Do we need rooftop gardens? The benefits and personal experience of rooftop gardens in multi-family housing in Seattle

Abstract

This research studies peoples’ experiences of rooftop gardens in select Seattle multi-family apartment buildings and attempts to determine how residents benefit from them. As the population in Seattle increases, less ground-based, public open space is available, and rooftop gardens have emerged as a building-based design feature offering residents the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. But what do people think of these spaces? How do they use and experience them? Do they feel better after visiting the rooftops? I conducted an online survey of apartment building residents in Seattle buildings to understand these questions better. This survey's results (n = 64) reveal that residents benefit from using rooftop gardens, enjoy different features and opportunities these spaces can bring, experience them in different ways, and would like to see more of the specific features that this research explores. Based on this survey, people mostly appreciate the opportunity to simply access fresh air; enjoy the views from their rooftops; the plants, both aesthetic and productive; their use for relaxation, recreation, and socializing; and more experiences. Research demonstrates that cities and the natural environment benefit from rooftop gardens, but people also benefit from them, use them and enjoy them. The findings can be helpful for future building policies and regulations governing new construction or the renovation of existing buildings. They can be used to promote rooftop gardens in Seattle and other cities.