Project: East Melbourne Roof Garden
Architecture: Bent Architecture
Engineers: Clive Steele Partners Pty Ltd
Landscape Architects: Infinite Landscape Pty Ltd
Location: East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Year: 2024
Photo Credits: Tatjana Plitt
The East Melbourne Roof Garden beautifully combines nature, functionality, and stunning views to create a tranquil urban retreat. Located atop a 19-storey residential building near Melbourne’s CBD, this rooftop oasis offers breathtaking panoramas of the city’s iconic skyline, including the renowned sports precinct, the Yarra River, Birrarung Marr, the CBD, and Treasury Gardens.
Transforming an Underused Space
Previously a wind-exposed, unused deck, the rooftop now serves as a vibrant, multi-purpose outdoor area. The design turns the challenges of its high position into assets, using strategic planting to manage wind and weather exposure. As a result, residents and visitors enjoy comfortable spaces that benefit both the local community and the broader urban environment.
Versatile Zones for All Occasions
The rooftop is organized into distinct areas, each designed for specific activities and connected by lush greenery. At the heart of this space is a modern outdoor kitchen, BBQ, and bar, offering spectacular views while seamlessly connecting indoor comforts with outdoor enjoyment. A new powder room and convenient storage areas further enhance the rooftop’s usability and self-sufficiency.
A large dining table with built-in seating invites gatherings, from casual breakfasts to elegant dinners. Meanwhile, tranquil corners provide perfect spots for relaxation, reading, or quietly observing the city’s bustling atmosphere from a peaceful vantage point.
Thoughtful Comfort and Sustainability
To ensure year-round comfort, shading structures protect guests from harsh summer sun and support heating panels that warm the space during Melbourne’s cooler evenings. Large, strategically placed planters act as effective windbreaks and visually extend the natural landscape from nearby Birrarung Marr onto the rooftop.
The plant selection focuses on hardy, low-maintenance species that thrive in Melbourne’s climate, enhancing the rooftop’s ecological footprint. These plants were chosen not just for their beauty but also to create a seamless visual connection between the roof garden and the city’s natural surroundings.
Enhancing Urban Life
The East Melbourne Roof Garden exemplifies thoughtful urban design, turning a once-neglected rooftop into a lively and sustainable space. It demonstrates how thoughtful, sustainable design can significantly improve quality of life, proving that even the highest rooftops can become thriving urban sanctuaries.
