Rooftop gardens are one of the fastest growing garden trends in Chicago and other U.S. urban centers, and overseas they have been growing explosively for years. CSG has a dedicated Rooftop Garden division, and is perhaps the only full-service design/build firm in the area focused on rooftop garden design and installation. Please link to THE ROOFTOP LIVING LIFESTYLE and THE ROOFTOP LIVING COLLECTIONfor a better understanding of rooftop living.
We make a distinction between a rooftop garden — a space which is designed, constructed, planted and furnished for ongoing human activity, and whose building structure will support the garden — and a green roof, an installation over a building's standard black tar roofing membrane featuring multiple layers of membrane protection mats, root inhibitor mats, drainage mats, etc., all topped with 4-6' of soil and drought-tolerant plantings. A green roof is not intended for human activity, but rather for its energy-saving and environmental benefits.
CSG designs and creates rooftop gardens, although we do incorporate green roof principles and materials into some of our installations.
A rooftop garden is both similar to, and quite different from, a traditional landscape garden. Conditions on rooftops, garage roofs, decks and terraces can be extreme — hot, windy and sunny in the summer, cold and wet with drying winds in winter. These conditions are challenging for plants and materials, but with the proper design and selection of the rooftop components a surprising number of approaches are possible on a rooftop. Additionally, a tidal wave of exciting new products, technologies, furnishings and materials designed for tough outdoor conditions are coming onto the market, making the creation of a multi-functional, safe, quiet, endlessly relaxing and beautiful rooftop garden space a reality.
And on that perfect evening when everything comes together for a barbecue, dinner party, or just a glass of wine under the stars, there's simply no place more magical than a rooftop garden.
Please call us to discuss your project. 847.425.1715.
