Category:

Residential Design

An exhibit for the "Garden in the City" show in Chicago’s Grant Park, Reversing the Flow pays homage to its host city’s rich architectural past. At the same time, it offers an appealing vision of a currently underutilized resource: the city’s rooftops.

The layout was planned to deal with such conditions as direct sunlight, winds and harsh winters. Cascading planters are filled with perennials as well as deciduous and coniferous shrubs selected for their hardiness. A constructed “river” allows water to circulate throughout the design, while hidden drip irrigation keeps plants watered. A pergola, introduced for shade, spans a marble floor to define a sheltered and sophisticated dining nook. In close proximity is a state-of-the-art cooking area and a comfy lounging spot. Soft lighting provides a relaxed ambience, extending the life of the roof garden past twilight. As the design team observes, entire industries currently are springing up to help people enjoy the outdoors. Many of these items, the exhibit proves, are perfectly suited to city dwellers interested in modern rooftop living.