MYTO design worked for more than a year to create a green rooftop with custom planters atop a home in Westmount. The sprawling 1965-square-foot space is dedicated to relaxation and contemplation. It boasts a spectacular view and of the city and seamless integration with the surrounding landscape.
After renovating the house in 2016, the owner of the luxury property wanted to make the most of the flat roof by turning it into a comfortable and welcoming livable space that they could enjoy all year long. The mandate was to create a space that would amaze at each visit and would offer various landscapes throughout the seasons. It was to be suitable for entertaining and would showcase a breathtaking view of the city and surrounding areas.
MYTO design decided to create a contemporary, visually striking, and streamlined outdoor space bordered with colorful, somewhat unruly vegetation. The decking is made of ipe wood, a material known for its toughness, high density, and beautiful color. To ensure the safe enjoyment of the view and vegetation, a transparent modern glass parapet encloses the entire perimeter.
One of the project’s challenges was to create elegant planters and sitting areas that would conceal ventilation equipment on the roof and provide adequate growing spaces for a multitude of perennial plants. We designed a set of wood-clad planters to conceal the equipment. We designed these planters from the ground up to meet this project’s requirements. Powder-coated aluminium frames stay on the roof all year round, but the wooden elements are removed in winter to prevent swelling.
Both in the planters and on the green roof, we opted for perennials and indigenous species, to minimize maintenance. The planters are insulated from the inside to provide adequate protection to the plants’ root systems. The horticulturist also took care to work with a harmonious color palette (pink, blue, violet) and chose plants with different flowering periods. (brief and long) so that there would be elegant flowers throughout the season.
The overall lighting strategy focused on the plants, choosing minimalist fixtures; In the evening, the space has a warm, intimate, and thoroughly relaxing ambience.
After more than a year of work, the result is a rooftop terrace that blends with the surrounding canopy. Shaded by large trees at almost every time of day, the space is surrounded by colorful wildflowers that frame a gorgeous view of downtown Montreal.
Clarke Terrace
Landscape Architect: Roxanne Miller
Designer: Martine Brisson
Collaborators: Les Toits Vertiges
Client: M. Dasilva
Photographer: Pierre Béland
Text: MYTO design