I am a New York based garden designer. I will be glad to offer you some ideas for your space. Please provide me with dimensions of the terrace. Also, I need a brief wish list of items you'd like to have on the roof ( dining table, lounge area, plants etc.). To improve your shading for your windows you can add a row of tall planting to create shade and add heat blocking film on to the glass. I will provide ideas for your space at no fee.

Popping in to watch the progress! ;-)

Hi there, I am a designer specialised in sustainability and productive (i.e. edible) systems that are low maintenance and functional. I would be happy to discuss this project with you and offer my initial thoughts at no charge if you are interested. Please feel free to look at my website and see if you like the sound of what I do, and if so - feel free to get in touch! :)

Your website looks very convincing and inspiring. I hope I can use your professional help. Thank you.

I look forward to helping you in converting your outdoor space into a practical and functional garden. I have several design questions that need to be addressed in order for me do some preliminary sketches. Perhaps you can contact me directly, my email address is littlemiraclesdesigns@gmail.com.

The Little Miracles Designs, besides liking your very inviting name, I am very thankful to an opportunity that you give to me with your interest to make a big miracle with my terrace. You are welcome to see it implemented and to enjoy the skyline of Bangkok at the sunset time I am attaching the plan of the terrace and apartment the way they are now. I am going to change everything jet obeying some conditions: from outside the facade of my apartment has to look more, or less the same. I can't build sun protecting roof, and there is not much sense doing it unless I can regulate the angle of the roof. I am thinking of pergola with the vines climbing on the top, but not blocking the view, i,e. not blocking the whole glass wall of the leaving room. After all my reading and knowing Thai labor and technology market, I would go for the simplest solution, which I see as the louvers made of tick wood. In this case the sun doesn't touch the glass and termites don't eat the wood. This solution is very expensive...
A lot of heat comes as the reflection from the bare tile floor of the terrace. The floor has some depressions, where the rainwater remains... The tile is not bad, and the places with puddles I think could be used to set up there some flowerbeds, or little "pond". To redo the tile is possible, but I am afraid that instead of the old puddles there will appear the new ones... The best solution will be to get rid of all the places where the water can remain.
The wall at the left can be used for some climbing plants, fountain and for having a lounge area with a table and barbecue close to it. During the rain season it could be a lot of water and a very strong wind. Small flowerpots will be nocked down... The best kind of "furniture" I think would be a some brick, or concrete benches with the storage space under them for some gardening tools and so on. I wish to have a cooling fountain. The water from it could be also used for watering plants.
Around the corner at the north is kind of a hidden place, where the air-conditioner's engines are. Around the corner at the south is the ventilation grid, which has to stay not blocked. This place is for another air-con engines... I plan to have there some kind of a roof... Look at the picture with the view from above. My neighbor, as you see, extended her front roof ...
So, the main things I want to achieve is convert this place into a garden, with the open view to the city and sun protection of the glass front wall. I am very interested in your vision of this place. Thank you again.

Some ideas

Something similar against blank wall

Hello. I began working on your rooftop drawings. There are a few details missing from your original photographs. Please retake photos from each corner looking at the opposite corner for better accuracy of the drawings. Thank you. Sasha

Thank you, Sasha! I will send these pictures as soon as I have them, I am not in Bangkok at the moment, but I will come there in the middle of January. I wish you to make and to experience the miracles of all sizes in 2015! Here is my greeting card with the garden that I "planted" on silk.

Happy New Year< Little Miracles Design!
The New Year didn't change the pace of time, which as always runs away. My son took the photos according to your drawing. I put corresponding numbers on the drawing and the photos. Photo 5A has a photoshoped "reconstruction" of the front wall of the apartment. I plan to move the whole wall almost till the end of the tile roof, making the internal space bigger, and the space of the balcony smaller. I will send the floor plan of the renovation I am planning to do. Thank you! I am very exited to see what you have in mind.

I plan to move the whole front wall of the apartment almost till the end of the tile roof (around 90 cm forward). It will enlarge the interior space and "eat" some space of the balcony. See my photoshopped "reconstruction" on the picture 5A

I pointed two drains. On the picture 4 it is set up OK, on the picture 7 it is set up too high and water creates a big puddle around it. Both drains get stocked with the leaves from the gardens on the upper floors.

Here is my not still final plan of apartment renovation with the front wall moved towards the balcony for almost 1 m.

The budget for the balcony is not more then $10K. Tile is not movable. It is cemented into the roof. I don't want any kitsch anywhere. Simple, basic, smart, easy to take care, pleasure for eyes, protection from sun, some greens to use as eatable fruits and spices.
Thank you, again. Keep patiently waiting for your picture of my "great" space.

The drawings are almost complete. My design team is just putting finishing touches on them. Not sure if I will be able to upload them though Houzz, will try. Thank you for you patience. Sasha

Thank you, Sasha! You may use my e-mail address:natasha@triqita.com for uploading pictures. Yet, I think there are people on houzz looking forward to see your ideas of converting my desert-like balcony into the tropical paradise.

Here is the first Idea:

Here is the suggested plant materials list

Here is my second idea for your space

Here is the plant list for the second design

Thank you, the Little Miracles Designs. There are elements in the both designs that I will definitely incorporate in my final plan, which is still to be developed. Your selection of plants is very nice and will help me a lot when I come to this point. Your professional approach made me see my place in a different way, and inspired some new ideas. Let's see what kind of miracles we will finally have.

Looks like you are getting some wonderful guidance and great ideas for future development......however........

I may have missed it but, it has been my experience, when dealing with garden designers for many years, they fail to do a proper site analysis first.

Such as:

a. Do you know the weight limits in this space and what spots are above columns that can bear the greatest sustained weight?

b. Do you know how well the terrace drains and where these positive drains are located? Is there a slope toward the exterior walls and away from the living quarters?

c. Where are the electrical outlets?

d. Is there a cable outlet so you can work outside? Where?

e. Is there a hose bib, and where is it located? Can you set up metered drip irrigation in the plant beds and pots?

f. Could you install a roof deck floor that you can step up onto like a raised terrace, that all the utilities and drainage could house beneath you, and the floor would not be slippery, even when raining?

g. Are there any undesirable views that you hope to screen?

h. Will children or pets have access to this garden? If so will you want play space for them: sand box, swing, tricycle space.

i. Can you capture any cooling breezes from the southwest? from the sea? How will this effect your BBQ placement?

Can the client's wish list be done? Both the family needs and the site analysis criterion must be reconciled.

Analyze first, then plan.

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