Roma Terrace / Marc Pascal ODA

The project is developed with two main spaces, the first providing continuity of access to the roof through a series of massive walls that create a corridor that provides increased privacy of a distinctive scale, while also being home to greenery. Those walls were covered in a mixture of paints and pigments to achieve a rusty look, imagined as an urban ruin. The design strategy was thought to incorporate low-maintenance materials and finishes that would age well and could withstand bad weather, improving the project’s character over time. While walking down this concrete path, lush vegetation and clay planters create a micro-climate that embraces the user in a comfortable desert-like environment. Down the corridor, the second space is discovered as a semi-indoor living room, featuring a modular metal structure that is accentuated by its carbonated wood ceiling.

Under this element, the project provides a spacious and timeless place for guests to enjoy various uses including a contemplative garden, workspace and lounge area. One of the most striking features is the incorporation of in-house designed and manufactured objects, such as the cast-concrete counter and a rust-steel suspended fireplace. These elements are supported and complemented by mid-century furniture and art chosen in collaboration with the user. Crossing the balcony one wall serves as a visual feature, which is covered in a bluish ocher gradient tint to create a contrast with the “sepia-like ambiance” that defines the project. On one side, the slender columns that support the structure create natural framing and provide dramatic views of the city skyline.