A rooftop oasis can offer a variety of benefits, including unparalleled city views, private outdoor space, increased property value, and an opportunity to embrace sustainable living. These projects also create green spaces that enhance urban landscapes by promoting biodiversity and improving air quality.
Stunning examples like High Line Park, Gardens by the Bay, and Bosco Verticale showcase the beauty of incorporating greenery into urban landscapes. Discover how Wave Outdoors Landscape + Design can help you build your own urban oasis.
Rooftop Decks
Elevated outdoor sanctuaries are rising in popularity in the Windy City as a means to maximize unused roof areas. These rooftop gardens provide a private space for relaxation and entertaining with scenic city views. They are becoming a sought-after home feature that significantly increases property value.
Designed to seamlessly balance individual comfort with the capacity for larger gatherings, this expansive chicago rooftop decks build reimagines urban living. The sweeping cityscape serves as the perfect backdrop to the multifunctional layout, where distinct rooms cater to different moods and occasions. An Ore Inc fire table offers cozy retreats, a dining space invites communal meals, and a kitchen/bar area becomes the heart of lively gatherings.
Reveal Design’s modern outdoor kitchen offers a unique dining experience with a custom buffet and state-of-the-art grill. This high-end setup is built with a blend of red brick and wooden panels, evoking both urban flair and hometown charm. An overhead heater and natural gas fire pit extend the deck’s enjoyment well into the cooler fall and winter seasons.
Choosing the right materials for a rooftop deck is essential to its longevity and durability. Wave Outdoors Landscape + Design works with clients to select durable materials that withstand the harsh urban environment, balancing functionality and aesthetics. They also take into account the structural capacity of the building’s rooftop to ensure that it can support a deck without additional reinforcements.
Modern Pergolas
A modern pergola offers the perfect blend of style and function, offering a stylish focal point while creating shade, shelter, and an inviting space to relax or entertain. Whether you’re looking to add privacy to your rooftop deck or simply create a cozy lounge area, professional designers can create a custom pergola design that is tailored to your specific needs and fits seamlessly into your West Loop landscape.
Rooftop terraces are a beautiful way to escape the bustle of the city and enjoy unparalleled views of the skyline. By investing in a custom pergola, you can transform your outdoor living space into a cozy retreat and host unforgettable moments with friends and family.
To create a relaxing oasis, it’s important to separate your seating area from the paved deck surface. A wooden lattice fence and climbing vines offer a barrier to the view of adjacent buildings, while adding height and a sense of opulence. The pergola-style frame of this garden allows for climbing plants to weave through and soften the fencing, with ‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop (Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, zones 3 to 9, left) and black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia sp., center) adding color and a fragrant aroma.
To extend your terrace’s use throughout the night, install a lighting system that highlights the space with a soft wash of illumination. For example, this rooftop terrace in Chicago features a combination of lights on the birch trees and a string of crisscrossing cafe lights to illuminate the steel and cedar pergola.
Vertical Gardens
Greenery is the cornerstone of any rooftop oasis, bringing vibrant beauty and biodiversity to your urban retreat. Plants and flowers help to mask harsh city noises, reduce the urban heat island effect, promote air purification, and more. Plus, they’re great for attracting local birds and pollinators!
Native plants also contribute to the health of urban ecosystems, helping to balance ecological diversity and maintain water conservation efforts. By integrating native species into rooftop gardens, you can create an eco-friendly, sustainable urban oasis that supports both wildlife and humans.
Another way to add a natural touch is by incorporating refreshing water features, such as fountains or ponds. Not only does this add visual appeal, but the sound of running water can help to calm your senses and sooth your soul.
Achieve the perfect ambiance for a laid-back garden party with this playful, modern take on rooftop decor. In this design, Hosts New Orleans transforms an urban deck into a chic garden gathering space with brightly colored chairs and simple yet elegant table settings. This fusion of organic elements with urban texture is where concrete meets chrysanthemum, and guests will be hard-pressed not to feel relaxed in this unique setting.
Greenery
An urban oasis is a carefully planned and executed landscaping project that transforms concrete jungles into breathtaking natural spaces. These green areas offer relaxation and stress relief, improve air quality, reduce noise pollution, and increase property values. They also support local flora and fauna, which promotes biodiversity in cities.
Incorporating greenery into urban landscapes can be challenging due to limitations in space, soil quality, and water availability. However, architects can overcome these obstacles by utilizing innovative techniques like rooftop gardens and vertical gardening. Additionally, they can use native plants that are adapted to urban environments and promote sustainable living.
Adding potted plants, hanging gardens, and refreshing water features to your outdoor oasis will instantly enhance the organic feel of your urban retreat. You can also choose to grow your own food with wall-mounted planters or use a vertical garden system to bring in lush greenery without consuming valuable space on your rooftop.
Embracing sustainable living practices is the best way to enjoy your rooftop oasis while contributing to the preservation of our planet. Embrace eco-friendly philosophies by composting, using organic fertilizers, and conserving water to ensure your rooftop retreat remains an environmentally friendly space. By incorporating these simple steps, you can create a budget-friendly and serene getaway right in the heart of the city.
Natural Materials
Whether it’s a verdant living wall adorning an office building or a peaceful rooftop garden offering respite from city noises, urban oasis designs demonstrate the benefits of nature in a modern lifestyle. Architects play a vital role in fostering these biodiverse cityscapes by incorporating sustainable landscaping practices and rooftop gardens into their projects.
Lush vines, leafy shrubs and swaying grasses add vibrant color and a soothing ambiance to urban rooftop terraces. To help them thrive, it’s important to choose plants that are suited for your climate and soil conditions. Vines, for example, can add a lush backdrop to a terrace with minimal effort and require little space, but they need plenty of sun exposure and ample water.
Plants also provide food and shelter for birds, bees and other pollinators, helping to maintain a balance between wildlife and human activity. To encourage birds and other creatures to visit your urban oasis, hang a bird feeder or place a nearby water source on the terrace. In addition, consider planting pollinator and seed-eater favorites like black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia sp.), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, zones 3 to 9), and ‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop (Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, zones 3 to 10).
The urban landscapes at High Line Park in New York, Gardens by the Bay in Singapore and Bosco Verticale in Milan offer awe-inspiring examples of the transformative power of greenery in a city setting. These stunning landmarks are both architectural marvels and a testament to the beauty of greenery in urban spaces, and they show how we can create a harmonious coexistence between human activities and natural elements.
Water Features
The soothing sounds of a waterfall, a reflecting pool, or a minimalist fountain can help set the mood of your rooftop oasis. Add a little greenery to these features for an added pop of color and texture. You can also incorporate a variety of eco-friendly water features, like recirculating pumps and rainwater collection systems, that will save water and reduce your environmental impact.
Besides providing tranquility, a well-designed urban oasis promotes sustainability by integrating various landscaping techniques and leveraging green roofs to increase soil quality and biodiversity. These spaces are a welcome respite from the concrete jungle of the city and serve as habitats for local flora and fauna.
A stunning example of an urban oasis is Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, which combines futuristic and immersive garden structures with lush greenery. Visitors can stroll along the elevated walkways and admire the stunning Supertree Grove adorned with lush plants such as orchids, ferns, and bromeliads.
If you are looking for a house with a rooftop patio, be sure to check out these stunning homes for sale. They provide a quiet space to relax and unwind with unparalleled city views. This feature can enhance your quality of life, and it can even raise the property value of your home. Whether you want to host a cocktail party or practice yoga in the morning, a rooftop retreat is the perfect place to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.