We designed this terrace garden for a well-known Manhattan screenwriter who was interested in creating a lush garden oasis with a minimalist, streamlined approach. This Chelsea, NYC rooftop terrace includes custom planter boxes made of knotty cedar and filled with a mix of bamboo, a white birch tree, junipers, and still winter-dormant hydrangeas. Knotty cedar has a life expectancy of 15-20 years and is a less expensive alternative to clear cedar or ipe. We built the planters modularly on wheels so they would be easier to move around in the event that any maintenance would ever be needed to be done to the roof. The wheels are recessed so as to not be visible from the outside. A common question that many of my clients ask is whether or not you can mix two different types of woods together. As you can see in the photo, the fence is made of ipe, a hardwood with a 40+ year life expectancy, and it looks quite nice paired with the cedar planter boxes.
