Flat roof houses are getting more and more popular, especially in dry climates. And there are quite a few reasons. Want a roof garden in the middle of a city? Or a rooftop terrace to enjoy lazy afternoons with friends and family? A flat roof house can be much more than just a modernist cubicle.
Modern Flat Roof House Designs
Garrison Residence by Patrick Tighe Architecture is a truly modern building. A flat roof allows its unusual windows to stand out. It also accommodates several private outdoor spaces and a rooftop garden.
Earth House is an unusual one. Built in 2009 in Seoul its flat roof was levelled with the ground. Its courtyard has no roof or cover though, so it opens up like a hole in the ground.
The beauty of flat roofs is that they can really be more functional than the regular ones. Take Pulkabacken House built in Sweden that stands at the base of a hill. Its flat roof outlined with railing features a slope. Accessed through a ladder on the second floor the roof slope makes for winter fun for kids and adults alike.
When flat roofs aren’t housing an outdoor area they can easily be built upon to accommodate more indoor living space. Rever & Drage created two extensions in their Pedervegen 8 house that look like some kind of weird ears. These added more space to the bedroom and bath.
Circle House got its peculiar name from a ripple-like effect created by three stacked rectangular structures it’s made of.
Stacking is easy with flat roofs. Austin Maynard stacked the blocks of That House in Melbourne giving it an interesting look.
As we mentioned flat roofs aren’t only fit for cubic house designs. Quirky shapes can be achieved in a single flat surface that can make both the floor and the roof like in Jesse Bennett‘s Planchonella House.
Glass Flat Roofs
Roofs don’t always have to be built of masonry and concrete. In fact if the climate is rainy and there is a possibility of freezing these aren’t the right materials for it. Architects from Suppose studio have built a roof for a house in Buzen with metal framed glass. As a result the outdoor area between the separate house structures is safe from elements.
What can top off a flat roof made of glass? Perhaps a swimming pool on top to create amazing light patterns on the walls? OPA‘s Casa Brutale is still a project, but it was given a green light for construction in Beirut.
Roofs With Openings
Continuing the topic of quirky shapes is Waterstudio‘s house in Netherlands.
Flat roof designs can have interesting details like in this Overlook Guest House by Schwartz and Architecture. The round opening allows the courtyard plants to get more sun.
In another one of their projects called Box on the Rock a tapered opening in the roof allows the residents to bathe in the sun whenever they want without leaving the house.
Flat Roof Houses Covered With Grass
Flat roofs are ideal for lawns. Surely in a dry sunny climate it can be tough to maintain a green lawn but there are certain advantages you can’t just pass up. Better insulation, your own clean green patch to frolick around and the view alone should convince you. Just take a look at Casa Magayon by SARCO Architects.
Even if you have no patience or passion for a garden, a green lawn can be maintained with relative ease. For one, you don’t have to mow it that often and if you have enough rain it won’t require frequent watering. A strip of grass on this roof of a Santa Monica house though a bit yellowish and patchy still looks impressive and inviting.
Collage House by S+PS Architects is not only interesting because of its facade. Its greenery-covered flat roof makes a case for growing crawling plants.
Villa Savoye does not have an average flat roof. Built in 1929 the Le Corbusier it features architectural circular details that hide a rooftop garden.
The garden can be accessed via a ramp in the courtyard.
If grass is not an option you can also put gravel on top of your roof to create a nice walkway to stroll around. The roof of this House in Kea is both eye-catchy and in harmony with its surroundings.
Speaking of walkways, check out the House K by Sou Fujimoto equipped with benches, light sources, and potted trees that turn it into an inviting promenade.
If walkways don’t excite you, then a roof maze definitely should. AA House built in Spain by MVN Arquitectos looks positively intriguing, doesn’t it?
Flat Roof Houses With Roof Terraces
Rooftop terraces have their own special appeal. And this one designed by Scenario Architecture also has an extra edge to it.
The staircase descending inside the house features a sunken area with a window that creates a connection between the roof and interior. This doesn’t just allow more light in, but also opens up a beautiful view of the sky.
Another rooftop terrace also features an urban garden. Designed by Create + Think Design Studio the terrace can be accessed through the stairs outside the building.
Case Inlet Retreat by MW Works integrates a staircase into the roof. Its railing continues across the perimeter to create a sense of privacy for the rooftop terrace.
Combining the terrace and lawn MIA Design Studio made an ultimate retreat out of Naman Villa.
These two Phagan houses in Thailand feature real fences on their roofs, which create a private space for stargazing.
Flat roof houses offer a lot of room for creativity. They also allow a more rational use of outdoor space creating avenues for your favorite hobbies from sledding to gardening. As you can see the architects have learned to build flat roof houses in different climates and use lawns and terraces to protect them from leaks. All of these benefits should really feel exciting for prospective homeowners.
