Eskişehir — Pergola and Sliding Glass System Project

Eskişehir Project: A Four-Season Outdoor Space with Pergola and Sliding Glass

This project carried out by GlobalTente in Eskişehir is an application combining a pergola system with sliding glass systems, making a wide outdoor area usable in four seasons. When the shade and protection provided by the pergola above combined with the opening façade offered by the sliding glass on the sides, the area turned into both an airy space usable in the open air and a volume sheltered from wind and rain when closed. Run turnkey, the project offered a year-round comfortable outdoor solution suited to Eskişehir's continental climate with its durable aluminium construction, wide glass surfaces and modern design.

Eskişehir is a city known for its continental climate in Central Anatolia, with hot summers and cold, harsh winters. The customer's outdoor area was wanted to be made usable year-round by being protected from the sun in summer and from the cold and wind in winter. Since a wide façade needed to be closed efficiently, the solution was designed in two layers: a pergola for shade and protection above, and sliding glass systems for the wide façade on the sides. Sliding glass is an ideal side-enclosure solution for wide and flat openings; this suited the wide-façade structure of the Eskişehir project very well.

For closing a wide and flat façade, sliding glass is one of the smoothest and most practical solutions. In sliding glass the panels open by sliding horizontally on rails inside the side profile and stack to one side; this provides effortless use over wide spans. In the Eskişehir project, the area's wide and flat façade was ideal for sliding glass: in good weather the panels are slid aside to open the façade and the area gains fresh air, in bad weather they are closed to keep wind and cold out. The wide glass surfaces of the sliding glass keep the area bright and airy even when closed. This smooth horizontal use made sliding glass one of the most suitable options for a wide-façade outdoor space.

Technical Solution and System Details

The pergola's load-bearing structure and the sliding glass rails were brought together on the same axis and in the same colour, making the two systems look like a single whole. Tempered safety glass was used for the wide glass surfaces; a double-glazing option was evaluated considering Eskişehir's cold winters. The rails and wheels of the sliding glass were chosen of a quality to let the wide, heavy panels slide smoothly for years. The aluminium construction offered a structure durable against the hot-cold differences of the continental climate and outdoor weather.

Project Details and Process

The project started with the survey and measurement of the area; the façade dimensions and the sliding glass rail route were planned. Production was carried out in GlobalTente's manufacturing infrastructure in sizes specific to the façade. During installation, the pergola's load-bearing system was set up first, then the upper and lower rails of the sliding glass were levelled to the millimetre; the rail and gasket details were carefully applied for the panels to slide smoothly and for tightness. The turnkey approach let the customer work with a single point of contact and the process be managed smoothly. Water tightness and the smooth operation of the panels were verified by testing after installation.

The most critical issue in a wide-façade sliding glass application is levelling the side rails to the millimetre and the smooth sliding of the wide panels; the slightest misalignment can cause the panels to strain. So the rail alignments and wheel quality were evaluated meticulously. Eskişehir's continental climate required taking into account the expansion caused by the hot-cold difference; the profiles and glass were installed with tolerances suited to this expansion. A double-glazing option was offered for thermal insulation in the cold winters. GlobalTente overcame these challenges with experienced installation and quality components, achieving a smooth and durable result.

When the project was completed, the wide outdoor area became a sheltered, airy space usable in four seasons. In summer the pergola provides shade while the sliding glass panels are slid aside to open the façade; in winter the panels are closed to protect the area from cold and wind. The wide glass surfaces keep the area bright even when closed. The integrated design of the pergola and sliding glass added both functional and aesthetic value to the area. The customer could now use their wide outdoor space comfortably even in Eskişehir's harsh winter.

The strongest aspect of this project is that the two systems complement each other. While the pergola provides shade and protection from above, the sliding glass cuts wind and cold from the sides but allows the wide façade to open. When the two work together, a wide area fully becomes a four-season-usable outdoor room: open and airy in summer, closed and sheltered in winter. The horizontal operation of sliding glass is especially valuable on wide and flat façades, because the panels slide aside smoothly to open the wide span effortlessly. This combination is one of the most preferred solutions in wide-façade cafés, restaurants and social areas; the Eskişehir project is a successful example of this.

Eskişehir's continental climate is hot in summer and cold and windy in winter; the temperature differences between day-night and seasons are pronounced. In this climate an open outdoor space cannot be used due to excessive sun on summer middays and cold in winter. The pergola and sliding glass combination responds precisely to this climate: the pergola cuts the summer sun, the sliding glass keeps the winter cold and wind out. The double-glazing option increases thermal insulation in the cold winters, easing the heating of the area. So the wide outdoor space turned into a comfortable living area year-round even in Eskişehir's harsh climate. This project is a concrete example of managing an outdoor space with shade and enclosure in a continental climate.

In cities like Eskişehir with cold winters, thermal insulation matters in outdoor enclosure systems. In this project a double-glazing option was evaluated for the sliding glass; double glazing reduces heat transfer thanks to the gas gap between the two panes and eases the heating of the enclosed area. A well-sealed sliding glass cuts air leakage in the closed position, preventing cold draughts. So the area becomes usable comfortably when combined with a heater in winter; heating energy is saved. The wide glass surfaces provide maximum natural light even when closed, keeping the area bright. This balance made the system efficient in terms of both comfort and energy.

Choosing the pergola and sliding glass in the same colour and line made the two systems look like a single whole. The wide glass surfaces added an airy, modern air to the area, while the slim aluminium lines of the pergola formed a plain, sleek upper structure. The profile colour was chosen in harmony with the architecture of the space and surroundings for an integrated look. The uninterrupted glass surface of the sliding glass made the area look open and bright even when closed. This aesthetic care made the project not just a functional enclosure but a design solution that increases the visual value of the space.

The value of the project emerges in the wide outdoor area being usable in different ways throughout four seasons. In summer the pergola provides shade while the sliding glass panels are slid aside to open the façade; the area turns into an open, airy terrace and natural airflow is provided. In spring and autumn the panels are partly opened for both fresh air and wind protection. In winter the sliding glass is fully closed to protect the area from cold and wind; with double glazing and a heater added, it is used comfortably even in Eskişehir's harsh winter. The wide glass surfaces provide maximum natural light even in closed periods, keeping the area bright. This seasonal flexibility let the wide outdoor space be actively used year-round.

When choosing a glass system for the side enclosure, the geometry of the façade is decisive. Sliding glass is a smooth, practical solution on wide and flat openings; the panels slide horizontally to stack on one side. If full opening of the façade is the priority, folding glass, and on narrow façades with no side stacking area, guillotine glass is more suitable. In the Eskişehir project, since the area's wide and flat façade was ideal for sliding glass, this system was preferred; its smooth horizontal use provided great convenience over the wide span. All these movable glass solutions are part of the glass systems family and form a four-season-usable outdoor room when integrated with a pergola.

Running the project turnkey was central to the customer experience. Managing the survey, measurement, production, installation and test stages from one hand provided the flawless integration of the pergola and sliding glass and single-point-of-contact assurance. The customer worked with a single team without carrying the burden of coordinating between different suppliers. The two systems meeting on the same axis and in the same colour was only possible with a process planned from one hand; this is the main reason for the integrated and aesthetic result. The turnkey model offered a decisive advantage in both time and quality in wide-façade and multi-system projects.

The most distinctive feature of the Eskişehir project was closing a wide façade with a single integrated system. Over wide spans sliding glass is solved with modular panels and, when needed, an intermediate post or coupling; so a façade metres long can be closed with a single smoothly working sliding glass system. The pergola's aluminium structure carrying the wide span was designed in harmony with this modular glass structure. The most critical issue over wide spans is the panels working neatly and smoothly along the whole façade; this was achieved with the right rail, wheel and alignment. This modular approach makes sliding glass both a functional and a scalable solution in wide-façade projects.

• Pergola systems — aluminium structure, shade and upper protection
• Sliding glass systems — horizontal opening glass, wide-façade side enclosure
• Glass systems category — a complete outdoor solution

The Eskişehir project is a strong example of how a wide-façade outdoor space can be made four-season livable with a pergola and sliding glass. When shade and protection are provided with a pergola from above and wide-façade control with sliding glass from the sides, the area turns into a comfortable living space year-round even in the harsh conditions of a continental climate. The smooth horizontal operation of sliding glass on wide and flat façades is a decisive advantage in such projects. If you want a similar solution for your wide-façade outdoor space, you can request a free survey.

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