Roof Deck Above the City Blooms as a Garden in the Sky
Site-specific sculptures, leafy plantings and stylish lounging and dining areas enliven this spectacular Toronto space
For this Toronto couple, downsizing from their house uptown to an urban condo didn’t mean giving up a garden. “They had a beautiful garden at their house, and they wanted to have one at this home,” says landscape architect Kate Fox-Whyte. Creating a sky garden became the driving idea behind the design of their seventh-floor roof deck. As art collectors, the homeowners also wanted to incorporate sculpture into their outdoor space.
Designing a rooftop garden came with many challenges, including strict weight limitations that influenced everything from the soil and plantings to the sculptures and built elements. No new structures could be attached to the building, and heavier pieces had to be delivered to the roof by crane. Ultimately, the layered plantings, sculptural potted trees, site-specific sculptures, custom Cor-Ten steel screens and inviting areas for lounging and dining made the effort worthwhile.
Designing a rooftop garden came with many challenges, including strict weight limitations that influenced everything from the soil and plantings to the sculptures and built elements. No new structures could be attached to the building, and heavier pieces had to be delivered to the roof by crane. Ultimately, the layered plantings, sculptural potted trees, site-specific sculptures, custom Cor-Ten steel screens and inviting areas for lounging and dining made the effort worthwhile.
The roof already had Thermory decking — a durable, environmentally friendly wood treated with a high-heat steam process — which the team incorporated into the new design.
Landscape contracting firm Arbordale Landscaping, whose team members use Houzz Pro software, managed the coordination of the subcontractors and installation work. The team also completed the deck work and planting installation.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Landscape contracting firm Arbordale Landscaping, whose team members use Houzz Pro software, managed the coordination of the subcontractors and installation work. The team also completed the deck work and planting installation.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
‘Fireglow’ Japanese maple trees (Acer palmatum ‘Fireglow’, USDA zones 5 to 9; find your zone) dot the space. “We had worked on enough roof decks to have a good sense of which trees work well in this type of environment,” Fox-Whyte says. Knowing that Japanese maples would hold up, she suggested them to her clients, who loved the idea.
Fox-Whyte mounded the planting beds to create dimension in the flat space, but it wasn’t possible to build up the soil depth enough for the trees. Instead, she designed custom Cor-Ten steel bowls to accommodate them — and to add interest. An irrigation system includes micro sprayers and drip lines.
The planting beds, trees, soil, sculptures and other heavy design elements were carefully positioned in areas where the structure beneath could support their weight. Working with the original engineer of the building, Blackwell Structural Engineers conducted a thorough structural review. “We placed the heaviest items [including the tree bowls and sculptures] where we had the most point load, and spread the rest of the garden around the terrace,” Fox-Whyte says.
Irrigation system: Aquaman Irrigation & Landscape Lighting; planting maintenance: Diamond Day Gardens and Chloë Philip Landscaping
Fox-Whyte mounded the planting beds to create dimension in the flat space, but it wasn’t possible to build up the soil depth enough for the trees. Instead, she designed custom Cor-Ten steel bowls to accommodate them — and to add interest. An irrigation system includes micro sprayers and drip lines.
The planting beds, trees, soil, sculptures and other heavy design elements were carefully positioned in areas where the structure beneath could support their weight. Working with the original engineer of the building, Blackwell Structural Engineers conducted a thorough structural review. “We placed the heaviest items [including the tree bowls and sculptures] where we had the most point load, and spread the rest of the garden around the terrace,” Fox-Whyte says.
Irrigation system: Aquaman Irrigation & Landscape Lighting; planting maintenance: Diamond Day Gardens and Chloë Philip Landscaping
Fox-Whyte employed a matrix planting strategy, which emulates how plants grow in nature — tightly spaced, mixed and layered. She entrusted ZinCo, a company that specializes in green roofing systems, with plant selection. ZinCo also provided the growing medium. “This soil has more structure to it,” Fox-Whyte says. “It also has some brick pieces in it. The color in the brick worked really well with the color of the Cor-Ten steel.”
The homeowners love purple, so they especially appreciate the ‘Caesar’s Brother’ Siberian iris (Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother’, zones 3 to 8), purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea, zones 3 to 8), spotted Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum, zones 3 to 8) and hoary vervain (Verbena stricta, zones 3 to 7) growing here. Grasses, including blue fescue (Festuca glauca, zones 4 to 8) and ‘Prairie Blues’ little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Prairie Blues’, zones 3 to 9), bring in blue tones.
The homeowners love purple, so they especially appreciate the ‘Caesar’s Brother’ Siberian iris (Iris sibirica ‘Caesar’s Brother’, zones 3 to 8), purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea, zones 3 to 8), spotted Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum, zones 3 to 8) and hoary vervain (Verbena stricta, zones 3 to 7) growing here. Grasses, including blue fescue (Festuca glauca, zones 4 to 8) and ‘Prairie Blues’ little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Prairie Blues’, zones 3 to 9), bring in blue tones.
While the homeowners were inspired by the garden they’d had in their old neighborhood, they were ready to embrace their new home in the heart of the city. “We wanted the garden to reflect its urban context. The materials and the language speak to the urban setting,” Fox-Whyte says. “It was created, designed and built by local artisans and contractors, and feels very of its place.”
Cor-Ten steel played a large and artful role in the project. Fox-Whyte used it for the planting bed edging, the tree bowls and some large-scale screen. “The dividing wall between this terrace and the neighbor’s was not attractive,” Fox-Whyte says, “and we wanted to give it some presence.” Used throughout the design, these screens frame views, block the wind and hide a mechanical room.
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Cor-Ten steel played a large and artful role in the project. Fox-Whyte used it for the planting bed edging, the tree bowls and some large-scale screen. “The dividing wall between this terrace and the neighbor’s was not attractive,” Fox-Whyte says, “and we wanted to give it some presence.” Used throughout the design, these screens frame views, block the wind and hide a mechanical room.
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Fox-Whyte custom-designed a perforated pattern on the metal screens to bring in the feeling of the sky. Inspired by the painting Falling Blue by Agnes Martin, the idea was to overlay the essence of that image with the shapes of clouds in a pattern created by perforation. In total, there are 66,000 perforations that form the intricate patterns in the Cor-Ten steel.
After completing the patterns using computer-aided design software, Fox-Whyte sent them to Mach 2, a water-jet-cutting company, for fabrication. The water sped up the Cor-Ten steel’s patination process; the material rusts to create a protective — and attractive — coating.
The patterns of the screens are varied to reveal or conceal what lies beyond. The screens are more solid at the base, with perforations increasing toward the top to offer views of the sky and the Toronto skyline.
Sunlight during the day and the lights of the city at night stream in at varying intensities, transforming the screens and casting the pattern in ever-changing ways.
Sunlight during the day and the lights of the city at night stream in at varying intensities, transforming the screens and casting the pattern in ever-changing ways.
“The light coming through the pattern in the screens looks similar to the pattern of the lights in the buildings beyond them at night,” Fox-Whyte says.
Lighting: Moonstruck Lighting
Landscape Lighting That Doesn’t Wake the Birds
Lighting: Moonstruck Lighting
Landscape Lighting That Doesn’t Wake the Birds
The stairwell that connects the condo below to the roof deck was existing, but it was bare-bones. The homeowners added a series of wooden sculptures from Ken Gangbar, the same artist behind the deck sculpture, along the interior wall.
Fox-Whyte custom-designed a powder-coated-steel pergola — with the help of detailed sun studies — to enhance the look of the stairwell, reduce solar gain, provide shade and tie the space in with a barbecue area on the right. A new planting bed beneath the structure adds curves and softness in front of the stairwell and integrates it into the garden.
Pergola fabrication and installation: Solicanada; outdoor cabinets: Urban Bonfire
Fox-Whyte custom-designed a powder-coated-steel pergola — with the help of detailed sun studies — to enhance the look of the stairwell, reduce solar gain, provide shade and tie the space in with a barbecue area on the right. A new planting bed beneath the structure adds curves and softness in front of the stairwell and integrates it into the garden.
Pergola fabrication and installation: Solicanada; outdoor cabinets: Urban Bonfire
The new shade structure extends to an existing mechanical room on the right, which Fox-Whyte concealed behind Cor-Ten panels.
Because no new structures can be attached to the building, anchoring the pergola and the Cor-Ten screens presented an engineering challenge. The solution was a network of steel tube framing and plates installed beneath the decking to anchor the screens and spread the weight out.
Structural system and framing, metal plant edging, screen frames, Cor-Ten tree bowls and custom handle fabrication and installation: Design Stainless Steel
Because no new structures can be attached to the building, anchoring the pergola and the Cor-Ten screens presented an engineering challenge. The solution was a network of steel tube framing and plates installed beneath the decking to anchor the screens and spread the weight out.
Structural system and framing, metal plant edging, screen frames, Cor-Ten tree bowls and custom handle fabrication and installation: Design Stainless Steel
The mechanical room (on the left behind the steel panel) provides some privacy for the casual lounge area.
Grill: Hestan
Grill: Hestan
Hemmed in by the mechanical room wall, planting beds and Cor-Ten screens, the seating area is cozy, with an expansive view of the city through the glass railings. When shade is needed, the homeowners can open up the large umbrella.
Umbrella: Tuuci
Umbrella: Tuuci
Modern furniture from Flexform and Knoll (the 1966 collection by Richard Schultz) suits the urban site and creates an inviting outdoor room.
To prepare the roof deck for Toronto’s freezing winters, custom covers are fitted over furniture and the irrigation system is blown out. The majority of the plants remain standing through the colder months and are cleaned up in spring, adding visual interest and valuable habitat for wildlife. “There are many grasses that provide beautiful form and movement throughout the off season,” Fox-Whyte says.
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To prepare the roof deck for Toronto’s freezing winters, custom covers are fitted over furniture and the irrigation system is blown out. The majority of the plants remain standing through the colder months and are cleaned up in spring, adding visual interest and valuable habitat for wildlife. “There are many grasses that provide beautiful form and movement throughout the off season,” Fox-Whyte says.
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
The project also included this balcony, located off the condo on the sixth floor, one level below the roof deck. It showcases a second cast bronze sculpture by Gangbar. “It can be seen from many places inside the condo. So the way it was angled was very important,” Fox-Whyte says. She also notes that the texture of the piece is incredible and that the bronze will patinate over time.
Grasses and a lion’s head Japanese maple (Acer Palmatum ‘Shishigashira’, zones 5 to 8) grow in a tall, wide planter that provides privacy from the neighboring balcony. The rest of the furnishings and materials are similar to those used on the roof deck. One variation is the white stonecrop (Sedum album, zones 3 to 8) in the long planting-box edge. These low-growing plants add life while keeping the views off the balcony open.
Sedum mats: LiveRoof
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Grasses and a lion’s head Japanese maple (Acer Palmatum ‘Shishigashira’, zones 5 to 8) grow in a tall, wide planter that provides privacy from the neighboring balcony. The rest of the furnishings and materials are similar to those used on the roof deck. One variation is the white stonecrop (Sedum album, zones 3 to 8) in the long planting-box edge. These low-growing plants add life while keeping the views off the balcony open.
Sedum mats: LiveRoof
More on Houzz
Read more landscape stories
Browse outdoor photos for ideas
Find design and remodeling pros
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Roof Deck at a Glance
Location: Toronto
Size: 1,200 square feet (111 square meters) plus a balcony
Landscape architect: Fox Whyte Landscape Architecture & Design
Landscape contractor: Arbordale Landscaping
Art takes center stage in the sky garden. Toronto artist Ken Gangbar created the large cast-bronze sculpture — along with another for the couple’s sixth-floor balcony — specifically for the space. “The clients worked closely with Ken for the two outdoor pieces and put lots of consideration into how they would face,” Fox-Whyte says.
Placed within a mounded planting bed, the sculpture can be enjoyed from the condo’s stairs en route to the roof and from the deck’s two main areas — the dining space in the foreground and the lounge in the background, under the umbrella.
Sculpture casting: MST Bronze
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