Rooftop Terrace Design · Shanghai
From the French Concession to Lujiazui
Berlin-based manufactory delivering rooftop terrace concepts to Shanghai's most discerning lane-house roof gardens, high-rise penthouses and Hongqiao villas, with plant design, outdoor kitchens and wellness architecture under one curatorial hand.
Why Shanghai is different
Jiangnan tradition, art deco heritage, and Pudong verticality
Shanghai rooftops sit at the meeting point of two design cultures. The Former French Concession carries Art Deco heritage and protected lane-house architecture; Lujiazui and Pudong reach vertical with some of the highest skyscrapers in Asia. The climate is humid subtropical – hot humid summers, cool damp winters, intense plum rains in June, typhoon-rated wind loads. Heritage consent in the Concession and around the Bund adds the regulatory layer.
We work in this tension daily: with Chinese-licensed structural engineers and landscape architects, with Shanghai Municipal Bureau consultants, and with the lifestyle expectations of clients between French Concession lane-houses, Xintiandi residences and Pudong sky penthouses. Our role is the plant and outdoor lifestyle layer – ecological substrate, Jiangnan-anchored curation, and the wellness elements (spa, outdoor kitchen, water features) that turn a Shanghai roof into a year-round sanctuary.
Our Shanghai approach
Curated plants, ecological substrate, lifestyle integration
- Symbiosis methodology – mycorrhizal partnerships, effective microorganisms and humus building replace chemical fertilisation under the plum-rain regime.
- Jiangnan-anchored palette – evergreen structure (Japanese black pine, podocarpus, bamboo, holly), seasonal layers (Japanese maple, plum, cherry, wisteria), water-loving plants (lotus, iris, ferns).
- Wellness architecture – spa, outdoor kitchen and water-feature integration drawing on Jiangnan garden principles.
- Heritage-aware execution – Chinese-licensed structural engineers, Shanghai Municipal Bureau permitting, heritage consultation in the Former French Concession.
Areas we serve
Across central Shanghai and Pudong
Most of our Shanghai work is concentrated in Former French Concession lane-house roof gardens, central penthouses and Pudong high-rises. We also handle select hospitality projects.
How a Shanghai project unfolds
From first conversation to handover
- 01
Understanding before drawing
Site visit (or detailed remote survey for first conversations from Berlin), discussion of the people and rhythm using the terrace, early constraint mapping (heritage, typhoon, structure, plum rain).
- 02
Concept and curation
A small set of plant compositions, material moodboards, wellness element placement. Always optionality.
- 03
Engineering and permitting
Load calculations with Chinese-licensed structural engineer, Shanghai Municipal Bureau permitting, heritage consultation where required.
- 04
Installation and handover
Our team installs on site over one to several weeks. Plants are sourced from Chinese nurseries and pre-conditioned for the climate. After handover we offer ongoing care subscriptions following the same symbiosis methodology.
Frequently asked
What clients usually want to know first
- Do you work on rooftop terrace projects in Shanghai?
- Yes. Most of our Shanghai work is Former French Concession lane-house roof gardens, Xintiandi and Jing'an penthouses, Lujiazui and Pudong high-rise residences, and villa rooftops in Hongqiao and Changning.
- How do you handle heritage consent in the Former French Concession?
- With early heritage consultation, material specification that respects the Art Deco silhouette, and Shanghai Municipal Bureau permitting via local consultants.
- How long does a typical Shanghai project take?
- Between four and ten months from first conversation to handover. Larger Hongqiao or Pudong estates with wellness architecture often need six to twelve months of planning.
Start a Shanghai rooftop conversation
The first call is unhurried – understanding before any concept. We travel from Berlin for site visits when the project warrants it.
Get in touch