Penthouse and roof garden design in London
Modern city living in London often means making the most of any available outdoor space. With many of us living in apartments which have little access to a garden at ground-floor level, we often want to create a green, outdoor space high up on a roof or terrace. At Hampstead Garden Design we love the challenge that roof garden design presents. We have developed many wonderful high-rise outdoor spaces and are happy to discuss with you exactly what you want to get from the roof space and are also able to advise on the many practicalities which you need to consider when planning your roof garden.
Having had the initial idea and seen the potential of an outdoor area becoming a roof garden, there are some practical considerations.
What are the unique features and challenges that need consideration when designing a roof garden:
Consideration of the building structure: This is perhaps the most important thing to think about when planning a roof terrace; the weight of soil, planters and plants, all add to the structural load of the building and can be extremely heavy when saturated with rainwater or snow. A well-designed roof garden will consider the structural restrictions and we always recommend that clients take advice from a structural engineer.
Planning permission: It may not be your first thought, but often you will need planning permission to create a roof garden. It is a good idea to contact your local planning department for advice, before you begin any works.
Safety: Due to the height of a roof garden, it is important to consider whether any walls, railings or balustrades on the perimeter will meet health and safety standards. Again, it is important to take advice from your local planning department on planning and building regulations.
Lack of soil: Being at the top of a building will usually mean that the planting needs to be in planters, pots or toughs. We generally recommend that planters are created using a good quality glass reinforced plastic (also known as GRP) which is extremely light weight and perfect for a roof terrace.
Views: It is a good idea to consider whether your potential roof garden has attractive views. Is the space overlooked from neighbouring buildings and if so, are you able to create some privacy using planting or screening?
Sun and wind and exposure: Being high up, roof gardens are often more exposed to the wind and heat of the sun. A well-designed roof garden will consider these challenges and will plan planting which can cope with hot and dry conditions.
Access to the roof garden: You will need to consider how the roof garden will be accessed, both during construction works and when the garden is completed. Can any necessary materials and plants be easily carried up to the roof terrace or will a crane be necessary? Will the garden be easy to access and enjoy once it has been created?
Water supply and use: Many roof gardens will include an irrigation system in the design for plant watering. In order to minimise the amount of water needed, it is a good idea to use plants which thrive in hot and dry climates, such as plants from Mediterranean areas.
Long term maintenance: Roof gardens are usually only accessible through the building, so it is important to consider the long-term maintenance of the garden space and how garden waste will be removed.
When planning your roof garden it is also important to think about all of the features you might want to include in your outdoor space. Would you like an area for dining or outdoor sofas, storage for garden tools and furniture cushions or possibly even a space for keeping a bee hive? Careful planning is needed to work out how best to incorporate all of the items on your roof garden wish list, which is where we at Hampstead Garden Design can help. If you are considering developing a roof garden or you have a roof garden that you would like to redesign, we would love to talk to you about the possibilities.