Stride Studios was asked to create a new and more dramatic design for an existing weedy, overgrown green roof atop a contemporary residence. One of the home's assets is that it is nestled into a wooded hillside spanning a creek. The rock-lined creek splits the house in half as it makes it way from one side of the residence to the other. The plantings located around the house are very organic and freeform in design. The existing landscape, designed by Stride Studios as well, is highly naturalistic and the home and property are striking. This was a great opportunity for the roof garden to be as stunning as the rest of the residence. We focused on perennials, small grasses, and ground covers, and aimed for year-round interest, with a particular goal of maintaining drama during the winter months when many plants go dormant in Ohio. Toward the upper end of the roof is a steel mezzanine providing access to the roof from the floors below. The section located between the mezzanine and the upper edge of the roof is dedicated to vegetables, strawberries, and cut flowers. As our clients enjoy cutting and harvesting the lavender, we took advantage of the prime sun exposure and good drainage on the roof and designed a lavender border on the upper roof area. The roof has been the talk of the neighborhood. Highly functional and thoughtfully aesthetic, this green roof is a wonderful accent to the house and an impressive addition to the overall adroit feeling of the property—and the client loves it!

(Photography by Mark Bealer)