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Terrace (building)
Terrace (building)
from Wikipedia
A terrace

A terrace is an external, raised, open, flat area in either a landscape (such as a park or garden) near a building,[1] or as a roof terrace on a flat roof.[2]

Ground terraces

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A terrace of the Joenniemi Manor in Mänttä-Vilppula, Finland
A terrace at the shores of Lake Purgatsi in Anija Parish, Estonia

Terraces are used primarily for leisure activity such as sitting, strolling, or resting.[1][2] The term often applies to a raised area in front of a monumental building or structure, which is usually reached by a grand staircase and surrounded by a balustrade.[2] A terrace may be supported by an embankment or solid foundation, either natural or man-made.[1] But terraces are always open to the sky and may or may not be paved.[3]

History and examples of terraces

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Agricultural terracing can be traced back to prehistoric times, but architectural terracing is equally ancient. Examples of early architectural terracing in the Middle East have been found at Nahal Oren (a Natufian cultural site occupied between 13000 and 9834 BCE), at Tel Yarmut (2700 to 2200 BCE), and at Tel el-'Umeiri (600 BCE).[4] Architectural terracing was widespread globally. For example, architectural (rather than agricultural) terracing also occurred on the island of Babeldaob in modern Palau in the Pacific Ocean.[5]

Terraces are found the world over, throughout history. Terraces were used extensively throughout Greece in both public and private architecture, and rooftop terraces can be found at Knossos as early as 1700 BCE.[6] Terraces were also built extensively in the Roman Empire, with terraces in front of monumental structures (such as temples) common throughout imperial history.[7] Temples were terraced on the island of Java by at least 800 CE, and the practice spread to Cambodia. The first terrace stone temple in Cambodia was constructed at Bakong in 881 CE.[8]

Terraces are often used for private residences. In traditional Thai homes (or "cluster houses"), the dwelling is built around a central terrace, or chaan. One or more "house cabins" (small, enclosed rooms) are placed around the edge of the terrace, and set about 40 centimetres (16 in) higher than the terrace to provide built-in bench seating. The terrace is often pierced in the center by a tree, which along with the house cabin roofs and walls provides shade, and may be decorated with large flat ceramic bowls of fish and water lilies or by potted plants.[9]

Architectural theories for the use and design of terraces varies widely geographically and historically. In the early part of the 20th century, architects Henry and Theodore Hubbard argued that the basic function of a terrace was as an interesting base of an even more interesting building. Since the terrace was not the focal point of the structure, its design should be simple and it should command a view.[10] More recently, architect Catherine Dee has noted that the terrace is most commonly used to link the structure to the landscape and as an extension of living space.[11] According to architect Sophia Psarra, the terrace is one of the most commonly used forms of architecture in the 21st century, along with entrance halls, stairs, and corridors.[12]

Landscape architect Russell Sturgis has observed that terraces tend to be used only in larger and more expensive gardens.[13]

Roof terraces

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The roof terrace of the Casa Grande hotel in Santiago de Cuba

Terraces need not always protrude from a building; a flat roof area (which may or may not be surrounded by a balustrade) used for social activity is also known as a terrace.[2] In Venice, Italy, for example, the rooftop terrace (or altana) is the most common form of terrace found. Developed around 1500 CE, it has changed little and consists of a wooden platform with small spaces between the floorboards. The altana was originally a place where laundry could be hung out to dry (hence the spaces in the flooring through which water could pass). However, the altana is now used primarily for social purposes.[14]

See also

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
A terrace in is an external, raised, open, flat area, typically paved or landscaped, that adjoins a building at ground level or on a rooftop, functioning as an extension of interior space for outdoor lounging, dining, or viewing landscapes. Unlike a , which projects outward from a and is usually smaller and cantilevered, a terrace remains level with or integrated into the building's structure, often enclosed by low walls or railings for safety. These spaces bridge the indoor and outdoor environments, enhancing and aesthetic appeal in residential, commercial, and public buildings. The concept of terraces traces back to ancient civilizations, where they originated as agricultural platforms on hillsides to maximize , with architectural uses emerging around 9800 BC in early settlements and formalized examples appearing in the by 2500 BC at sites like Nahal Oren and Tel Yarmut. In , terraces evolved into raised platforms for gardens and promenades, as seen in 18th- and 19th-century American designs where they served as level walks beside buildings or between slopes, sometimes incorporating flat-roofed structures. By the and into the modern era, terraces became prominent features in grand estates and , symbolizing a transition to infinity and framing natural views, with iconic examples like Bethesda Terrace in New York City's Central Park (completed 1863) showcasing ornate arcades and vistas. In , terraces are versatile elements in , often incorporating green roofs, solar features, or communal areas to promote biophilic connections and . Ground-level terraces may feature bund walls for elevation, while rooftop variants prioritize and , adapting to diverse climates and building types from private homes to high-rises. Their design emphasizes with materials like stone, tile, or , ensuring longevity against weather exposure.

Overview

Definition and Etymology

A terrace in refers to an external, raised, open, flat area adjacent to or forming part of a building, either at ground level within a or as a roof terrace atop a flat roof, typically paved, tiled, or otherwise surfaced to facilitate outdoor activities. This structure serves as a transitional space between the interior of a building and its surroundings, often elevated slightly for drainage or aesthetic purposes. The term "terrace" derives from the Middle French terrasse, meaning a platform or mound, which itself stems from Old French terrasse and Old Occitan terrassa, ultimately tracing back to the Latin terra, signifying "earth" or "land." Originally, it denoted earthen platforms or embankments formed from piled earth, reflecting its roots in landscaping and fortification. Over time, the terminology evolved from prehistoric applications in agricultural terracing—where stepped earthworks prevented soil erosion on slopes—to more formalized built features in ancient civilizations, adapting the concept for architectural and urban purposes. By the 16th century, it had shifted to describe level platforms or open galleries associated with buildings, emphasizing constructed rather than purely natural formations.

Distinctions from Similar Features

A terrace, as a raised, level platform integrated into a building's at ground or level, is often confused with other outdoor architectural features, but key differences lie in its scale, , , and . Unlike a , which is a projecting platform cantilevered from an upper-story and typically smaller in scale with railing for , a terrace does not project outward but extends horizontally from the building's base or , allowing for larger, more expansive areas without structural overhang. This distinction emphasizes the terrace's role as an extension of the indoor plane rather than a suspended . In contrast to a , which is an unenclosed, paved outdoor area at natural ground level adjacent to a building and often without , a terrace is deliberately raised above grade on a solid base, providing a defined, platform-like separation from the surrounding terrain. Patios thus remain flush with the , facilitating seamless integration, while terraces create a stepped, architectural boundary. A deck differs from a terrace primarily in materials and support; decks are typically constructed from wood or composite materials on an open framing system, often elevated informally for views or access, whereas terraces employ paved surfaces like stone or concrete built upon a solid, load-bearing foundation for durability and permanence. This makes terraces more formally integrated into the building's architecture, avoiding the lightweight, modular nature of decks. Compared to a , which is a roofed, open-air gallery or attached to the side or front of a building and supported by columns to provide shade and , a terrace remains fully open to the elements without overhead covering, prioritizing unobstructed sky views and direct environmental exposure. Verandas thus function as transitional, protected spaces, while terraces promote an open, expansive connection to the outdoors. Architecturally, these distinctions highlight the terrace's unique emphasis on creating broad, level expanses that enhance views, circulation, and spatial continuity between interior and exterior realms, without the projection, enclosure, or shading typical of balconies, patios, decks, or verandas.

Ground Terraces

Historical Development

The historical development of ground terraces in stems from ancient agricultural terracing practices, which created flat platforms on slopes to maximize and manage water, dating back over 12,000 years. By around 9800 BC, early settlements in the and other regions adapted these techniques for built environments, forming level areas adjacent to structures for communal or practical use. Formalized examples appear by 2500 BC at sites like Nahal Oren and Tel Yarmut in the , where terraces served as platforms near dwellings. In the period, Italian landscape architects elevated ground terraces into sophisticated garden features integrated with villas on hilly sites. Pioneering designs, such as those at (completed 1566) and (1550s), used cascading terraces with fountains and paths to harmonize architecture with terrain, influencing European garden styles. During the 18th and 19th centuries, ground terraces gained prominence in Anglo-American landscape design as raised walks or platforms beside buildings, often on slopes to create usable outdoor spaces. In America, early examples include Native American platform mounds described in the late 18th century, evolving into architectural terraces at sites like Monticello (designed by Thomas Jefferson, early 1800s) for promenades and views. The style peaked in the mid-19th century with Italianate influences, as promoted by landscape designer A.J. Downing, incorporating balustrades and paving for aesthetic and functional integration with estates. In urban contexts, the Industrial Revolution enabled terraced developments like John Nash's Regent's Park terraces in London (1810s–1820s), featuring elevated ground platforms with gardens adjoining neoclassical townhouses.

Design Features and Examples

Ground terraces typically feature raised platforms elevated 1 to 2 meters above the surrounding grade to create level outdoor spaces adjacent to , enhancing and visual prominence. These platforms are constructed using durable materials such as stone, , or to withstand environmental exposure and foot traffic, often supported by pedestals or solid foundations for stability. Integration with retaining walls is essential on sloped sites, where these structures hold back soil and create usable flat areas while preventing . Effective drainage systems, including sloped surfaces and underlying permeable layers, direct water away to avoid pooling and structural damage. For usability, terraces should measure at least 2 by 3 meters to accommodate basic furniture and movement for two people, with larger dimensions for groups. Landscaping elements facilitate a smooth transition from building interiors to outdoor areas, including wide steps for entry, protective railings for safety on elevations over 0.76 meters, and integrated for greenery that softens architectural lines. These features promote functional harmony, blending the terrace with the building's facade through aligned materials and proportional scaling. A prominent example is in , designed by John Nash in the 1820s as a neoclassical row of townhouses elevated above The Mall on a raised platform with garden spaces, showcasing refined stucco facades and symmetrical layouts. Similarly, the U.S. Capitol Grounds Terrace, developed by in the 1870s, employs marble paving and low walls in Vermont and Massachusetts varieties to form a grand, publicly accessible platform rising up to 6 meters, emphasizing the Capitol's architectural base. In Italy, the 16th-century exemplifies ground terraces through cascading platforms with fountains, paths, and hydraulic features that harmonize nature and geometry on a hillside site.

Roof Terraces

Historical Development

The origins of roof terraces trace back to ancient , where ziggurats served as elevated temple structures featuring stepped terraces culminating in summit platforms for religious rituals. Constructed around 2100 BCE, these massive, terraced pyramids, built with mud bricks and often topped by shrines, represented a vertical extension of , allowing access to divine realms while providing panoramic views of the surrounding . In the Neo-Babylonian period, the , attributed to King around 600 BCE, exemplified early rooftop greenery, with classical accounts describing vaulted terraces irrigated by mechanical pumps to create lush, hanging gardens atop the royal palace—though archaeological evidence points to possible locations at instead. By the CE, Roman suburban villas in Pompeii incorporated accessible upper platforms, often flat-roofed areas reached by stairs for leisure and ventilation, reflecting the adaptation of Mediterranean flat-roof traditions to elite residential architecture. During the medieval and periods, roof terraces saw limited adoption in due to the prevalence of steeply pitched roofs designed to shed heavy rainfall and snow, which prioritized structural stability over usable upper spaces. However, in , palazzos revived the concept with panoramic rooftop loggias, as seen in Siena's Palazzo Piccolomini, constructed in the mid-15th century, where an elevated terrace offered sweeping views of the Tuscan countryside and integrated with the building's defensive and aesthetic functions. These features drew from classical inspirations but remained exceptional amid the era's dominant gabled designs. The in the facilitated a revival of flat roofs through innovations like coal-tar and framing, enabling expansive terraces on factories, warehouses, and urban buildings that accommodated growing populations. This shift influenced early 20th-century modernism, notably in Le Corbusier's "Five Points of Architecture" outlined in 1926, which championed as essential green compensations for lost ground-level space in dense cities, providing insulation, recreation, and a reconnection with . Exemplifying this, New York's in incorporated multiple rooftop gardens and observatories, such as the 3/4-acre RCA Building garden designed by Ralph Hancock, blending international flora with public promenades to enhance urban vitality during the . Following , became integral to modernist high-rise architecture, addressing urban density by maximizing vertical green space in postwar reconstructions. Influenced by Le Corbusier's principles, projects like the 1960 Kaiser in Oakland marked the first major U.S. postwar example, using lightweight materials to create accessible landscapes atop commercial structures, promoting social interaction and environmental mitigation in expanding metropolises. This era's widespread adoption reflected a broader shift toward functional, flat-roofed designs that integrated terraces as vital amenities in response to rapid .

Design and Construction

The design and construction of roof terraces require careful attention to structural integrity to support additional loads beyond standard roofing, including traffic and potential amenities. Reinforcement is essential to accommodate live loads typically ranging from 400 to 500 kg/m² (4 to 5 kN/m²) for use, depending on occupancy and local codes like the International Building Code, ensuring the structure can handle concentrated and uniform loads without excessive deflection. Structural decks, often concrete slabs, must be designed to limit long-term deflections that could impair drainage, with provisions for expansion joints every 10 to 20 feet to mitigate thermal movements. Waterproofing is a critical component to prevent leaks into the building below, achieved through durable membranes such as built-up bituminous systems with felts, applied with intermittent bonding to accommodate structural strains. These membranes must include base and counter flashings at perimeters, penetrations, and junctions, often protected during construction with temporary coverings like plywood or asphalt boards. Insulation layers, placed above or below the membrane, must resist compression from surfacing loads while preventing condensation; granular materials like gravel provide both ballast and thermal benefits, equivalent to about 1/3 inch of insulation per foot of depth. Safety features include parapet walls or guards with a minimum height of 1.1 meters to prevent falls, integrated into the design per building codes. Construction methods emphasize seamless integration with the system, utilizing for stability on low-slope surfaces or modular green roofing systems that incorporate drainage layers of no-fines or coarse to facilitate flow. Access is provided via enclosed stairways extending to the surface in buildings four or more stories tall, or elevators for , ensuring compliance with egress requirements. Wind resistance is addressed through adherence to standards like ASCE 7, which specifies uplift pressures based on exposure category, building height, and zones to secure coverings and parapets against gusts. Common materials include slabs for the primary deck, offering durability and load-bearing capacity, while surfacing options like pavers or composite decking provide weather-resistant, low-maintenance finishes. These materials allow for the concealment of HVAC equipment within enclosures or beneath raised systems, maintaining aesthetic and functional integration without compromising structural performance.

Notable Examples

One of the earliest and most legendary examples of a roof terrace is the , attributed to King around the 6th century BCE, featuring tiered rooftop structures supported by vaulted terraces up to 50 cubits high, with an advanced system drawing water from the River via chain pumps to sustain lush vegetation. Although direct archaeological evidence at Babylon remains elusive, descriptions from ancient historians like highlight the gardens' multi-tiered design as an marvel that irrigated exotic plants on elevated platforms, contrasting sharply with modern interpretations by offering a foundational model for rooftop greening in arid environments. In the 20th century, the in , designed by and completed in 1946, exemplifies modernist roof terrace innovation through its expansive, deck offering panoramic desert views, integrated with sliding glass walls for seamless indoor-outdoor flow and shaded by cantilevered elements to combat intense sun exposure. This 2,379-square-foot residence, built for magnate , prioritized and site harmony, with the roof serving as a primary outdoor living space that influenced subsequent desert modernism. A striking modern example is the terrace at in , completed in 2010 by , where a 150-meter-long pool spans the tops of three 55-story hotel towers connected by a 340-meter SkyPark platform, creating an illusory edge over the city skyline at 200 meters elevation. This engineering feat, holding 1.4 million liters of water and supported by steel trusses, integrates gardens and observation decks to enhance urban luxury, demonstrating scalable rooftop connectivity in high-density settings. Among contemporary projects, the Oasia Hotel Downtown in , completed in 2016 by and CPG Consultants, features a red mesh tower with extensive terraces covering 40% of the facade and , incorporating over 21,000 from 200 species to enhance , reduce urban heat, and provide communal outdoor spaces in a . Recent advancements as of 2025 continue to emphasize sustainable features like solar integration in such designs.

Modern Applications

Benefits and Uses

Terraces in provide expanded living and recreational spaces, allowing residents and users to engage in outdoor activities such as dining, relaxation, and social gatherings directly adjacent to indoor environments. This extension of usable area is particularly valuable in densely populated urban settings, where limited ground space often restricts traditional outdoor access. By integrating terraces, buildings can transform underutilized rooftops or setbacks into functional zones that enhance daily life without requiring additional land acquisition. Aesthetically, terraces contribute to the visual appeal of structures, blending natural elements with architectural forms to create inviting facades and features that elevate the overall urban landscape. This enhancement not only improves the building's curb appeal but also correlates with increased property values, with studies indicating potential uplifts of 10-15% in urban residential markets due to the added outdoor amenities. For instance, properties with well-designed terraces often command higher resale and rental prices compared to similar units without them, reflecting buyer demand for integrated outdoor living. From a sustainability perspective, green terraces—those incorporating —offer significant environmental advantages, including improved that reduces building by up to 30% through natural cooling in summer and heat retention in winter. They also aid in stormwater management by absorbing and filtering rainwater, thereby mitigating and in runoff, while supporting by providing habitats for pollinators and local flora in concrete-heavy cities. These features align with broader ecological goals, such as reducing the effect and enhancing air quality through pollutant filtration. In contemporary urban applications, terraces serve as platforms for rooftop farming initiatives, enabling the cultivation of fresh produce in high-density areas and fostering that reduces food transport emissions. Residential terraces increasingly function as wellness extensions, incorporating spaces for , , or outdoor fitness to promote mental and physical amid urban stress. Commercially, they host innovative venues like hotel sky lounges and event spaces, drawing patrons with panoramic views and al fresco experiences that boost revenue. Furthermore, terraces integrate into frameworks, earning credits in certifications like for their contributions to site sustainability, , and innovative design.

Challenges and Solutions

Terraces, particularly roof terraces, present several challenges that can impact their longevity, usability, and overall viability. Maintenance issues are prominent, as exposure to varying weather conditions leads to of surfaces and potential overgrowth of in landscaped areas, requiring regular inspections and interventions to prevent structural degradation or aesthetic decline. Safety concerns arise from slippery surfaces, especially after or in areas with plant debris, and heightened fall risks due to elevated positions, necessitating robust protective measures to comply with occupational standards. Initial construction costs for roof terraces are generally higher than ground-level equivalents, driven by the need for structural reinforcements to handle added loads and to prevent leaks. Environmental exposure exacerbates these issues, with ultraviolet (UV) causing fading of materials and erosion of soil or substrates in vegetated terraces, particularly on sloped or windy sites. To address maintenance challenges, durable materials such as tiles with anti-slip textures are widely recommended, offering resistance to , UV degradation, and water penetration while minimizing plant overgrowth through low-porosity designs. Modular systems facilitate easier repairs by allowing individual components, like pre-vegetated trays or pavers, to be removed and replaced without disrupting the entire , reducing and long-term costs. For safety, non-penetrating guardrail systems and textured walkways provide passive fall protection and slip resistance, ensuring compliance with building codes while preserving waterproof integrity. Regulatory hurdles, including zoning compliance and obtaining permits, often complicate terrace implementation, as local codes may restrict rooftop uses or require additional structural reviews to verify load-bearing capacity. Solutions involve early consultation with authorities to align designs with resolutions, such as those governing and obstructions, thereby avoiding delays or redesigns. further mitigate environmental and maintenance issues; automated systems using sensors and weather data adjust watering to prevent overgrowth and , while drainage sensors monitor flow to avert accumulation and related damage. These IoT-enabled solutions, incorporating components like controllers, optimize resource use and enhance terrace resilience in urban settings.

References

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