North Pond Rooftop
Private Garden – Chicago, Illinois

From the 17th floor, this Lincoln Park rooftop terrace offers striking views to the city’s skyline and lakefront. The existing space was completely undeveloped, making it a blank slate for some exciting design work. Raised ipe planters surround the large space to add as much vegetation as possible to soften the harsh rooftop. A steel pergola provides the dining area privacy from upper balconies, while nicely framing views to downtown. The outdoor kitchen of ipe cabinets and black granite countertops blend seamlessly with the surrounding planters. Symbolizing the North Pond down below, a stainless fountain trough is situated at the east side of the dining area. A cable trellis for climbing vines and a free-standing green wall help to add color to the west wall. At the terrace corner, the existing parapet wall ramps up, buffering some great views to the city. To remedy this, a firepit with lounge seating is situated at that corner, atop a raised deck. Not only does this help to provide better views, but it also helps to set this area apart as a special seating space.

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