Landscape Design
Patio of the Week
Patio of the Week: Boston Skyline Views From a Modern Roof Deck
A landscape architect fits dining, reading and fire pit lounge areas into a narrow L-shaped space
This Boston penthouse roof deck’s narrowness and lack of privacy posed design challenges that sparked ingenious solutions. Using architecture and plantings, landscape architect Michael D’Angelo blocked unsightly elements and provided privacy from the building’s common roof deck. He also added a cozy reading nook, a dining area and a fire pit lounge while maintaining a clean, modern look.
The patio has spectacular city views off one side, and not-so-spectacular views off the other. D’Angelo used yellow groove bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata, USDA zones 4 to 9; find your zone) to form a barrier between this private deck and the building’s communal deck. (Bamboo can be invasive and take over a space, so be sure to consult a landscape professional before planting it.)
Elements such as the building’s air conditioners also are blocked. “There was a big vent stack, so I designed an enclosed reading nook to cover it,” the designer says. “It’s about 7 to 8 feet high, so we used larger spacing between the boards at the top.” This prevents the nook from looking too heavy or monolithic.
Shop for outdoor dining furniture
Elements such as the building’s air conditioners also are blocked. “There was a big vent stack, so I designed an enclosed reading nook to cover it,” the designer says. “It’s about 7 to 8 feet high, so we used larger spacing between the boards at the top.” This prevents the nook from looking too heavy or monolithic.
Shop for outdoor dining furniture
“The quality of the details and the craftmanship put into them was very important on this project,” D’Angelo says. “We set all the joints to align, and the mitered joints are really well done. And the joints on the [wood] line up vertically.”
The bamboo provides a dense privacy screen between this deck and the adjacent communal one.
The built-in bench-planter combo continues along this side of the roof deck to the corner. “The living room inside is all glass, so it was very important to keep the skyline views over here open,” D’Angelo says. ‘Green Mountain’ boxwoods (Buxus ‘Green Mountain’, zones 5 to 8) line the planters on this side, while a Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, zones 5 to 8) marks the corner.
Browse outdoor lounge furniture in the Houzz Shop
Browse outdoor lounge furniture in the Houzz Shop
“One of the elements my clients really wanted was a fire pit area,” D’Angelo says. The corner was a perfect spot for enjoying privacy and the skyline view by a fire. Comfortable lounge chairs and the built-in bench offer seating. Interior designers from Hacin helped the homeowners choose the outdoor furniture.
The city of Boston required gas lines for both this fire pit and a grill (not shown). Anything fueled by a propane tank is not allowed.
Find a local deck-and-patio specialist
The city of Boston required gas lines for both this fire pit and a grill (not shown). Anything fueled by a propane tank is not allowed.
Find a local deck-and-patio specialist
Here’s the view from the fire pit lounge back toward the reading nook.
This photo shows some of the clean yet cozy lighting scheme. LED tape lights run under the bench, along the top of the reading nook and along the planter boxes. There’s also lighting on the Japanese maple and the bamboo.
The boxwoods conceal a parapet and are watered by a drip irrigation system. A note about plantings on roof decks: The planters, soil, water and plants are heavy, so they must be placed where the building’s structure can handle the load. “We worked with a structural engineer, who determined where the structural beams could support the weight,” D’Angelo says.
The landscape architect also notes that the homeowners protect the boxwoods by wrapping them in burlap during the harshest months of winter.
The landscape architect also notes that the homeowners protect the boxwoods by wrapping them in burlap during the harshest months of winter.
The deck pavers are concrete. “These were custom-made for this project by Concrete Collaborative. We chose them because we wanted the pavers to have a really clean and modern look — not a lot of texture,” D’Angelo says.
The pavers are installed on pedestals 6 inches above the rubber roofing. This makes it easy to reach the roof drains below. “If you need access to clean one of the drains, you can just lift up the pavers to get to it,” the designer says.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about decks
Browse thousands of deck photos
Shop for your outdoor spaces
The pavers are installed on pedestals 6 inches above the rubber roofing. This makes it easy to reach the roof drains below. “If you need access to clean one of the drains, you can just lift up the pavers to get to it,” the designer says.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about decks
Browse thousands of deck photos
Shop for your outdoor spaces
Roof Deck at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: South End neighborhood of Boston
Size: 800 square feet (74 square meters)
Landscape architect: Michael D’Angelo Landscape Architecture
Contractor: Stack + Co.
The roof deck wraps partially around a modern condo, forming an L shape. “This area was only 6 feet wide, so I used a built-in bench to save space,” D’Angelo says. “The table can be pushed in more when not in use.”
Find a local landscape architect