OUTDOOR DECK AREAS

In many cases, the best way to create outdoor living space is to look for areas where a deck can be incorporated either at grade level or an elevated level such as at balconies or rooftops. These types of outdoor spaces can allow for an extension of indoor areas or can be seen as outdoor places all on their own. Through design, such outdoor deck areas can be completely customized to contain desirable amenity features such as outdoor kitchens, fire pits, bars, seating areas, gardens, or others.

One successful means to construct this type of outdoor space is to use a modular, raised pedestal deck system. This versatile approach gives designers the flexibility to create unique and beautiful outdoor spaces. Adjustable pedestal deck systems can be utilized over virtually any structural surface - on bare structural decks, rooftop decks, roof membranes, green roofs, terraces, compacted grade, pavement, or pool surrounds. The adjustable pedestal accessories allow for variations in slope or substrate so a level pedestal grid can be created. On top of that, modular wood tiles or other pavers can then be laid to create the outdoor walking surface. Architects can choose from a mix of surface material options including wood, stone, structural porcelain, crushed rock, grating, artificial turf, and concrete. In addition, some systems readily accommodate other features such as planter cubes, water features, exterior lighting, and benches, to create a complete living or entertaining space. Through the modular use of materials and accessories, designers can create an abundance of different design visions without the need for custom or costly materials.

In addition to being readily customized to suit a particular design intent, this modular, adjustable approach helps connect people to the outdoor environment. Outdoor decks can also provide a direct visual and material connection with nature thus creating a peaceful refuge to rejuvenate the body, mind, and soul. A deck’s views of the encircling landscape can provide users the opportunity to visually survey and contemplate the surrounding environment. These broad landscape views can inspire an emotional attachment to the building’s natural surroundings and promote positive interactions between the building users and the neighboring ecosystem.

From a biophilic standpoint, natural materials can be used in a deck system, such as wood and stone, and the spaces can incorporate vegetation and greenery using planter cubes and pots. This allows for regular interactions with the outdoors which has been proven to have positive health benefits, such as lower blood pressure, reduced stress, expedited healing, and improved mood. These areas can also provide occupants with the opportunity to release tension through sport and physical activity, thereby improving users’ focus, health, and morale.

Modular deck systems can also contribute to sustainable design goals and may help projects earn certification through LEED, SITES, WELL, and other green building programs. Specifically, they may help to reduce a building’s carbon footprint through a reduction in a roof’s ambient temperature, provide the potential for green space, become part of a rainwater collection system, or help reduce the need for roof replacement, thus extending the service life of the roofing.

Photo courtesy of Bison Innovative Products

The creative use of an outdoor deck helps connect indoor and outdoor spaces by opening up views and claiming space that might otherwise go underused as shown here at the Frasier House in Boulder, Colorado, a net-zero energy building.

Designing with Modular Deck Systems

One of the biggest opportunities of a modular, adjustable deck system is to be able to use underutilized outdoor spaces. That means design professionals can turn an otherwise wasted space into a functional outdoor amenity or an attractive and sustainable feature of the building. For example, incorporating a pedestal system can provide pedestrian access to green roofs. There, native plants and natural building materials offer occupants a visual and physical connection with the natural environment that might not otherwise exist. Further, modular planters can provide a space for seasonal growing, offering an even more direct interaction with nature and a potential connection to fresh food sources.

Other features can also be part of a successful outdoor deck design. Where nighttime use is desired, designs can include recessed lighting to enhance the ambiance of the deck area and improve visibility and safety. Water ponds or fountains can similarly be incorporated since adjustable pedestal systems are ideal for such features. The deck system conceals the water supply beneath the surface materials and allows water to drain to the surface below for recycling. Additionally, when high-quality plastic supports are used, they are impervious to water, mold, and most chemicals. This permeability of the system also helps reduce energy loads on the building by keeping the roofing surface cooler and well ventilated.

The modular design of these systems contributes to a fairly quick and easy installation, keeping the construction economical and budget friendly. Fastening kits facilitate swift and secure installations of deck surface materials such as wood tiles and paver tray-backed pavers. Built-in bottom slope-leveling mechanisms provide pedestal stability and adjustability, even once loaded. Tab sets on each pedestal allow for consistent tile or paver spacing.

LIVING WALLS

utdoor spaces are created and defined by more than just horizontal surfaces. Often architects think that exterior vertical wall materials or features need to be used but there are natural options too. In particular, the notion of green infrastructure has re-emerged as a priority in the built environment. Essentially, this concept relies on the centuries-old use of natural, living plants incorporated into buildings to reap multiple benefits. Of course, those benefits rely on actual, living plants being used. Sometimes, the term “greenwall” is used to describe what appears to be a vertical growth of vegetation growing on the interior or exterior of a building supported by a trellis. Such installations do not always use living plants but instead use artificial ones simply to create a natural “look” or attempt to incorporate biophilia (i.e., a natural-looking element added to a building) into a design. In order to be clear, we will use the term “living wall” which refers to real, living plants or vines that require sunlight and water to grow up along an intentionally designed trellis structure on a building.

Photo courtesy of Greenscreen

The use of natural, living, green walls helps create an outdoor space with numerous benefits to the end user as shown here at the Worldmark at Trendwest in Anaheim, California.

The benefits of such living walls are numerous but include the following fundamental ones:

• True Biophilic Design: Biophilia does not mean brief isolated exposures to nature but repeated sustained engagement. Biophilic design should also enable ease of interaction within the space to foster connections and community and give us a meaningful context. The use of real, natural vines that can grow in the locality where they are planted meet these criteria. Plastic plants may provide the look of live plants but can’t offer the full biophilic experience and benefits to the environment.
• Reduction of the Heat Island Effect: Living walls absorb sunlight and provide natural evapotranspiration which is nature’s way of keeping the surrounding temperature comfortable. This is one of the proven benefits of green infrastructure that has been used all over the world.
• Energy Savings: Living walls and living green roofs cool a building both through the evapotranspiration described above, but also from simple shading. This cooling leads to building energy savings as the building gets directly cooled by the living plants instead of relying solely on air-conditioning units.
• Carbon capture: Living wall trellis systems absorb carbon dioxide just like all living plants and in turn give off oxygen through photosynthesis. They also provide natural carbon capture due to carbon assimilation into the woody stem biomass. Green walls that use plastic plants are made from petrochemicals and have a terrible carbon budget.
• Stormwater: Real plants absorb vast quantities of rainwater that never have to be fed into the stormwater system. For living green roofs, this can be 30-70% of the annual precipitation depending on the profile and climate. This retention capacity results in lower stormwater drainage costs in addition to the money saved through energy savings for pumps where needed.
• Mental health: Green infrastructure creates environments that have been shown to be good for both the environment and the human mind. There has been a lot of research conducted that indicates how humans feel better in a natural setting. This can lead to cost savings associated with fewer workdays missed by employees and patients released earlier from hospitals. In essence, people simply feel healthier in natural, green surroundings.
• Pollution Capture: Air pollution is a significant concern in many settings, particularly since it has been cited as the fourth leading global risk factor for death. Living walls are an excellent design response to this concern since they naturally provide pollution capture. It has been shown that the greening of external walls can reduce harmful particulate matter (PM2.5) by 11 to 31 percent and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) by 7 percent to 20 percent.

Many of these traits and benefits also help living walls contribute to earning credits in green building programs such as LEED and others.