A ROOF WITH A VIEW

Hazel and Shaye's bedrooms both look out onto the porch, which has a living roof. "The idea was that instead of looking out onto an ugly roof; we would see unobstructed greenery plus a habitat for bees and insects." The roof surface is an EPDM rubber membrane, covered in old carpet. Ten centimetres of soil was planted with plants such as sedums, bromeliads, rock roses ( Portulaca grandiflora), succulents, and petunias. The roof has a rim, so the soil doesn't run off after rain.