Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Roof-Top Garden


I've known that there was a roof garden on top of the Optima building but I just recently noticed how big the trees up there have gotten.  I snapped this shot out the car window while I was sitting at a traffic light.  I need to see if I can talk the management into a tour of that garden one of these days.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns.  I'm taking a break from England and instead visiting a Fool on the Hill.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

A garden with far reaching views too, I expect!

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

The Camelview condo project in Scottsdale, which Julie has shown, is another Optima project and has lots of gardens overflowing on patios all over the buildings. This building in Phoenix is more conventional in its design, but still incorporates the signature element of landscaping on top.

When I toured the Camelview project, they mentioned that they started growing the plants before they finished the building, and they experimented so that they would know exactly which type of plants would do well in shallow planting boxes on rooftops and balconies.

The lack of deep roots would be a big issue for the large trees that you have shown today.

Billy Blue Eyes said...

I know a place like that I need to revisit sometime

cath said...

Belle photo ! Nice post.
Bonne journée.

Kate said...

Seems odd and unnatural to have those tall trees up there, but it would a very pleasant place to visit.

LONDONLULU said...

I'm seeing a bit more of these in urban areas and I do love the idea. Look forward to any tour pix:) (I felt the same re: Philomena - I would've been more like the journalist character by the end, feeling angry about what had happened to Philomena...but a lovely film still).

Judy said...

It's an interesting looking building by itself and then put trees on top and you have a real oddity. Hope a big wind doesn't blow them off. I bet they would let you go up to see them.

Mersad said...

Must be quite nice, to stand up there and look down.

Unknown said...

Great composition, wonderful colours!

Lowell said...

You did well shooting this from the car! Love the colors and the garden would definitely be worth a visit. I remember being surprised at seeing so many rooftop gardens in Paris.

RedPat said...

That seems to be the trend here too! They usually have wonderful views.

Karl said...

A garden on the roof is a good idea, better than a swimming pool... (or both?)

glenda said...

Wow, they are getting rather tall.

Randy said...

The trees have really grown.

Thérèse said...

Just hoping there are people who can enjoy the trees and the fresh air up there!

William Kendall said...

It's a good use of such a space, though I often wonder what happens if roots break through the roof itself....

Jack said...

This looks like quite a nice bit of architecture. I love the orange banding and the blue reflecting in the glass, as well as the offsets instead of a more typical cube.