Translucent fabric over the patio

Sunset, Oct, 1984

Translucent fabric over the patio

A fabric roof turned this Sacramento patio into an outdoor room that's usable year-round. Owners Linda and Wayne Johnson enjoy the room's flexibility--it can be opened to view the garden beyond or enclosed with a curtain for weather protection. They use it as a play area for their young children, as a dining room, or as a generous space for parties.

The G-shaped house wraps around what was once an uninviting concrete patio. Designer Ned Daugherty replaced the old slab with an aggregate one, with curving sides to create open planting areas close to the house. The owners filled the new beds with subtropical plants.

Since direct sun, summer heat, and winter cold would be harsh on the plants, Daugherty covered the south-facing, 26- by 31-foot patio with a translucent, whether-resistant industrial fabric.

Framed with galvanized pipe, the shed roof angles down to the garden. Along the top and sides, the fabric laces to the frame. At the open side, fabric hangs like a curtain from a steel rod; a bottom cable runs through grommets to keep it from flapping on windy days.

For more light and to break up the large area of fabric overhead, the awning maker added five 20- by 40-inch clear vinyl panels that act as skylights.

Photo: Ridge beam is anchored to extension of second-story deck rail (right). Underneath, clear vinyl panels punctuate fabric roof, giving brighter light for outdoor dining (below)