Basanti Colony, Rourkela, Odisha | 2022
Residential Rooftop Garden
Some landscapes are created for beauty. Others are created out of love.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we were approached by a family in Basanti Colony, Rourkela. The client had just one request—not for himself, but for his father, a gentleman in his seventies.
"I want my father to have a place where he can walk every morning and enjoy nature without leaving home."
That single sentence became the foundation of the entire project.
The rooftop presented an unusual challenge. Unlike most projects, the entire terrace was already finished with floor tiles. Building a rooftop garden over tiled surfaces required careful planning because the tile joints increased the possibility of water seepage if drainage was not managed properly. While many would have considered this a limitation, we saw it as an opportunity to learn.
The design focused on creating a comfortable walking path surrounded by greenery. Since the family had South Indian roots and loved basil, we planted basil along the boundary, filling the rooftop with a familiar fragrance that made the space feel deeply personal.
Halfway through construction, continuous monsoon rains washed away much of our progress. Once the weather cleared, the team returned to inspect every joint, rebuild the affected layers and complete the project with even greater attention to detail.
The most memorable moment came after completion—not when we admired the finished landscape, but when we watched an elderly father walk peacefully through the garden his son had imagined for him.
This project reminded us that the most meaningful landscapes are not measured by their size or cost, but by the care and relationships they quietly celebrate.
Some gardens are built to grow plants. Others are built to express gratitude.