Daniel Keeley, founder and principal of Design DK in Fayetteville, Arkansas, recently redesigned two adjacent rooftop terraces at Fayetteville Square that exemplify urban outdoor living at its finest. TheDesign of the roof terraceoffers a unique atmosphere for entertaining and relaxing with friends and family. Along with this atmosphere comes a unique set of conditions that influence the entire design and construction process. Here, Keeley shares five considerations for homeowners converting their roof into aluxury-Want to transform living space.
Designing the roof terrace – dividing the area into different zones
For those who want to have a roof garden or outdoor living space, detailed planning and organization is crucial. The biggest challenge for Keeley and his team in designing the rooftop terrace was logistics. The luxury condos are on the second level above a commercial unit, so bringing all the equipment, materials and furniture upstairs required creativity. A crane was used for the heavier elements while some of the plant material was carried in the elevator.
“Be prepared to spend more money designing or remodeling a rooftop patio than compared to on-ground construction,” Keeley warns us. The construction work on the roof is more expensive because of the reasons I have already mentioned,” he adds.
Design of the roof terrace – sun and wind protection are a priority
When working on the ground, trees provide dense shade and act as a windbreak. There can sometimes be extreme working conditions on a roof, sun and wind can be almost unbearable, so protection from these two is our number one priority. Keeley had a tent pavilion built on one of the terraces, which casts shade over the seating area. “Because winds are sometimes very strong here – up to 60 mph, we secured the structure with steel reinforcement below the ceiling beams,” he explains. There was already enough shade in another area of this terrace, where a cedar pergola was attached to the apartment. In addition, Keeley recommends built-in storage areas for furniture cushions and pads that can easily be blown away by a strong wind. On one of his terraces there is a wall of stainless steel cabinets that serve this purpose.
Designing the roof terrace – the right privacy protection
Usually the roof terraces are located in the city center, where the buildings are very close to each other and the view is not always the best. These condos are not in the middle of Manhattan, so Keeley had to consider the close proximity of neighbors. “Only a railing separated these terraces and they basically offered little privacy,” he remembers. Fence panels and boxwood hedges help to clearly separate the two areas. Boxwood hedges were also used to block out unwanted vistas, allowing views of the Ozark Mountains in the distance.
Design of the roof terrace – the plants choose
“From the beginning, we knew we wanted these terraces to be an extension of the indoor living spaces with elements of a garden,” says Keeley. This meant that more than decorative plants would be needed there. Upholstered furniture was used on both terraces to soften the design. Each patio also has a fire pit that warms the outdoor atmosphere on those cold evenings when the homeowners want to watch football outside on the roof, al fresco.
Design a roof terrace - the floor covering should be non-slip
The flooring of each terrace was also carefully selected. “Originally the two patios were wood decked, but I wanted something that would be more comfortable for bare feet,” says Keeley. For one terrace he chose recycled Trex decking with a wood look, which is easy to clean and non-slip, so there is no risk of slipping for the owners' grandchildren. On the other terrace, the quartzite slabs offer a smooth, cool and elegant surface.
Design a roof terrace – this is how the professionals do it
When planning your ownRoof terraceIt is important that you first make sure the patio fits your lifestyle. The primary function for each of these areas is to serve as a gathering place for family and friends. Each terrace includes dining and seating areas as well as an outdoor kitchen. However, both families have a new home where they spend some of their time. The roof terraces also require minimal maintenance. For this reason, Keeley kept the greenery to a minimum and also installed automatic drip irrigation. “This automated drip irrigation system keeps the plants from drying out too quickly because of the extreme stress they are put under up here,” he points out.
The roof terrace is divided into different zones
Project byDK Design
