The sky’s the limit

In Australia, until quite recently, rooftop gardens were mainly the preserve of hotels, bars, commercial buildings and upscale apartment blocks. This is rapidly changing as space-poor homeowners turn their gaze upwards — towards the roofs of their houses, or garages in some cases — in search of somewhere to entertain, kick back and relax, or grow plants.

These “gardens in the sky” run the gamut in terms of design and style, but there are fundamental challenges that are common to all, which is why a high degree of design and build expertise is required. Issues of weight-loading, waterproofing and drainage need to be addressed. Access and transportation of materials is often tricky, and you need to contend with council