Gardens In The Sky

Description:
Those lucky enough to have a roof terrace or balcony enjoy an exhilarating sense of space and tranquillity and sometimes views of the city skyline. Successful rooftop gardening brings with it its own requirements and considerations, from practical concerns about structure and drainage to choosing plants that can withstand the elements as well as for decorative impact. This book presents both a wonderful range of never-seen roof gardens (from New York to New Zealand) and authoritative advice on planning, designing and planting an original outdoor space. There are ideas for every kind of terrace, whether you want a formal or informal style space for entertaining, a Mediterranean balcony or a modern showcase. The book looks in detail at the hard landscaping, with important guidance on floors and surfaces. There are also design ideas and useful hints for 'dressing' the space with furniture, containers, sculptures, lighting and water features. Every chapter includes a case study to use as a template or for inspiration. An illustrated planting section contains helpful advice on choosing the best plants for rooftop conditions. This book should be useful for anyone designing a roof terrace or balcony from scratch or for those looking for new and exciting rooftop space into a fabulous outdoor room.

Table of Contents:
Up on the roof: planning a design; symmetry and geometry; profusion and informality; entertaining; relaxation and play; contemplation; case study - designed for living. The framework: first considerations; boundaries; floors; shade and shelter; structures for planting; balconies; case study - symmetry of design. Decorative features: the finishing touches; furniture; containers; ornaments and sculpture; lighting; water features; features for balconies; case study - areas of pleasure. Sky-high gardening: choosing the plants; planting for shelter; planting for accent; planting as filler; planting for food; planting for balconies; case study - secluded planting. Plant directory: trees and shrubs; climbers; annuals and perennials; bulbs; grasses; alpines and succulents; edible plants. Practicalities.

Author Biography:
Michele Osborne has completed countless projects both in England and abroad, working increasingly with developers and architects. She won the prestigious Britannia Homebuilder's Award from The Guardian for 'Best Landscaping in Development' and has been nominated again this year. Her work has been featured in many publications including the Financial Times, the Sunday Times, the Daily Telegraph and Elle Decoration. Steven Wooster specializes in photographing gardens and interior design. Steven was voted the Garden Writers' Guild 'Garden Features Photographer of the Year' in 2000.