UP ON THE ROOF: A SKY-HIGH CITY TERRACE
With not much space at ground level for a garden, one couple set their sights higher. The result is a tranquil retreat in the sky with spectacular views and glorious planting
When former teacher Theresa Collier and her husband John downsized from their family home in Richmond, Surrey, to a townhouse in Pimlico, central London, they were faced with a dilemma.
Their new home had little in the way of outdoor space, but it did have a 7 x 5 metre flat roof, reached via stairs and an electric
‘lid’. ‘It was crying out to have something done with it – either a room or a garden,’ says John. ‘Given that we only had a small back yard, and that there are stunning views of Battersea Power Station, we decided on a garden. But it’s a hostile environment up there – very sunny and windy. I know a bit about plants, but I had no idea what might work on a south-facing, exposed roof.’
The couple consulted garden designer Sara Jane Rothwell, who has plenty of experience in creating gorgeous gardens in tricky spaces. ‘Because Theresa and John had come from a much larger garden, I wanted the roof to be as lush and wild as possible – more like an English garden than a roof terrace,’ she explains, ‘using planting to soften the hard lines of the buildings that can be seen all around.’
There were practical considerations too, not least the safety aspect. Theresa and John have three young grandchildren, Iris, Lyra and Gabriel, aged six, three and one, who visit regularly. ‘At 1.2 metres high, the boundary around the roof already met the safety standards of 1.1 metre,’ explains Sara Jane. ‘But I added a metre of planters along the stairwell for extra security.’
The roof had already been made watertight by the previous owners, but Sara Jane knew that the weight of the garden might be an issue. ‘I sent my plans to a structural engineer for approval,’ she says. There was also the question of access. ‘Fortunately there’s a road at the back of the house, so materials could be stored in the back yard and winched up on a pulley.’
Theresa and John’s priorities were privacy from surrounding flats and shelter from the
sun. Sara Jane addressed both of these by suggesting a bower, or covered pergola, in one corner. ‘We wanted it to give shade and screening on two sides but still offer beautiful views.’ It’s now clothed in clematis, wisteria, jasmine and star jasmine, which provide flowers and scent from late spring to early autumn.
Following feedback from the structural engineer, they filled a large turquoise planter, which houses one of the pergola legs, with polystyrene and hydroleca clay pebbles to reduce its weight. Theresa made matching cushions for the seating area in weatherproof Sunbrella fabric.
Using a colour palette of blues, purples and magenta to complement the turquoise planter, Sara Jane filled raised beds with tough plants
that can cope with exposed conditions. ‘Any Mediterranean plants, such as lavender and sage, do well on a roof terrace,’ she explains. Penstemons and hardy geraniums mingle with sage and Mexican daisy: ‘It spills over the edges of pots and is very robust.’ Ornamental grasses billow in the wind, while a row of bamboo provides additional screening. There’s even a silver birch for height, additional privacy and winter interest.
Rather than cover the roof with decking, everyone agreed on fake grass for a softer, lusher look. ‘Sara Jane pointed out that its appearance has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years,’ says John. ‘I keep it tidy with an old vacuum cleaner. I’m mostly clearing up bamboo leaves! I might get Sara Jane’s advice about replacing them with something else.’
A few years on, the garden is ‘a riot of greenery and colour’, according to John, who is the one who spends the most time up there. ‘There are 57 steps from the bottom of the house, which keeps me fit.’ He describes the garden as ‘very, very low maintenance’ – the plants are watered twice daily in summer by an irrigation system, and the company that built the garden visits twice a year for routine maintenance. John simply prunes any overgrown plants.
Most of the time, though, he’s relaxing; reading or drawing. ‘In summer, visitors always ask if they can go up there. It’s fun to sit with them in the shade of the bower and enjoy the view.’