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This rooftop terrace accompanying a modern apartment in Clifton Hill bears the same qualities as a traditional garden, but without any permanent beds.
After living in the apartment for several years, the owner engaged Ian Barker Gardens to create a truly functional outdoor space where they could potter, connect with nature, and entertain.
There was a desire for a clearer definition between zones, a more cohesive flow from interior to exterior, and practical provisions such as a discreet garden shed.
The team at Ian Barker Gardens designed the garden as three main ‘rooms’ occupying the 90-square-metre, L-shaped terrace that wraps around the apartment.
There’s a dedicated barbecue area, followed by a dining space under a steel pergola, then a relaxed lounge zone — all designed to create distinct visual ‘frames’ of the apartment’s sweeping Melbourne city skyline views.
The design was also influenced by the industrial character of the surrounding neighbourhood, including several nearby red brick buildings.
‘We chose a neutral, refined hardscape palette to allow the greenery of the plants to contrast beautifully against the brickwork in the local area,’ explains Ian Barker, founder and director of Ian Barker Gardens.
‘The layout is unapologetically geometric, echoing the clean lines and architecture of the home’s interior.’
Turning the rooftop into a usable garden meant navigating tight building regulations and council red tape. In response, Ian and his team designed all components of the rooftop garden to be entirely removable, from the oversized planters to the overhead steel pergola.
‘We had to ensure that all elements — from wall and planter heights to materials and weight — met safety requirements, including wind load considerations,’ Ian explains.
‘Every material was chosen not only for its aesthetic harmony, but also for its adaptability and structural suitability in a rooftop environment. It’s a delicate balance of form and function, something we embraced fully in this design.’
Another critical consideration was waterproofing. ‘We carried out extensive testing to ensure that irrigation and drainage systems would not impact the apartments below,’ says Ian. ‘This was a non-negotiable in maintaining the integrity of the building and peace of mind for all residents.’
Many components were pre-constructed offsite and assembled in sections to reduce the time on site, again minimising disruptions to the building and its residents.
The delivery itself was a feat of coordination, as Ian recalls. ‘“Crane day”, as we like to refer to it, saw the team come together to carefully lift all materials, including trees and large planters, up to the rooftop with precision.’
The garden’s custom-designed planters span various sizes and heights, all with wide bases that visually anchor the space and withstand rooftop conditions.
Plants such as Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’ (silver kidney weed) cascade over the taller planter edges, contrasted by the height of feature Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Biloxi’ (crepe myrtle) trees, and punctuated by vibrant accents of colour across the Tulbaghia violacea (society garlic) and Hylotelephium ‘Herbstfreude’ (sedum ‘Autumn Joy’).
Over time, Wisteria floribunda ‘Royal Purple’ (Japanese wisteria) will take centre stage as it fully establishes across the pergola.
‘It brings height, shade, and drama to the space while reinforcing the architecture, looking as if it belonged with the building all along,’ says Ian.
The creation of this outdoor space has afforded the client the sense of ‘getting lost’ in their garden, among an otherwise dense urban environment. Low-maintenance plants allow them to spend as much (or as little) time tending to the garden, supported by an automated watering system.
Ian says, ‘It’s a garden designed for living, not just looking.’
An edited version of this story first appeared in The Design Files Magazine Issue 03.
