Start with orientation. A terrace that faces the afternoon sun needs deep overhangs or a deciduous canopy; a morning terrace wants low, open edges that invite the first light. We model sun paths for every site before placing a single lounger.
Next, grade the threshold. Flush tracks, a single slab running inside-out, and concealed drainage erase the line between living room and landscape. The eye reads one continuous room, and the space feels twice its size.
Finally, engineer for weather. Marine-grade fixings, quick-dry stone and wind-rated screens mean the terrace survives storms and still looks effortless the morning after.
“The best outdoor rooms are 80 percent invisible engineering and 20 percent furniture.”
Every Arqon commission applies these principles to its own site, budget and climate. If you are planning a build, bring us the address early — the cheapest decisions are the ones made on paper.
Elena Marsh
Structural Engineer, Arqon Studio
