Design a loft-style roof terrace: a green oasis in Melbourne, Australia

A green oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the big city – this is how the loft-style roof terrace project can be described. The talented architects at Bent Architecture were tasked with designing an island of tranquility for an Australian family. The owners set the requirement for a multifunctional space with a clear division into several zones. Each zone should serve different functions so that the family can enjoy the summer outdoors. The architects mastered the challenge of implementing a sophisticated concept with a lot of creativity. We present to you the outstanding end result – a green oasis in Melbourne. Join us on a trip to Australia!

Loft-style roof terrace: an urban garden project in Melbourne

In Australia, people like to stay outdoors and move their lives outside in the summer. The garden or terrace not only becomes a place to retreat, but also offers lounge areas to relax after a long day at work. An outdoor kitchen is also a must - so families can end the evening with a barbecue with friends. However, especially in the big city, the dream oasis unfortunately remains just a dream - the street noise is annoying, and many curious neighbors live in the nearby skyscraper. In addition, the residential areas with houses are located far away from the city center - everyone who wants to avoid the long journey to work and back chooses an apartment in the city. If possible – with a roof terrace. In Melbourne, roof terraces offer the opportunity to create your own green island of peace.

Anyone who decides to do this will have to overcome many obstacles. For example the location - the higher it isRoof terrace is located, the stronger the wind and the sun's rays. Choosing the right plants that can withstand the heat can really be a challenge. People will also not feel comfortable without suitable wind and sun protection. For example, the roof terrace that the architects from Bent Architecture designed is located high up, on the 30th floor.

Multifunctional outdoor area

To make the whole family feel comfortable, the architects decided to design the roof terrace in the loft style - that is, they divided the available area into zones and then visually connected them using colors and materials.

There is an outdoor dining area in the southern part - the large round table and wooden bench offer enough seating for all friends. A wooden room divider protects you from prying eyes, and the glazed wooden pergola protects you from wind and rain in the evening. Green ground cover plants in the raised bed right next to the table create a seamless transition between the different areas. Of course, the outdoor kitchen was equipped with a garden grill - so the family can enjoy being together over dinner.

The project fascinates with its creative concept

If a party is organized on the roof terrace, then guests can enjoy the beautiful view of the city - because right next to the dining area there is a comfortable spacious niche that looks towards the center and the ocean. A bar counter provides space for the cocktails and then flows into the raised bed decorated with green mosaic tiles.

A cozy reading corner completes the outdoor living program - it is visually separated from the party niche by a large-format planter, is in the shade and is furnished rather sparingly. On oneLounge seating groupThe architects deliberately decided against this after consultation with the owners - the outdoor area should appear spacious and allow free movement between the different zones.

ground cover,Perennials and flowers form an attractive ensemble

By the way, nature clearly plays the main role in the design. The architects were inspired by numerous urban gardens and specifically chose a raised bed. It fulfills two important functions - on the one hand, the construction protects against wind. On the other hand, it creates an optical illusion. Since the terrace is very high, ground cover plants were the most suitable plants - but the green raised bed makes us believe that we are in the middle of a secluded garden.

An easy-care garden oasis

The small oasis is also very easy to care for - most plants love sunny locations and calcareous soil, are hardy and can easily withstand frost. Hobby gardeners are guaranteed not to be overwhelmed with gardening - the perennials and ornamental grasses are fairly undemanding. A suitable privacy screen was even considered - climbing plants should shield the terrace from prying eyes in two years and protect the privacy of the owners.

Creating the materialsexcitingIn contrast

The neutral color schemeand the natural materials complete the look - green, brown and beige form an attractive ensemble. The warm wood color contrasts with the shimmering green mosaic tiles that make us dream of the ocean. The floor covering - gravel chips add the finishing touch to the garden design.

Are roof terraces an alternative to the garden?

The successful completion of the project and the successful end result lead the architects to believe that roof terraces can prove to be an alternative to public parks, especially in densely populated urban areas in large cities. The goal – in the future, even tall buildings should be designed to be environmentally friendly and have at least one garden on the roof.

Project by:Bent Architecture