For this 600 SF terrace perched above Reade Street, Alison Duncan designed the custom-fabricated wood planters to provide a lush perimeter of plantings and screening. The existing and oblique-angled parapet railing presented some unique challenges in terms of planting selections and required that the planters be slender to provide adequate circulation space. The planters were designed with an aluminum edging, highlighting the horizontal railing system. A special stain was applied to the cedar to accelerate its weathering to a gray color without degrading the wood itself and to complement the client's site furniture.

 

Planters are tiered to two levels to provide a sense of hierarchy within the limited space. Upper rear boxes are planted with Maiden grass, while the lower, front boxes are planted with a variety of sedums and dwarf grasses amongst beds of Mexican beach pebbles. The planting provides seasonal interest and blooming times, and the grasses provide winter-interest as their sheaves turn yellow come late autumn.

 

The design addressed the building's contemporary design, its structural loading requirements, and also included a new irrigation system and landscape lighting.