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These stunning modern green structures not only create tourist attractions but also contribute to improving the environment, making the urban landscape softer and more airy. These five uniquely designed rooftop gardens attract millions of visitors each year and are featured on CNN's list of the most beautiful rooftop gardens.
1. The Waldspirale spiral garden in Darmstadt, Germany.
To preserve the connection between nature and humanity in the rhythm of modern urban life, the renowned Austrian architect and artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser built the 12-story Waldspirale apartment complex in Darmstadt, Germany, with its main roof being a lush, beautiful green garden.
Built in the 1990s and finally completed in 2000, the apartment building with approximately 105 units boasts a rather unique architecture compared to other rooftop gardens. Believing that straight lines are the path of evil, Friedensreich designed a U-shaped spiral building along with a garden featuring perfect curves. Thanks to its incredibly unique design, the garden is an ideal destination for visitors to enjoy a cup of coffee and admire the stunning panoramic views of Darmstadt from above.
2. The thousand-year-old oak garden on the Torre Guinigi tower, Italy
Located in the beautiful city of Lucca in Italy, the Torre Guinigi tower is one of the famous landmarks with its medieval architecture. At the top of the 44-meter-high tower is a small garden with giant old oak trees planted by a local noble family in the 1300s.
Today, their foliage has grown lush, spreading across the tower area and helping to cool the city amidst the sweltering Mediterranean sun. Climbing to the top of the tower via approximately 230 stone steps, visitors will be captivated by the breathtaking beauty of the distant horizon.
3. The Rose Garden on the rooftop at Rockefeller Center, New York, USA
Chosen as a setting for the films Spider-Man and Fantastic Four, the rose garden on the rooftop of Rockefeller Center in New York has gradually become an iconic symbol that captivates countless New York tourists.
Opened in 1935, the rose garden was designed by architect Ralph Hancock and features over 4,000 rose bushes of 600 different varieties. It took the gardeners two years to transport 3,000 tons of soil, 500 tons of bricks, 100 tons of stone, 2,000 trees, and numerous other rose bushes. Although the rose garden is not regularly open to visitors, it would be a shame to miss it on your itinerary exploring other stunning gardens high above the city.
4. Kensington Roof Gardens in London, United Kingdom
When visiting London, the capital of England, tourists should also visit one of the city's most famous gardens - Kensington Roof Gardens. Designed by the renowned Welsh architect Ralph Hancock, the gardens first opened in 1938.
Located high on the rooftop of a seven-story building, the Kensington Gardens is a wonderful place to escape the crowds and hustle and bustle of London's streets.
With an area of up to 6,000 m²2Kensington Gardens, designed in the Spanish style, features fountains, palm trees, ferns, and various flowers. Notably, visitors can admire flamingos here. The garden was temporarily closed in 2018 but is scheduled to reopen in 2020.
5. Gardens by the Bay, Singapore
Opened in 2012, Gardens by the Bay has become an ideal tourist destination for those visiting the island nation of Singapore. Located in the new urban area near Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay boasts hundreds of thousands of rare plant species from all over the world, especially some giant trees with impressive heights.
Here, visitors have the opportunity to witness the world's tallest indoor waterfall, reaching a height of 35 meters in the Cloud Forest area, or they can travel from one giant tree to another via bridges at dizzying heights to get a firsthand view of the entire landscape of this extraordinary indoor garden.
