Urban Oases: Integrating Nature into City Life
We reclaim neglected urban corners, turning terraces and home offices into living extensions of your home that blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors.
A home office addition designed to maximize its connection to the green outdoors. The large window allows natural light to flood the space, where the desk is positioned to offer a constant view of the garden.
A view from the inside looking out to the terrace garden. The large sliding doors dissolve the boundary between the living space and the outdoors, making the garden an extension of the home.
This urban terrace is treated as an outdoor room, complete with potted trees, patterned tile flooring, and curated murals. It's a space designed for light and life, where architecture takes a backseat to the vibrant greenery.
A black and white graphic mural provides a striking contrast to the vibrant plants on this terrace. A simple metal pergola adds structure and defines the space, creating a cozy and artistic outdoor nook.
A functional water tank on a terrace is transformed into a piece of art with a floral mural. This small intervention adds a layer of flamboyance and personality, turning a utilitarian object into a garden feature.
The effect of a green outdoors on an indoor space is profound. The layers of light and shadow from the garden create a porous, breathable quality in this home office, complemented by indoor plants.
This extension was designed to be an organic and simple space for various moods and activities. The room opens completely to a horizon full of plants, creating a versatile area for workouts or social gatherings.
Where there is sun, there is light and life. This view through a skylit area shows how the home is designed to be as much about its outdoor spaces as its indoors, with life and greenery taking center stage.
About Urban Oases: Integrating Nature into City Life
Converting a standard city terrace into an oasis requires more than adding plants. We prioritize the structural reality of the slab, beginning with precise waterproofing, and transform existing assets, such as overhead water tanks, into integrated garden features. Our approach ensures the space is functional, load-bearing, and resilient against local weather conditions.
Our Approach to Urban Landscaping
When working within the constraints of an urban footprint, we avoid the impulse to fill every square inch with hardscape. Instead, we treat the terrace as an outdoor room. This begins with an analysis of the existing structure. We assess load-bearing capacity and waterproofing integrity before introducing any new elements.
The Blur Between Indoors and Outdoors
We design for continuity. By using consistent flooring, such as patterned cement tiles or rough-hewn granite that transitions seamlessly from the interior living space to the terrace, we eliminate visual barriers. Large-scale glazing and sliding doors allow the garden to become the primary view, essentially acting as a living wall.
Repurposing the Utilitarian
We resist the urge to clear-cut and start fresh. In many of our projects, we identify existing infrastructure like water tanks or concrete ledges that are typically seen as eyesores. We repurpose these as canvases for botanical art or as foundational elements for built-in seating. This reduces construction waste and preserves the original logic of the site.
Materiality and Planting
Our plant palettes are selected for their ability to thrive in pots and containers, focusing on native species that support local pollinators. We incorporate permeable surfaces wherever possible to manage runoff, ensuring the terrace remains a breathable, low-maintenance environment rather than a heat island. This is the practical application of our philosophy: making spaces that serve both the user and the immediate ecology.
Betweenlines
We are BETWEENLINES. We believe architecture should not stop at the wall; it should bleed into the landscape, whether that is a sprawling garden or a tight city balcony. Our process is rooted in research, material honesty, and a constant dialogue with the nature surrounding us.
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