Rooftopia transformed a challenging rooftop on a newly constructed Lakeview condominium into a sophisticated private outdoor retreat designed for dining, entertaining, relaxing, and enjoying views of the city. From navigating difficult site access to coordinating architectural and structural engineering requirements, the project called for thoughtful planning, detailed design, and hands-on project management to bring every element together.
At the center of the design is a highly customized, fire-resistant pergola developed with detailed specifications to address applicable building-code requirements. Integrated custom metal screens conceal rooftop utilities while creating a more comfortable, private setting. The pergola establishes a distinct outdoor room for lounging and watching television, while carefully positioned planters define separate areas for dining, gathering, and enjoying the open skyline.
Rooftopia guided the selection of exterior finishes, sourced and coordinated furnishings, and helped bring together an outdoor kitchen with a grill, generous container plantings, and a fire feature that creates a separate destination for relaxing beneath the stars. The result is a layered outdoor environment that feels cohesive and inviting, with each zone offering a different way to experience the rooftop.
Large planters do more than soften the architecture. Integrated irrigation systems simplify plant care, while thoughtful plant selections bring seasonal color, texture, and a connection to nature into the elevated setting. One dedicated herb planter flourished during its first growing season with basil, parsley, thyme, mint, and oregano. The parsley even became a host plant for an abundance of black swallowtail caterpillars, adding an unexpected touch of wildlife to this urban garden.
Outdoor lighting extends the experience into the evening, creating ambiance while highlighting the pergola’s architectural details and the sculptural forms of the plantings. Together, the lighting, planting, furnishings, cooking area, and fire feature transform the rooftop into a versatile extension of the home.
Behind the finished space was a collaborative design-build process involving a robust permitting effort and coordination with trusted architectural and structural engineering partners. Rooftopia managed the many interdependent details, from code considerations and custom fabrication to finish selection, installation, and the integrated systems that make the space easy to enjoy.
The finished rooftop reflects our approach to luxury outdoor living: thoughtful design, carefully coordinated materials, and practical details working together to create a space that feels effortless. More than a beautiful rooftop deck, it is a personal retreat above the city, designed around the way the homeowners live and made to be enjoyed season after season.
