These unusual rooftop innovations ensure that you never run out of ways to maximize the space on your roof.
Homeowners who don't have much yard space can opt to plant a yard or garden right on their rooftop. Hotels and other tall buildings have used their rooftops not only for pools, but for lakes, bee hives and art installations. Check out these rooftop innovations and more below.
Implications - The rooftop has become an additional room for some homeowners. It boosts the ability to see the area around you and just relax. The no walls feeling allows a calming sense that the viewer is on the top of the world. By having ideas like eco-friendly rooftops, the space is transformed into something more, making it more special.
15 Unusual Rooftop Innovations
15
Dramatic Rooftop Pools
Universe Beach House Centers On Swimming & Spectacular Views
14
Rooftop Cube Hotel
Everland Hotel, Paris
13
Living Rooftops
Green Roof Designs Bring Sustainability to Architecture
12
Rooftop Yards
The OUTrial House is a Gorgeous Green Cube
11
Rooftop Photo Shoots
Nuno Veloso's ‘Urban Queens' Blends Grit With Glamour
10
Urban Rooftop Pools
The Joule Hotel
9
Glass Balloon Animals
Jeff Koons Rooftop Exhibit at the Met
8
Urban Beekeeping
Rooftop of Toronto's Fairmont Royal York Hotel Is A Hive Heaven
7
Photovoltaic Rooftop Waves
The Solar Wave Pavilion by Michael Jantzen
6
Roof-Top Protests
Greenpeace Fights E-Waste From the Roof of Hewlett-Packard
5
Sinuous Eco-Friendly Rooftops
The Park House
4
Rooftop Lakes
Psycho Buildings at Hayward Gallery
3
Retrofitted Green Roofs
'The Flat' Condo in LA Gets Rooftop Vegetable Garden
2
Post-Apocalyptic Naturescapes
Roxy Paine's 'Maelstrom' at the Met
1
Rooftop CSAs
Milwaukee Makes Organic Produce Accessible & Affordable
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Honeycomb-Shaped Wind Turbines
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Nest-Inspired Urban Houses
This Vietnamese Dwelling Offers Respite From the Concrete Jungle
Ceiling-Mounted Laundry Racks
GoodLiving Presents a Multifunctional Retractable Laundry Rack
Cooling Igloo-Shaped Dog Houses
Seungmean Lee Designs a Cooling Dog House for the Summer Months
Cat-Centric Compact Homes
This Japanese Dwelling Embraces Feline-Friendly Design Choices
Hitch-Style Camping Tents
The U-RANG 'HITCH-HOME' Offers an Alternative to Rooftop Tents
Minimalist Indoor Gardening Systems
The Conceptual BalconyFarm POT Can Be Set Up Anywhere
National Park-Inspired Tiny Homes
The Backcountry Tiny Homes 'Basecamp' Tiny House Has a Roof Deck
Nature-Inspired Solar Panel Trees
New World Wind Develops the Aeroleaf Hybrid Technology
Plant-Filled Latticed Buildings
Wallflower Architecture + Design Creates the Touching Eden House
Indoor Organic Waste Gardens
The Conceptual BOSCH Eco-Hub by Batuhan Duran is Sustainable
Glamorous Camping Experiences
Volodymyr Hahonin Designs the LULU Glamping Experience
Hydroponic Plant-Growth Ecosystems
The Square Greens Pod is a Compact Device to Cultivate Food
Family-Friendly Camping Van Tents
The CloudCap Camper Van Rooftop Tent Offers Space for Two
Serenely Stilted Houses
This Sustainable Tiny Home is Situated On An Elevated Platform
Garden-Centering Urban Townhouses
This Vietnamese Home's Layout is Arranged Around an Inner Garden
Vineyard-Topped Airport Terminals
The New Plans for Florence Airport Integrate Rooftop Greenery
Shapeshifting Outer Space Hotels
The Acromnia Orbital Hotel Imagines Life in Space
Shutter-Accented Tiny Homes
The houzEKO Tiny House Offers All-Season Efficiency and Privacy
Soil-Free Garden Systems
The 'Gourmet' Garden Uses a Nutrient-Rich Medium & LED Lighting
Extreme Space-Saving Architecture
A 74-Square-Foot Apartment is Redefining Urban Living
Edgy Futuristic Activations
The Oakley Exoplanetary Bunker in Paris is Otherworldly
Tranquil Elevated Tiny Homes
Jan Tyrpekl Designs the Cozy Zen House in Austria
Luxury Rooftop Restaurants
W Toronto's SKYLIGHT Features Mediterranean Fare and Lush Interiors
Unfurnished Camping Trailer Designs
Kworks and Lixil Join Forces on the Mio Space Trailer
Japanese Inn-Inspired Apartments
Intheory Design Creates an Apartment Inspired by Ryokan
Modern Multi-Purpose Japanese Buildings
Akio Isshiki Architect Overhauls an Old Wooden Building
Playfully Renovated Homes
This Home Has a Slide, Swings and Rock-Climbing Wall
Integrated Garden Designs
Ludwig Godefroy Champions "Habitable Gardens" in Mexico
Fridge-Decorating Trend Guides
The Takeout Published a Professional Chef's Guide on Fridgescaping
Self-Sufficient Housing Solutions
The 'Hillcrest House' is Entirely Solar-Powered
Nature-Connecting Vacation Homes
kaviar.collaborative Designs the New House by the Lake in India
Portable Minimal Smart Planters
A Team of Designers Create the Balconyfarm Planter
Lateral Rooftop Cargo Racks
The 'ACS Roof' Offers Unencumbered Access to Well-Protected Gear
Landscape-Integrated Hill Homes
Elías Rizo Arquitectos Designs the Casa AV in the Hills
Japanese Inn-Inspired Micro Apartments
La Tarta Piccola's Mae Prachasilcha Designs a New Apartment
Japanese Garden-Inspired Offices
Flooat Designs the Mitsui & Co Office Space in Tokyo
Bunker-Borne Vacation Homes
This Subterranean Home Was Formerly a Wartime Bunker
Energy-Efficient Office Buildings
This Czech Office Complex is Outfitted With Eco-Friendly Designs
Textile-Transformed Parisian Lofts
Isabelle Heilmann Transforms a Workshop to an Open Home
Outdoor Water Sink Stations
Weltrevee Presents the New Contemporary Waterworks Outdoor Sink
Rotating Bamboo Screen-Cladded Studios
11.29 Studio Uses Rotating Screens Around Painting Space
Rentable Miniature Modern Cabins
The Nest is a Tranquil Rental Space at ReWild Rentals
Hydroponics Indoor Garden Designs
The Nutraponics TLX Blends Nature with Technology Together
Award-Winning Housing Designs
Hong-En Lin Emphasizes the Importance of Clean Water Access
Bio-Based Compact Housing
Woonpioniers Designs the Sustainable Sprout Ruben & Marjolein House
Solar Rainwater-Storing Roofs
Researchers in the Netherlands are Developing 'Blue-Green Roofs'
Off-Grid Oceanside Homes
Campos Studio Designs a Sculptural Cliffside Home in Mexico
Subterranean Garden Installations
Tideway is Bringing Attention to the Thames Tideway Tunnel
Garden Oasis Renovated Homes
Sam Crawford Architects Designs the Hidden Garden House
Modernist Reconfigured Belgian Homes
ISM Architecten Adds a New Roof to the BEEV Home
Planted Balcony Home Designs
4site Architects Designs the House of Greens in Bangalore
Solar Powered Luxe Treehouses
Fort Treehouse Co. Designs the Baltic Treehouse in Canada
Subterranean Courtyard Galleries
Buzz Designs the Hermit Space Yards in Beijing Park
Fiji Ocean-Front Estate Homes
A Tesm of Designers Join Forrces to Create the Reef House
Hidden Urban Oasis Cottages
Winwood McKenzie Adds an Extension to the Quarry House
Spacious Rooftop Personal Tents
Cinch and Wildland Designs the Off-Roader Air Cruiser
Slopped-Base Green Tiled Homes
Bak Gordon Arquitectos Integrates a Home with Surrounding Buildings
Greenhouse-Topped Residences
Moe Architecten Adds a Greenhouse on Top of the Wooden House
Rollable Rooftop Cargo Racks
The 'Twistbox' Can Be Rolled Into a Compact Cylinder When Not In Use
Bright Balcony-Defined Apartments
Austin Maynard Architects Designs the Nightingale Village
Viewing Box Cultural Centers
The Center for Arts & Innovation Hosts Events and Education Spaces
Bamboo-Clad Residential Homes
i29 Designs the Open Park Villa to Connect with Nature
Reconfigured Spacious Brooklyn Homes
Light & Air Design the Z House with an Open and Bright Look
Nature Blending Modern Homes
MODU Designed the Mini Tower One Residence in Brooklyn
Diamond-Shaped Paneled Homes
Reigo and Bauer Design the Neville Park Home in Toronto
Updated Sustainable API Features
Google Adds New Features to its Ingenious Project Sunroof
Stingray-Inspired Restaurant Roofs
Atelier Nomadic Designs the Canopy of the Overwater Restaurant
Cut-Out Structural Narrow Hotels
Kooo Architects Designs the Hotel Rakuragu in Central Tokyo
Daylight-Filled Treetop Residences
An Architect Couple Designs the Unique Atwater House
Natural Light-Centric Timber Homes
Studio Varey Architects Designs the Huron House in London
Honeycomb-Inspired Terracotta Walls
Ant Studio's Beehive System Naturally Cools Down a Space
Collaborative Bright Office Spaces
Bespoke Only Designs Her New Spring Office Loft Space
Summer Patio Pop-Ups
The Sol Patio+ Provides a Comfortable Place to Wait for a Table
Wooden Structural Outdoor Bedes
Marco Lavit Designs the Hut Lounge Bed for Ethimo
Personal Cubicle Concepts
Ma. Camilla Isabel Reyes Designs a Personal Working Pod Concept
Artful Climate-Themed Installations
Michael Pinsky & Studio Bark Unveil the Making a Stand Design
Elevated Treetop Modern Cabins
NAMO Architecture & i29 Architects Create the Buitenverblijf Nest
Italian Rooftop Restaurants
Public Gardens in Toronto Offers a NYC-Inspired Oasis
Floating-Style Classroom Designs
Ennead Architects & Rockwell Group Completes the Bloomberg Center
Beetle-Inspired Sustainable Planters
The Fog Smart Hydroponic Planter Leans on Biomimicry
Juxtaposing Garden Home Designs
Studio North Designs the Custom Garden Garage in Calgary
Cleverly Designed Micro Apartments
The Cabanon Measure 74 Square Feet with Folding Furniture
Live-In Art Gallery Homes
Casa Galeria is a Home That Doubles as an Art Gallery
Lakeside Thatched Holiday Homes
RAPA Designs the Summer House on Lake Balaton in Hungary
Greenery-Filled Skyscraper Terrarium
ODA Presents a Look at the Terrarium Cheong-Dam Design
Perforated Brickwork Office Buildings
Tropical Space Designs the Premier Office in Vietnam
Spiralled Roof Horticultural Centers
KPMB Architects Designs the Leaf Building in Winnipeg
Tranquil Aesthetic Bungalow Renovations
OWIU Design Created the Echo Park Hillhouse
Rock-Climbing Work Spaces
Paris has a Hidden Climbing Gym and Cowork Space Inside a Chapel
Chequered Garden Tea Rooms
Rashid Ali Architects Designs a New Garden Pavilion in Hargeisa
Expansive School Bamboo Canopies
CollectiveProject Creates a Canopy at Talaricheruvu Rural School
Solo Flexible Study Spaces
YounghanChung Architects Designs the Tiny Forest Study Space
Cozy Gaden Cabin Retreats
BYRÓ architekti Designs the Garden Pavilion with Wooden Detail
Urban Skyline-View Apartments
i29 Designs the Apartment with a View in Amsterdam
Concrete South Korean Cafes
On Architects Designs the Nonspace Cafe Space in Incheon,
Light-Filled City Center Gardens
ROOM + Design & Build Designs the Secret Garden in Vietnam
Ice Factory-Transformed Galleries
Malik Architecture Designs the IF.BE Gallery and Event Space
Hidden Garden Timber Pavilions
Tikari Works Designs A Room Around a Tree in London
Cutout Roof Cement-Clad Homes
Edition Office Designs a Home with a Focus on Tree Views
Hotel-Based Garden Terraced Columns
WOHA Designs the Pan Pacific Orchard with Garden Terraces
Halo-Like Skylight Homes
Tamara Wibowo Architects Designs the Halo House in Indonesia
Micro Backyard Work Studios
The e-Den Garden Office is Weatherproof for Year-Round Use
Sunset-Inspired Polish Apartments
wiercinski-studio Reimagines the 18TH Apartment
Net-Positive Energy Botanical Gardens
Olin & Overland Completes the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Natural Landscape-Surrounding Homes
All(zone) Designs the Under the Rain Trees Holiday Home
Italian 4-Story Loft Apartments
lamatilde Designs the Casa MRGT Apartment Project in Turin
Minimal Bird-Watching Cabins
Inclume Architects Designs the Cozy Hide Cabin in England
Minimal Renovated Modern Townhomes
Also Office Joins Colony on the Bed-Stuy Townhouse
London-Based Garden Roofscapes
James Corner Field Operations Designs a Roof Garden in London
Open-Air Kenyan Holiday Homes
PAT Renovates the Falcon House with Passive Cooling Systems
Lotus Flower-Inspired Villas
Thilina Liyanage Designs the Lotus Villa Inspired by Nature
Shaded Modern Outdoor Furniture
mmcité street furniture Designs the UFO Shelter for Outdoors
Unconventional Chinese Housing Estates
Atelier GOM Designs the Longnan Garden Estate
Mirrored Panel Tropical Gardens
Research Artistic Design + Architecture Designs the Frame Garden
Garden-Connecting Melbourne Homes
Splinter Society Renovates and Extends the Gardener's House
Urban Green Space Overhauls
Four of London's green spaces will receive a makeover
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
City-Honoring Furniture Projects
The Symbiotic Urban Furniture Project is Imaginative
Gold-Tonal Metal Building Extensions
Rørbæk og Møller Arkitekter Extends a Skylab at a University
Retro Gabled Greenhouse Additions
BHY Arquitectos Renovates the Casa Wiz in Buenos Aires
London Home Skylit Extensions
Oliver Leech Architects Prioritizes Natural Light in New Project
Scenic Rooftop Cocktail Lounges
The UNLISTED Rooftop Offers Views of NYC's Skyline
Oversized Thatched-Roof Health Resorts
Ingenhoven Architecture Designs the Lanserhof Sylt Resort
Vibrantly Designed German Lofts
Sabine Marcelis Designs the VitraHaus Loft in Rhein, Germany
Retro Apartment Transformations
Space is around us Designs the Kyano Apartment in Greece
Expansive Roofs Concrete Homes
Studio MOB Creates a House in the Farm in Coimbatore
Nature-Connecting Design Installations
OMCC and Diez Office Unveil the Vert Installation
Hybrid London Townhouse Office
SPPARC Updates a New Office Space with a Unique Roof Design
Dynamic Mall Rooftop Extensions
Society Particular Completes the Skybowl Roof Extension
Tree-Inspired Panelled Workspaces
Hood Design Studio Creates a New Campus in Silicon Valley
Greenery-Surrounding Lush Homes
Ho Khue Architects Creates the Nest House in Vietnam
Inverted-Pitched Roof Extentions
The DHaus Company Creates the Butterfly House Extension
Futuristic Factory Rooftop Extensions
MAD Transforms a Factory with the Ark Extension in China
Nature-Merging Geometric Homes
Reigo & Bauer Designs the Neville Park Residence in Toronto
Converted-Garage Expansive Studios
Jan Kattein Architects Designs the Angel Yard in London
Renovated Cottage Garden Extensions
John Ellway Renovates a Cottage with New Extensions
Terraced Naturally Lit Homes
Unknown Works Designs the Bright Oasis Home in London
Glamorous Urban Tranquil Villas
GROWTO DESIGN Presents the Natural Villa in China