Our client in Kensington wanted to make the best use of his London home’s only outside space – a roof terrace.
The Brief
The roof terrace has spectacular views over interesting surrounding buildings, including the Natural History Museum, but the inhospitable, exposed, sloping space made entertaining and relaxing difficult.
Several steps across the roof made placing a table and chairs impossible, and the rickety wire balustrades made it downright dangerous!
The Solution
Access to the roof was via a single roof light, so all materials were brought up on scaffolding attached to the front of the building – no mean feat given that the roof was five flights up!
The problem of safety was addressed with beautiful glass balustrades which not only act as wind breaks, but also showcase the all important views. Timber decking could degrade quite quickly given the exposed nature of the site, so the ugly concrete paving was covered with light-weight composite decking, which is both durable and low-maintenance.
The decking is made from reclaimed wood waste that would otherwise go into landfill, it does not require treating with any potentially harmful paint or sealants and it doesn’t rot like timber, thereby significantly reducing the wasteful cycle of repair and replacement.
Changing the levels meant covering one of the skylights, so we inserted a toughened glass panel over it in order to allow light through to the room below.
Built-in cupboards under bench seating are used to store cushions and other essentials and an existing water tank cupboard, next to the barbecue, was made useful by adding a granite work top.
A large dining area was provided by re-configuring the position of the steps, also providing an area for sunbathing and relaxing.
Finally, funky heaters and clever lighting make this an outdoor party room for use at any time of year.
