Penthouse & Roof Garden Design
Gardens in elevated spaces

Penthouse & Roof Garden Design in London

Modern city living 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 are happy to discuss with you exactly what you want to get from the roof space and we are also able to advise on the many practicalities which you need to consider when planning your roof garden.

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What are the unique features and challenges that need consideration in roof garden design:

Hampstead Garden Design has developed many wonderful high-rise outdoor spaces and with our experience of designing roof gardens, can help you with all the features and challenges of yours. Having had the initial idea and seen the potential of an outdoor area becoming a roof garden reality, there are some practical considerations.

Lack of soil: Being at the top of a building will usually mean that the planting needs to be in planters, pots or toughs or specially built areas which are then ﬁlled with the planting medium. We generally recommend that planters are created using a good quality grp (glass reinforced plastic) which is extremely light weight and perfect for a roof terrace.

Considerations of the building structure: The weight of soil, planters and plants, all add to the structural load of the building and can be very 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.

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.

Other things that are worth considering when planning your perfect roof garden design:

Who will be using the roof garden? Just you, your children and family pets or will it be a communal space for other people in the building as well?

What would you like to include in your roof garden? – Do you need an area for dining or outdoor sofas, storage for garden tools and furniture cushions, a play area for the children or possibly even a space for keeping a bee hive?

How much time do you have to look after or maintain the roof garden?

Will the space be left for extended periods of time? If this is the case you may want to arrange maintenance and an irrigation system to water the plants will be especially useful.

What is the best view from the roof garden? Being high up you have an opportunity to gain a new and unique view of your surroundings

Hampstead Garden Design: Perfect Roof Gardens and Terraces in London

If you are considering developing a roof garden or you have a roof garden that you would like to redesign, we love to talk your ideas through with you

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Penthouse & Roof garden designs completed for clients.

What clients say about their experience and their new garden

We had a number of meetings with Sarah to discuss ideas and she interpreted what we wanted beautifully. The companies she recommended to carry out the actual building work according to her plans were excellent. Then began the job of choosing the plant layout which, again, Sarah interpreted beautifully. Everything was planted in September 2016 and now, summer 2017, we are reaping the rewards of a mature, easy to maintain, lovely garden, both back and front. Highly recommended.

Janet, Northwood

I am writing this is my study overlooking my wonderful new garden. From the first meeting to the final work, I could not have been happier. Sarah created a garden for us that 18 months on looks brilliant, even at this time of year. The end result is that we have a garden and new patio that we can enjoy and one that our grandchildren can also play in. Thank you Sarah.

Jonathan, Hampstead Garden Suburb

Sarah has given me the most beautiful garden. She listened to my ideas and stretched them even further. I could never have got here without her. Her landscaping was inspired and her planting has provided me with a year round delight. I would thoroughly recommend her.

Lizzie, London N8

Sarah of Hampstead Garden Design was a delight to work with, she designed a wonderful patio, front driveway and garden planting scheme for us. Sarah understood our brief completely and we are delighted with the finished results. We consider our garden to be another room in our house and are deriving so much pleasure from it. We would definitely recommend Hampstead Garden Design.

Michelle, Mill Hill

We moved in 2014 to a house with smaller and very unattractive gardens, front and back. We didn’t want to wait for years of our own trial and error improving them. A friend recommended Sarah and using her to design and plant our new gardens has been a real pleasure. She listened to our wants and dislikes, surveyed the new gardens carefully to take account of changes of level, supplied plans we could understand, noted our responses to her proposals, adapted them to what we wanted and oversaw the complete and imaginative redesign and planting of the new gardens.

The whole planting scheme was attractive and interesting and within our budget. Even in the first summer (2015) the result was just what we wanted and we’re confident it will get better and better as the gardens mature. We thought her fees were reasonable and she stuck to the figure she had quoted – no hidden surprises. Her communications with us were first rate.
Thank you Sarah!

Robert and Lynette, North Finchley

We were recommended to Sarah by our architect and found her excellent in every way. It was great to have the garden designed so beautifully and it has greatly enhanced our home. All went very smoothly and it was a pleasure to deal with her.

David and Helen, Hampstead Garden Suburb

From the outset, Sarah was a great listener and transferred my vision to a set of plans that my builders found easy to follow. She worked hard to source products that matched my requirements and always went the extra mile to deliver an excellent and cost effective service. Sarah was a pleasure to work with and I am happy to recommend her work.

Amanda, Golders Green

Sarah understood exactly how I wanted to transform my garden and the result is beautiful and easy to maintain. She is very efficient and extremely pleasant to work with.

Vivien, Hampstead

Penthouse & Roof Garden Design Gardens in elevated spaces