Emerald Terrace

HMWhite reimagined ArchCare’s Mary Manning Walsh Home’s 1,200-square-foot wraparound roof terrace as a restorative garden sanctuary for residents, caregivers, and guests. Formerly an austere
expanse of red concrete pavers, the terrace now unfolds as a richly layered sequence of spaces framed by bronze-toned planters filled with Japanese maples, flowering shrubs, textured groundcovers, and native perennials that support pollinators.
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Faced with strict load limits, a modest budget, and a mobility challenged population, the design transforms the terrace’s linear footprint into a rhythmic progression of “bowers”—intimate seating zones defined by Cumaru timber “rugs” and cantilevered vine trellises. Anchored to the building, these lightweight frameworks offer shade, spatial enclosure, and a sense of human scale without exceeding structural constraints.
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A consistent palette of natural timber, earth-toned planters, and integrated LED lighting unifies and softens the rigid masonry context. Dense perimeter plantings, vine-clad walls, and layered overhead trellises frame views and enrich the terrace with seasonal color, texture, and sensory depth. This once- barren rooftop is now a therapeutic refuge—resonant, accessible, and profoundly human scaled—offering daily moments of dignity, comfort, and beauty for one of New York City’s most cherished eldercare communities.