Over time, their house expanded upwards as well as sideways, and every bedroom on the upper level looked down on the one eyesore – the garage roof.

DESIGN ELEMENTS
According to the homeowner: ‘The green tops of the gigantic oak, palm and willow trees have been growing unchecked for many years in our neighbourhood. During this time, our house, too, increased in size – upwards and sideways. What’s more, set against a steep incline, the garden soil has shrunk dramatically – and, of course, there was that ugly garage roof, which we could no longer ignore.’ A builder was called in, and his task was to make sure that the garage roof was strong enough to support the garden. As a first step, the entire roof surface was treated with waterproof paint, after which it was covered with thick, black plastic before starting the paving. Good drainage also presented a problem and several drain holes with drain pipes were installed to allow the water to run off.
Paving
The layout was kept simple, with paving blocks of cement, separated by small, smooth river stones in white and light shades of grey and brown.
Cement Blocks
Along the open edge of the roof, which presented some danger, upright paving blocks were placed to form a low barrier.
The Plants
The owner is an excellent chef who likes to grow fresh herbs, salad ingredients and vegetables in the garden. Of course, this does not mean flowers are omitted.
Décor Elements
Over the years, the gardener has accumulated a wealth of objects d’art, many of which now serve to beautify this special, convivial garden.

Words and image: Home magazine