Roof Gardens: How to Create a Sky-High Haven

With sweeping horizons all around and the urban streets far below, gardening in the sky presents a fresh perspective on any city. Architectural innovations—such as Thomas Heatherwick’s super-sized planted pergola in Tokyo, the pyramidal ACROS building in Fukuoka, Japan, and the much-loved High Line in New York City—have allowed roof gardens to draw our gaze up and away from ground-level gardening.

On a domestic scale, your private rooftop eyrie can be slick and svelte in metal and glass, or it can be a sky-high meadow haven for birds and bees. Either way, a roof garden provides precious outside space and the opportunity to press pause; invaluable in today’s bustling cities, and a trend that has landscape architects hooked.

Room at the Top

“Here in New York City, we’re seeing more pools and spas on roofs, which is a truly spectacular experience, particularly at night,” says Cara White, principal at landscape design company Elevations. “There are also more elements to encourage four-season use, like outdoor fireplaces and firepits, and extensive outdoor kitchens. On a technical front, there are wifi-enabled lighting and irrigation systems, and more integration with home automation.”

In cities, space is at a premium so it makes sense to utilize every inch—Sera Rogue

The perfect example of this is the Eastwick Residence by HMWhite. The multilevel roof garden is “designed to weave diverse landscape typologies within, around, and above the contemporary penthouse.” It features a sun deck, a water spa, reflection pool, and a series of undulating knolls that “depict a rolling grassland prairie to visually increase the sense of spatial layering while subtly masking building mechanical systems.”

Related: Explore the High-Rise Farms of the Future

For Sera Rogue of Red Fern Brooklyn, rooftop design is all about maximizing space: “In New York City, space is at a premium so I encourage my clients to use every inch. We like to feature plants that clients see in nature at their farms or near their beach houses. A rooftop oasis lets you relax and recharge when a weekend getaway is out of the question.”

The Sky’s the Limit

Rooftop gardens can sometimes be tricky to create, and expert advice on weight loading and construction logistics is needed, but the design opportunities aren’t restricted to contemporary apartments. In London, award-winning garden designer Charlotte Rowe has created roof terraces and gardens in some unexpected locations—including the old boatsheds at Eton College in Windsor, a converted 19th-century dairy by the River Thames, and several Victorian buildings. And with architects and high-rise developers now incorporating rooftop gardens into their blueprints, there’s ample scope to bring more nature into the sky.

So, where to begin? White suggests taking time to understand the nuances of the space, and how and when you’ll use it: “Roof terraces can have microclimates, so get a sense of where the breeze blows too hard at cocktail hour.” Meanwhile, landscape designer Jeffrey Erb starts by responding to the surrounding vistas. “There is this incredible connection between whatever is in your space and what lies beyond. For example, add an element of water to your design and suddenly you’ll feel more connected to the river that’s in view. The same thing can be done with architectural features.”

In NYC, we’re seeing more pools and spas on roofs, which is a spectacular experience, particularly at night—Cara White

Although Erb finds that even clients with an eclectic interior style prefer a clean, modern look for their rooftop space, Rogue encourages a less rigid approach: “We’re moving away from sharp edges and industrial elements, and wild textural plants are now replacing cookie-cutter boxwoods. Organic materials are softening the backdrop of steel and glass, and natural woods like cedar and teak appeal because the patina evolves over time. Clients want to explore edible gardens and meadow-style plantings, and there’s now a desire to integrate greenery throughout the space, using low built-in planters, vertical green walls, and vine-covered pergolas.”

Related: Learn how to Rewild Your Garden

Shadow Dance

Shadows are another device that Erb uses to introduce depth and visual interest. “Shadows can be created by plantings, or by pergola rafters dancing across a paved surface; even fencing or statues will cast intriguing shadows. The vertical components in an outdoor space create a sense of drama, too,” he adds. “If you have a view of a bridge or a beautiful skyline, we can use vertical elements to frame and enhance that view.”

Rogue always impresses on her clients the need for cover. Lattice screens, planted pergolas, retractable awnings, slatted fencing or steel cable grids all provide privacy and shade, combined with a lightweight or ‘floating’ floor: possibilities include quartzite or porcelain pavers, or decking in timber, aluminum, or recycled Trex.

Related: Discover how to Create an Eco-Garden

Finally, plants, which are integral to the success of any rooftop space. At the High Line, the mix of perennials and grasses chosen by planting designer Piet Oudolf draws from North America’s indigenous prairie flora, and makes it perfectly adapted to the city’s variable climate. “Beach planting also works in a roof garden, because maritime plants cope well with wind,” says Rowe, bringing a flavor of the Hamptons to London or New York City. She uses a simple but dynamic planting palette: “Not too many varieties, and plenty of rhythm and repetition. We also prefer multistemmed trees because they don’t wobble around in the breeze.”

Vertical elements in a rooftop garden can be used to frame and enhance the view—Jeffrey Erb

Rogue uses evergreens to buffer sounds from street level, underplanted with sages and colorful coneflowers, while Erb recommends grasses such as pennisetum and carex that “catch the wind and move beautifully on rooftops.” These simple combinations look completely at home under an open sky.

On the Market

Ocean-View Masterpiece in Baja California Sur, Mexico

The upper level of this standout residence—on the market with 2Seas Los Cabos—is a tranquil paradise, with its splendid infinity-edge pool and terrace. There are far-reaching sea views from almost every space and the home showcases modern eco-architecture, with rammed-earth walls, a wood-and-metal roof, and natural finishes in all rooms.

Scenic Mediterranean Villa in Sardinia, Italy

Generous outdoor spaces are a feature of this seafront villa on the magnificent Punta Volpe peninsula, which includes a roof garden with panoramic views. On the market with Immobilsarda S.r.l, an all-white palette dominates the principal social areas and a total of six bedrooms includes two master suites.

Banner image: A rooftop garden by New York-based landscape design company Elevations