So, what exactly does one do with a barren industrial landscape atop one of Tribeca's landmarked buildings? HMWhite Architects were faced with this predicament when they were enlisted to transform a penthouse terrace into a verdant oasis. Responding to a laundry list of constraints, the architects punctuated the mass of undifferentiated space by creating a series of rooms across 7,000 square feet. White wire Bertoia chairs sit atop a grass and concrete checkerboard and a "series of undulating knolls depict a rolling prairie," while an angular wood-paneled deck unfurls into a stainless steel hot tub and a lily pad-filled pool is tucked beside a living wall. And they didn't stop at the roofa sunken dining room, glass-enclosed bathroom, and central atrium bring natural elements into the home, blurring the line between inside and out.
The $1 million renovation resulted in the penthouse being named a winner of the American Society of Landscape Architect's 2015 design awards. The oasis is spread over a series of outdoor spaces, and the southern terrace (↑) features a lily pad-dotted reflecting pool and sculptural wooden benches. Luxuriate on these rooftop images and let us know: Would you deign to crash a party here?
(↑) The reflecting pool is tucked under a staircase that leads up to the lawn terrace.
(↑) Looking out at the southern terrace from inside.
(↑) With lush planted walls and trees, the terrace feels like a secluded secret garden.
(↑) The plants on the terrace were chosen for their "dynamic performance year-round. In the spring, flowering bulbs fill the gardens, followed by a staccato of wildflowers and fragrant roses through summer."
(↑) Up on the lawn, there's moveable seating and grass for lounging.
(↑) Nestled below a prismatic steel screen is a spiral staircase that deposits visitors into the crown jewel of the property: a recessed courtyard that was carved out of the building.
(↑) The courtyard, filled with ground-covering and a young maple tree, connects to the main living space.
(↑) Low river rocks and bamboo clusters ornament an airy glass-encased bathroom.
(↑) More of the building was cut away to create a private terrace off the master bedroom.
· Tribeca Penthouse Garden Terrace [HMWhite]
· American Society of Landscape Architects, New York Announces 2015 Design Awards [ASLANY]
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