Noormannenstraat, Leuven, Belgium

I may have a slight obsession with rooftops. These spaces tend to host amazing views, yet are often inacessible or hidden away under gabled roofs.

If you live in one of those classic row houses, why not cut of the top and create a roof terrace? It may be a narrow space, but it would be a wonderful contemplative space to read a book, gaze at the city, or throw water bombs at neighbours.

From a technical standpoint, I don’t imagine this should be too difficult either (and I hope I’m using the correct English jargon in the following paragraph). In my personal experience with this type of roof construction, most are insulated along the collar tie, and tend to have a pull-down ladder already in place; so accessibility and insulation should not be too big of a hurdle. Structurally, removing the top means the rafters don’t support each other any more, putting all the pressure on the collar tie. This could be alleviated by placing a rectangular steel frame along the opening to carry the pressure.

-by whynotthecity