements in spaces where people will congregate. Depending on the situation, there may be times when there is no need to create a sheltered area, especially where houses have screened-in porches. The important thing to note is that outdoor ceil­ings are as spatially valuable to outdoor use as indoor ceilings are to indoor use. The fence in the background, with a partially open central panel, was designed to accent this area beneath the arbor. Figure 11-99
Outdoor ceilings can be just as spatially valuable as indoor ceilings.