Landscape Architect Articles

LASN February 2011 Outdoor Living: Manhattan Rooftop Becomes an Outdoor Living Oasis02-01-11 | News

Manhattan Rooftop Becomes an Outdoor Living Oasis

By Chris Mordi, vice president of communications for Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet

Located six stories above street level, this outdoor space encompasses 1,000 square feet and includes the fully functional outdoor kitchen, three pergolas, a water feature, a green wall, seating and garden areas. The space is sleek and contemporary, and complements the clean lines and modern feel of the home?EUR??,,????'?????<

When you think of landscape construction, you normally associate it with earth, and dirt. You envision the ground as the foundation for the project and you build up and out from there. But what happens when the client wants their outdoor living space on a rooftop six stories above one of the busiest cities in the world.

Manhattan, N.Y.-based KokoBo Plantscapes was asked to do just that when their client asked them to turn a blank and vacant Manhattan roof top into a space where they could use it year round to relax, and entertain. KokoBo worked with the homeowner to add another design objective: to create a safe ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Before the designers tackled this project, the area was a forgotten and unused rooftop space. After 18 months, the space was transformed into an outdoor room that is green, lush and warm, and includes the views of Manhattan?EUR??,,????'?????<

?EUR??,,????'?????<

She says designing an outdoor kitchen/living space on a rooftop is dramatically different from creating one in a yard.

?EUR??,,????'?????<

In addition, she said engineers have to approve the weight limits for the roof. Another difference comes in the allotted square footage for an outdoor kitchen. It is typically smaller than a suburban yard. However, the clients usually want the same items, so designers have to be especially creative with its placement.

Carex and a Sangu Kaku Japanese Maple fill a planter box adjacent to a bar and serving area that features an undercounter ice maker and wine chiller. The countertop is by Icestone, a Brooklyn, NY- based manufacturer of durable surfaces made from recycled glass and concrete. This counter was selected as a substitute for granite.

Even though this location is dramatically different from what most contractors are used to, one element remains the same: the inspiration for the design. Homan says she got her design cues from the interior of the house and the homeowners?EUR??,,????'?????<

While all landscape projects have obstacles to overcome, the challenges on this job were unique, ranging from moving materials to a space six stories above street level to ensuring all parts of the new space could be supported by the roof. ?EUR??,,????'?????<

The KokoBo team had only a small window of time to use the scaffolding, which meant they had to prioritize which materials would arrive at the job site first.

The outdoor kitchen was situated at the heart of the project. The kitchen serves a ?EUR??,,????'?????<

In addition to location, an even bigger obstacle was standing in the way of the getting the job done: the roof itself. It had to support a variety of spaces that weighed differently on its structure. The outdoor kitchen was one weight while the pergolas, water feature and sitting areas sat less heavily on the roof.

?EUR??,,????'?????<

Once the weight loads were appropriately set, the building process began. With no ground to dig into, KokoBo?EUR??,,????'?????<

Essentially, they are pedestals that have the ability to raise the flooring material several inches above the roof. Each unit?EUR??,,????'?????<

Russ Faulk, a recognized expert in outdoor kitchen design and vice president of product development for Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, said one of the main areas where an outdoor kitchen installation can go wrong is how the utilities are run.

Even though the kitchen is located near an entrance to the home, it has all of the equipment that makes it fully independent. The sink, cabinetry, grill, refrigeration and appropriate amount of counter space free the homeowners?EUR??,,????'?????<

Faulk said two of the biggest mistakes are the GFI outlets and the diameter of the natural gas pipe serving the outdoor kitchen. According to Faulk, when running the electrical it should be tied to one or two GFI breakers in the home?EUR??,,????'?????<

Faulk says the second main utility concern is ensuring the appliances in the kitchen receive the gas pressure they need to operate efficiently.

?EUR??,,????'?????<

The last obstacle that needed to be overcome was one of the main features of the roofscape: a large blank brick wall. Homan says the space was lacking a focal point until she disguised the brick with a green wall system. She used 49 19-inch by 19-inch panels that were connected to the brick with mounting strips that were affixed to the brick. Each panel was filled with different types of hardy sedum, ensuring no replanting in spring and keeping with the sustainable theme of the entire design. She says the irrigation system is part of the green wall, with drip tubing and emitters that run through the top of each row of panels. Gravity carries water from the top to each panel, all the way to the bottom.

?EUR??,,????'?????<

The materials chosen for the project had to endure Manhattan?EUR??,,????'?????<