Rooftop terraces are currently experiencing significant appreciation in urban areas. These spaces, which once often served as purely functional areas, are increasingly being designed as high-quality extensions for a wide variety of uses. The trend towards so-called roof gardens, sky lounges, or rooftops is not limited to a specific property category but characterises office buildings, hotels, cultural institutions, and residential projects alike.
Office buildings deliberately integrate rooftop terraces as extensions of meeting areas, fitness rooms, and traditional workplaces. Examples include the HEADS OFFICE in Aschheim and MONACO in Munich's Werksviertel. Hotels utilise these elevated locations for spas and bars, while museums such as the State Archaeological Collection in Munich combine culture and leisure opportunities on their roofs. Innovative concepts are also found in the residential sector, for instance, in the form of roof areas intended for urban farming for residents' self-sufficiency. Across Germany, green roof areas already cover 200 million square metres, with Munich holding a leading position in a city comparison.
The conception of roof areas as usable spaces is not historically new. Even in antiquity, Roman villas featured fish ponds and so-called Horti Pensiles. In 1899, two London theatres extended their stages to the 'Paradise Roof Garden'. The architect Le Corbusier popularised the idea of the 'fifth façade' at the beginning of the 20th century to reclaim lost garden areas. A prominent example is the Cité Radieuse in Marseille with its utilised rooftop playground and pool. After a phase in which roofs primarily served as locations for technical facilities, project developers have rediscovered the potential for creating attractive urban spaces.
Andreas Wißmeier, Managing Director of Rock Capital Group, emphasises the intrinsic importance of height and expansive views for people. He explains that rooftop terraces today enable a change of perspective and offer a new view of urban life. Studies also prove positive effects on human health and productivity. Green open-air spaces contribute to stress reduction by creating a visual demarcation from the urban hustle and bustle. The 'Attention Restoration Theory (ART)' states that even short micro-breaks on green rooftop terraces can increase concentration and reduce errors in the workplace. This makes rooftop terraces a relevant factor in office space selection for companies.
Rock Capital Group, a project developer based in Grünwald, currently has several projects in Munich with integrated roof areas for marketing. These include the HEADS OFFICE in northern Munich with 14 tenant-owned rooftop terraces, as well as the new development HEAVEN on Nymphenburger Straße. Another example is MONACO in the Werksviertel, which comprises 580 square metres of terrace and rooftop areas. Mr. Wißmeier points out that in MONACO, 10 percent of the entire new office building is thus designated as open-air spaces for tenants. Additionally, a multifunctional area has been created, which can be flexibly used as a meeting room, presentation area, or communal kitchen.
The activation of roof areas represents a welcome extension in times of scarce urban space. This metaphor lends companies and employees a sense of exclusivity and belonging. Globally, diverse and creative uses of roof areas are already apparent, from sports facilities to amusement parks. Regardless of the floor height, the elevated position conveys a feeling of grandeur and order in the urban environment, which significantly contributes to the attractiveness of these areas and further increases their value in the real estate market.
