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Kat Aul Cervoni, founder of landscaping studio Staghorn NYC, has revamped her fair share of rooftops. And while they’ve ranged from a penthouse terrace in Clinton Hill to a sky-high garden in Chelsea, the main challenge is always the same: keeping the materials lightweight. This Tribeca project was no different: The circa-1899 home, like most of the New York City’s older buildings, had strict weight limitations, so your typical hardscaping materials wouldn’t necessarily make the cut.
The couple’s vision—a breezy hangout where they could lounge, entertain, and hangout with their cat, Shadow—was further complicated by another problem: “It’s wonky,” says Cervoni. She’s referencing the a 20-degree slope in the rooftop floor, which doesn’t sound like a lot until you start introducing furniture and decking on an uneven surface. The fix? Ever-so-gradual terracing—Cervoni broke the space into four distinct zones so you barely notice you’re on an incline. Doubling down on functionality, she also worked alongside her in-house build team Cedar & Stone to craft custom built-ins with hidden storage.
For greenery, she tapped Blue Plant NYC to help choose plant species that would be able to handle the elements. “Rooftops are really tough environments,” Cervoni points out, especially ones that get a lot of sun and wind. Read on for a closer look at her finished product: the ultimate city escape.
The Entrance
Instead of a fussy gate or heavy door, there’s a hatch. More specifically, a cantilevered staircase connected to the primary bedroom. On the other end of the space, a small door opens in front of the slatted wood privacy screen, which is made out of black locust, a more durable and sustainable than commonly-used tropical hardwoods. With neighbors a stone’s throw away, the mini fence gives Cervoni’s clients some welcome privacy.
The Lounge Zone
A small step up lands you in the main hangout area defined by lightweight porcelain pavers. While the plants framing it look to be set in heavy concrete pots, the containers are actually powder-coated aluminum. “When they’re empty, they’re like 20 pounds,” the designer reveals.
Cervoni brought in some dappled shade for the lounge seating via a birch tree, whose lollipop shape has the added benefit of ensuring you aren’t accidentally smacked in the face as you walk by. A Japanese maple and tough-as-nails Juniper introduce extra color and dimension.
As for flowers, Cervoni avoided anything that would be a total bee magnet (one of her clients is allergic), focusing on quick-growing Russian sage that has a similar look to lavender but is easier to care for and ornamental grasses that dance in the breeze. Nearby, Cerastium tomentosum (also called snow-in-summer) cascades over the side of its pot, lending a softness to the rooftop’s hard angles.
The Path
A gravel intermediate area might sound too heavy for a rooftop, but Cervoni admits it’s only a thin layer; the pebbles are held in place with a honeycomb-like fabric so they don’t shift around too much. Just off to the side, a small patch of turf is the cat’s domain (plus another hit of greenery is always easy on the eyes).
The Dining Deck
The rooftop ends on a literal high note, culminating in raised deck with a built-in bench that triples as seating, planter, and storage. “I was like, how many functions can we put into one thing?” recalls Cervoni. “We threw everything at it to make it earn its rent.” The designer’s clients decided to splurge on a Tuuci umbrella. But given the couple is relaxing six stories up, its marine-grade rigging is worth every penny.
