Picture an enormous glass rooftop conservatory in London. An exotic vertical garden in Singapore. An elevated railroad track transformed into a park in New York City. Creative rooftop gardens soaring high above heavily populated areas are adding a welcome touch of greenery to the landscape of cities around the world. City dwellers and visitors alike enjoy the opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle below and commune with nature. Here are some of the top rooftop gardens from around the world to add to your bucket list.
The High Line, New York
The High Line came to life when the local community rallied to repurpose it into a park after it was scheduled for demolition. Besides taking in the views while walking on the transformed, elevated railroad track, you can see world-class artwork, enjoy a performance, grab lunch and walk through gardens. You’ll truly feel like you’re in a whole other world! Docent tours of the High Line are available Wednesday mornings at 10 a.m. year-round.
You can see New York City from a whole different angle while strolling along the High Line on the west side of Manhattan near the Hudson River. Once a vital rail line delivering food to lower Manhattan, the High Line was transformed into an amazing public space with a 1.45-mile greenway, lush with over 500 species of plants and trees, along with public programs free and open to the public.
ACROS Fukuoka, Japan
Located in Fukuoka, Japan, the ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall was the ingenious solution to an almost unsolvable puzzle. When the government needed a new building, the only lot left was also the last green space in the city. Instead of choosing one over the other, they seamlessly wove the two together to create a beautiful masterpiece.
This tower was built by the well-to-do Guinigi family in the second half of the 14th century, and the tower’s impressive height was designed to reflect the family’s importance. What made the Guinigi Tower different from others was the rooftop garden of oak trees symbolizing rebirth and renewal that was planted as a statement of the family’s nobility.
Torre Guinigi, Lucca, Italy
The Tuscan city of Lucca is quite possibly where the rooftop garden movement got its start hundreds of years ago. Torre Guinigi, an iconic tower that is instantly recognizable for its crown of greenery, is a jewel set in beautiful Lucca.
This tower was built by the well-to-do Guinigi family in the second half of the 14th century, and the tower’s impressive height was designed to reflect the family’s importance. What made the Guinigi Tower different from others was the rooftop garden of oak trees symbolizing rebirth and renewal that was planted as a statement of the family’s nobility.
Bosco Verticale, Milan, Italy
Appropriately known as the “Vertical Forest,” two LEED Gold certified residential towers boast the equivalent of three hectares of forest space right in the heart of Milan. The towers, which stand at 26 stories and 18 stories high, are embellished with over 15,000 plants and almost 100 different species of trees, as well as countless shrubs and florals, allowing for 30 tons of carbon dioxide to be absorbed each year. There is no green thumb required to live in these ultra-luxe high- rises, as solar panels and filtered wastewater help sustain the ecosystem.
One of Europe’s largest redevelopment projects, Bosco Verticale has won international awards celebrating tall buildings that are ideal models of sustainable urban design.
Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Award-winning Gardens by the Bay in Singapore serves up an enthralling experience for locals and international visitors. Covering a whopping 250 acres, the Gardens has a horticultural theme park vibe and offers huge conservatories, a tower of exotic vegetation and the highest indoor waterfall in the world.
You’ll be mesmerized by the fascinating and exotic plant life at every level. An elevator will bring you to the edge of the falls in the Cloud Forest section, while the aerial walkways take you on a journey of delight and discovery.
The Observatory sits atop the canopy of the Supertrees, the Garden’s highest point, offering panoramic views of the gardens and the bay area. The spectacular Flower Dome invites you to get up close and personal with an array of unusual plants from habitats ranging from the Mediterranean region to the savannahs and deserts of South Africa.
Whether meticulously planned or a creative solution to a problem, rooftop gardens are a peaceful getaway many would travel hundreds of miles to escape to. They’re a wonderland within themselves, offering new visitors and frequent guests a chance to unwind, renew and enjoy the beauty of the world, all just a few stories up from their everyday lives.
