A roof deck of a Manhattan apartment building was in a state of disrepair when the homeowners approached reBuild. They wanted a lush makeover to leverage the tree-top vantage point and integrate indoor-outdoor living. This was one of reBuild’s first mini-projects.

Upper East Side apartment roof deck

Photography by reBuild Workshop

Architectural sketch of a garden patio with trees and plants.

The Plan

Our approach was straight-forward and addressed all the project challenges: First and foremost, the new deck was going to be elevated to align with the interior in order to create a seamless indoor-outdoor connection.

Sustainability

reBuild used sustainably grown and locally harvested clear cedar planks throughout the project, because of its sustainability and aesthetic purposes. Cedar is also highly resistant against insect attacks, decay, and rot. It is durable, beautiful, and has a much lower environmental footprint compared to other hardwoods, which take a long time to grow and replace. Another sustainable feature of the project is the protection the new deck provides from the sun and heat to the floor directly below by shading it year-round.

Diagram illustrating a journey from a valley to a mountain peak with several stages and figures walking up a slope.

A clear cedar plank fence and guardrails that integrate planters were added to provide privacy and safety, and also to highlight its “tree house” feeling. Last, built-in seating and concealed storage was integrated to add the much-needed functionality for year-round outdoor living.

Cozy outdoor patio with wooden furniture and cushions, a small carpet, a white table with chairs, and potted plants.

One of the focal points of the new outdoor space was the custom designed built-in bench along the wall that doubles as a storage. Planters were added along the side to allow a small herb garden. More built-in planters were added into the railing, lining the edge of the deck, which allows the outdoor space seemingly blend in with the unusually lush interior of this Manhattan city block.

The homeowners picked out a gold vintage Moroccan lock for the door leading to the internal staircase.
The homeowners picked out a gold vintage Moroccan lock for the door leading to the internal staircase.

The homeowners picked out a gold vintage Moroccan lock for the door leading to the internal staircase.

And a playful wooden swing hung from the large tree.

And a playful wooden swing hung from the large tree.

And a playful wooden swing hung from the large tree.
Sequence of 3D renderings showing the construction process of a wooden deck attached to a building with large windows, metal railing, and partial roof covering.

Like in most of our projects, a 3-model was built to plan the work step-by-step. Pictured above: (a) outdoor area after demolition of existing deck (b) wood frame to support the new, elevated platform (c) the new wood decking installed, and (d) the new fence, built-in railings and bench