The main planting included osmanthus hedging, with its rich jasmine-scented flowers in mid-spring, as well as several trees. 'They were keen to have a space that could evolve over time, attract wildlife and that was abundant with color, scent and atmosphere.' 'A lot of roof terraces can look contemporary but may not really be about the plants themselves,' says Alistair, who took his cue from coastal and Mediterranean plants that can tolerate exposure, as well as owners who were leaving a much-loved garden at their family home across the river in Barnes. This eighth floor city roof garden, designed by Aralia's Alastair Henderson in Hammersmith's Fulham Reach, feels private thanks to the layered planting and carefully placed trees, which can also help make a small garden look bigger. Many existing roof structures, including garden buildings, have not been designed to bear a heavy load, so professional installation is a must. They add charm, interest and natural appeal, especially to new-builds, and contrast beautifully with weathered wood cladding.’Īsk a structural engineer to design your green roof so that the load capacity is taken into consideration. Green roofs, often planted with lightweight sedums, can add a rustic, weathered look to a new-build or outbuilding, as well as offering a safe haven for bees, insects and other wildlife.įirst introduced in Berlin in the 1880s to protect bitumen roofs from fire in hot weather, living roofs are now a popular way to add another dimension of green space to a garden, particularly urban gardens and new-builds that aim to blend with the surrounding environment.Īccording to Simon Walker at Walker Architects: 'A grass roof is an ideal way to integrate a building visually with the surrounding landscape, creating a rich and vibrant tapestry of color to harmonize with the environment. Fixing pots to surrounding walls or placing them on cantilevered shelves will help as the walls will be taking the weight, not the roof.Īlso, choose lightweight collapsible furniture instead of a huge, glass-topped table. Plastic planters, along with fibreglass imitations, weigh much less than concrete, stone or terracotta containers.Īvoid placing pots in the centre of a roof terrace and don’t have too many (fewer containers look better). If weight is an issue, there are obvious things you can do. In order to be certain, consult a structural engineer who will calculate what you can – but more importantly what you can’t do – on an older-style roof garden. How much weight it can take is debatable, and it’s likely you won’t find the information on the title deeds. When it comes to older properties, chances are the space was originally intended to be somewhere to hang out the washing, or access the roof. Roof gardens and terraces, however, are a very different matter.ĭiscovering the load-bearing capacity of a purpose-built roof garden is easy – you simply need to look at the title deeds. With tiny balconies tacked onto the sides of flats or townhouses you won’t need to worry, as they will have been specifically designed to take the weight of a few pots, containers and a bistro dining set. Weight is the most important practical consideration when planning roof garden ideas. Most importantly, don’t put yourself at risk by teetering over high edges to fix screening – call in a specialist builder or a rope access company to tackle it for you. Don’t site it across prevailing winds unless there are a few holes in it, otherwise turbulence will smack over the top and down on you with great force. Glass is commonly used as a balustrade and wind buffer on roof terraces as it provides uninterrupted views. Instead, choose permeable trelliswork, hit-and-miss cedar battens arranged horizontally, or perforated sailcloth that filters the wind so only a subtle breeze is felt on the leeward (downwind) side. Unless there is protection from surrounding buildings, solid windbreaks aren’t a good idea as they block out the view, plus the wind stress on fixings is high. Many plants can cope with it, but you might need some shelter if you want to enjoy the space all year round. Wind is a common problem on roof gardens.
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