Trends in Urban Outdoor Amenity Spaces
Wall Systems for Outdoor Urban Environments
Adding vertical elements into the outdoor amenity space will enhance the aesthetic of the space. Instead of a waist-high handrail separating the user from the building edge, seat walls and plant material are used to buffer the edges of the space. A creative design uses these vertical elements to create semi-private spaces on the amenity roof. Larger trees provide shade and wind blocking in some cases. Smaller shrubs, grasses, and perennials enhance and focus views toward adjacent desirable site lines for bodies of water and sunsets, while screening undesirable views and building glare.
With the demand for a greater variety of outdoor amenities on urban roof systems, segmental interlocking wall systems are available to create raised planters, seat walls, and privacy screens. These wall systems are comprised of segmental block units that are available in a range of sizes and styles from contemporary linear to a more traditional dry stack and a variety of textures and colors, thus providing designers with a broad palette of materials.
Most wall systems are heavier than pavers and fit the weight requirements to counter wind uplift. Some wall systems are hollow, however, the majority of wall systems use solid units, as these units provide a more stable wall system. Many hollow walls require a back fill of granular or rebar and concrete. This increases the labor component on the project. Solid walls reduce the extra labor.
Photo courtesy of Unilock
Wall systems are used to create seat walls and planters at Hubbard Place, Chicago.
Summary
With the continued growth in both residential and commercial developments in urban centers, the demand for outdoor urban amenity spaces will not only continue but will be expected. And with the variety of products and systems available, the sky is the limit in terms of the design possibilities for outdoor amenities for roof deck projects.
The following case studies of residential and and commercial roof garden and deck projects illustrate various methods for meeting LEED criteria. Energy use is reduced in buildings with roof gardens and outdoor amenity spaces. The lighter colors of the roof deck surfacing and the vegetated areas reflect heat better than traditional black roofs. The vegetated areas also assist in the management of stormwater runoff from the roof as they absorb water. As much of the material (vegetation and hardscape surfaces) can be obtained locally, the LEED criteria for use of regional materials can be met.
RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUM ROOF GARDENS
Residential condominium roof gardens can utilize a variety of roof systems in their construction. The following are some examples of successful designs that incorporate a number of different site amenities within the roof deck space.
The Illinois Center Plaza’s south section has undergone a series of innovative architectural changes to its roof deck space located at 233 N. Michigan Ave. Wolff Landscape Architecture Inc. of Illinois designed a roof deck space with built-in benches, flower beds, tables and recliner chairs, and a centrally placed green space. The roof deck is in the center of residential and commercial building units.
This is a high-traffic pedestrian plaza that needs to be extremely durable and also permeable. The square concrete slab tiles and pavers were used in combination with permeable spacers to meet both pedestrian traffic demands and the need for permeability. A slab on permeable base roof system was used for construction. The paver colors were selected to complement the building structure and its surroundings with a mottled finish that looks like granite and includes a treatment added during the manufacturing process that makes them easier to clean and maintain.
Located in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, the Hubbard Place roof deck provides occupants with an inviting atmosphere that includes comfortable seating areas, private outdoor grills for solitary dinners or large group parties, outdoor fire pit, sundeck, a dive-in pool, landscaped dog run, and a variety of garden spaces, all with stunning city views. The designer was Daniel Weinbach & Partners, who constructed the roof deck using a variety of concrete pavers and slabs with exposed washed aggregate and mottled granite-like finished in different colors used to delineate spaces and flow. Concrete segmental blocks were used for seat walls and garden walls, which effectively created private spaces for residents and their guests.
Photo courtesy of Unilock
Shown is the roof deck at Hullmark Centre, North York, Ontario, Canada.
Hullmark Centre is a signature condominium development in North York, Ontario, Canada. The development includes a prime office component, premium retail spaces fronting onto a public plaza, and the tallest condominium towers to in the North York skyline.
The outdoor roof terrace includes a swimming pool, cabana, pavilion garden, fireplace, and barbequing stations. The designers at MBTW Group used concrete pavers to unite the surroundings. This design uses semi-private settings rather than one large open-concept roof deck. The second-floor amenity space is an urban oasis with lush landscape planting to complement the numerous amenities, which include a 150-foot-long trellis that bisects the amenity area and connects several small seating niches to the exterior fireplace and lounge, acting as the focal point at the terminus of this feature. The exterior spaces of the podium are unified by a common palette of materials that include aluminum and stainless steel, granite, limestone, and patterned unit paving. The predominant product on the amenity terrace is 70-millimeter-thick concrete pavers in granite blend and dark charcoal colors in a variety of sizes. Black granite color concrete pavers were used as accent banding.
The Fuse Condominium project in Cambridge, Massachusetts, set out to create an outdoor living room or public backyard for the residential community. “Residents in urban settings strive to find a balance between the excitement of the city and the vast social opportunities, while trying to carve out a little serenity and relationship to nature/seasons/etc.,” says Robert Adams of Halvorson Design Partnership.
The courtyards and open spaces in this residential community provide many desired qualities of life: sunshine, nature, social spaces, etc. There are two roof amenity spaces on this project designed to provide a variety of different scaled spaces to appeal to a variety of users and uses. One has a pool, lounging, dining area, and conversational zones created with pergola-type structures and furniture groupings. This space used a 24-inch by 24-inch concrete slab and wood deck tiles on pedestal to create a harmonious and beautiful design. The second space has a large green area with medium-sized patios and dining rooms with grills, tables, chairs, and side tables, with intimate spaces tucked into the edges of the large central lawn. Using the same traditional permeable pavers that were used on the ground level, the designer was able to continue the hip and energizing paver design in this amenity space over a permeable base. Both spaces borrowed from the surrounding Alewife Reservation, utilizing a glass railing to make the edge as porous as possible and using the same plant types found in the borrowed landscape to tie them together.
Robert points out that “creating open space that provides social interaction at a variety of scales and activities, open space that connects to the context/larger natural environment, and open spaces that somehow enhance the seasons/natural systems” was essential on this project.
COMMERCIAL ROOF GARDENS AND DECKS
Successful commercial roof gardens utilize a variety of roof deck systems and roof tiles. Located in the Financial District of Boston, One Federal is a skyscraper that is noted for its outstanding height of 38 floors. Architects CRJA-IBI Group worked with the project architects to improve the existing underutilized roof top garden space on top of the ninth floor. The goal of this renovation effort was to create a usable indoor/outdoor space for the tenants of this office building. The outdoor space was redesigned to accommodate a variety of programmable uses, including casual lunch gatherings, awards ceremonies, cocktail parties, and weddings. The landscape architects used a square concrete slab paver to meet the design requirements. Varied colors in a mottled finish that looks like granite were used to detail the building entrance. Colors were selected for their low solar reflectance value and to complement the greenscape and water features. As part of the manufacturing process, an additive was included for surface protection that will make the area easier to clean and maintain.
This roof deck utilizes a pedestal installation. Structural evaluation of the existing concrete deck was undertaken to determine its load-bearing capacity for new landscape elements that included new paving, walls, curbs, planting loam, and plantings. The existing drainage system was evaluated by an MEP engineer to ensure that modifications/replacement could occur simultaneously with landscape enhancements.
To achieve these flexible garden uses, the final design provides for universal access, a large open space for gathering, pedestrian scale paving zones, and a strong, simple planting palette that can be easily maintained.
Photo courtesy of Unilock
The roof deck at One Federal in Boston was designed by CRJA-IBI.
Prudential Plaza in Chicago presents an elevated project with amenities that include a lounge space with a fire pit, an outdoor bar area, and views of Lake Michigan and Michigan Avenue. Wolff Landscape Architects used 2,300 square feet of custom concrete slabs for this roof deck. The design balances the landscape and hardscape elements to create an oasis in the heart of Chicago.
Photo courtesy of Unilock
Loews Chicago Hotel is the city’s largest outdoor rooftop terrace.
Another Chicago roof deck project is at the Loews Chicago Hotel, which was constructed in 2015 and also designed by Wolff Landscape Architecture. This project has two expansive rooftop spaces, one a pool deck amenity and the other a social and entertaining space that includes two restaurants. This outdoor amenity roof deck includes a grassy lawn areas for lounging or games, planting areas with seasonal floral and greenery, a two-level terraced areas, and cabanas, providing guests and visitors with views of the downtown and the lake in a park-like setting. This roof was installed on a pedestal system, and has 24-by-24 square concrete slab pavers in two shades that cover over 18,000 square feet of pedestrian terraces.
RESOURCES
Protected Membrane Roof Guidelines. The Dow Chemical Company. Web. 23 March 2017.
Elena M. Pascarella, RLA, ASLA, is a practicing landscape architect, continuing education presenter, and consultant engaged in a private practice based in Rhode Island. The firm’s portfolio can be viewed at www.landscapeelementsllc.com.
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