Renson Pergolas Compared: Lapure, Camargue, Algarve, Aero and Amani

Renson makes more than a dozen pergolas, and the names don’t tell you much. Lapure, Camargue, Algarve, Aero and Amani all sound like places on a Mediterranean map, and the “Skye” and “Canvas” versions double the list again. If you are trying to work out which one belongs over your patio, this guide lays them side by side.

We sell and specify the full Renson range from our Los Angeles showroom, so everything below comes from how these structures actually get used on LA homes: hillside terraces, pool decks, side yards and rooftop decks.

The three roof types behind every Renson pergola

Before comparing models, it helps to know that every Renson pergola uses one of three roofs.

• Rotating aluminum louvers. The blades tilt open for air and light and close flat to shed rain. Camargue, Algarve, Aero and Amani use this system.
• Louvers that rotate and retract. The “Skye” models add a second motion: the blades stack away to open the sky completely. Camargue Skye and Aero Skye work this way.
• Fabric or fixed roofs. Lapure uses a retractable, waterproof fabric roof. The “Canvas” models (Algarve Canvas, Aero Canvas) have a fixed metal roof with a fabric ceiling underneath.

Decide the roof first. The rest (size, color, lighting, side screens) is detail.

Lapure: the fabric-roof pergola

The Lapure pergola is Renson’s most minimal design. Slim aluminum columns hold a fabric roof that slides open and closed, so on a clear evening you get open sky and on a hot afternoon you get full shade.

Lapure suits contemporary homes where the pergola should read as a light frame rather than a roof. For more traditional architecture, Renson’s Classic Line adds cornices and ornaments so the structure matches older facades. Several Lapure units can be coupled together to cover a long terrace.

Choose Lapure if you want a soft, tensioned-fabric look and don’t need a solid roof.

Camargue and Camargue Skye: the flagship louvered pergolas

The Camargue pergola is the one most people picture when they think of a Renson. The aluminum louvers rotate to control sun and airflow, and every option (sliding panels, side screens, integrated lighting, heating) is built into the frame instead of bolted on afterwards. The result is a clean box with no visible hardware.

The Camargue Skye keeps all of that and adds a fully retractable louvered roof. The blades rotate like a standard Camargue, then slide away to open the whole roof. In Los Angeles that matters in winter, when you want the low sun on the terrace, and at night, when an open roof lets heat escape and shows the sky.

Choose Camargue for a freestanding outdoor room with fully integrated options. Choose Camargue Skye if you want the option of no roof at all.

Algarve and Algarve Canvas: the flexible all-rounders

The Algarve pergola is Renson’s most versatile louvered pergola. It can stand on its own or attach to the house as a lean-to, several units couple together for large spaces, and it comes in a wide range of color combinations. Like Lapure, it is available in the Classic Line finish.

The Algarve Canvas swaps the louvers for a fixed roof: a powder-coated steel top layer with an anti-condensation coating, and a stretched fabric ceiling beneath it. You lose adjustable light but gain a completely sealed roof and a soft ceiling finish, which works well over outdoor kitchens and dining areas.

The same Algarve Canvas system is also used for Renson’s aluminum carport, which is how many LA homeowners end up with a carport that matches their patio cover.

Aero, Aero Skye and Aero Canvas: pergolas without columns

The Aero family is for spaces that already have walls or structure around them. The Aero pergola is a louvered roof without columns, mounted into an existing opening such as a courtyard, between two walls or under a roof overhang. The louvers rotate up to 150 degrees.

The Aero Skye adds retractable blades, the same way Camargue Skye does, and is designed to sit inside an existing roof structure. The Aero Canvas is the fixed-roof version, with a metal top and solar-shading fabric beneath.

Choose Aero if you are covering a courtyard or infill space and don’t want posts in the way.

Amani: the garden pavilion

The Amani pergola is Renson’s newest bioclimatic design. It works attached to the house or as a standalone garden pavilion, and it has a softer, more architectural profile than Camargue. Amani is a good choice for a pavilion at the far end of a garden or beside a pool, where the structure is seen from all sides.

If you are weighing a pergola against a cabana or a pavilion, our guide to cabanas, pavilions and pergolas explains the difference in detail.

Quick comparison

• Lapure: retractable fabric roof, freestanding or wall-mounted, light and minimal.
• Camargue: rotating louvers, freestanding, fully integrated options.
• Camargue Skye: rotating and retracting louvers, freestanding.
• Algarve: rotating louvers, freestanding or lean-to, most configurable.
• Algarve Canvas: fixed sealed roof with fabric ceiling. Also used as a carport.
• Aero / Aero Skye / Aero Canvas: no columns, fits into existing structures.
• Amani: bioclimatic garden pavilion, attached or standalone.

Finishing the space

A pergola gives you a roof. The walls, floor and furniture make it a room.

• Side screens. Renson outdoor blinds drop down between columns to block low western sun and wind. On LA pool decks they do more for comfort than any other option.
• Wall cladding. Matching horizontal and vertical wall cladding hides a neighboring wall or AC unit in the same aluminum as the pergola.
• Garden elements. Renson’s garden elements, including garden walls, modules and garden lighting, continue the same design language into the yard.
• Furniture. Under a pergola, furniture stays out of direct sun and rain, so you can use deeper cushions and lighter fabrics. A modular outdoor sectional or an outdoor dining table is usually the anchor piece.

Renson or another brand?

Renson isn’t the only pergola maker we carry. Italian brand Pratic makes bioclimatic and fabric pergolas such as the Brera S and the wall-mounted Level 63. Gandia Blasco’s Flex Pergolas are a lighter, more furniture-like option. You can browse all of them in our pergola collection and the aluminum pergola range.

Renson’s strength is integration. Lighting, screens, heating and drainage are designed into the frame, which is why the finished result looks cleaner than most alternatives.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Renson Lapure?

Lapure is a Renson pergola with slim aluminum columns and a retractable, waterproof fabric roof. It suits contemporary homes and can be coupled into larger structures.

What is the difference between Camargue and Camargue Skye?

Both have rotating aluminum louvers. On the Camargue Skye, the louvers also retract, so the entire roof can open.

Can a Renson pergola attach to my house?

Yes. Algarve and Lapure can be installed as lean-to structures against the house, and the Aero family is designed specifically to fit into existing walls or roof openings.

Do I need a permit for a pergola in Los Angeles?

Often, yes. Requirements depend on the size, whether the structure is attached and which city you are in. Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Malibu each have their own rules, so check with your local building department or contractor before ordering.

Where can I see Renson pergolas in Los Angeles?

Visit our showroom or contact us with your measurements and photos of the space. We’ll recommend a model and prepare a quote.