Site Plan   An exposed roof eighty feet up in the air along the wind tunnels of Manhattan’s streets and only partially sheltered from the elements can be a fairly harsh environment. The beating sun, gusty wind, driving rain, snow, and hail could make the space feel more like a mountaintop than a rooftop garden. To build an enjoyable human environment in such a place, we take inspiration from the ancient mountaintop and transform it to the contemporary rooftop. Our goal is less to tame the elements than it is to align our design with the sun and the wind in the most seamless, minimal and cost-effective way possible. We also want this new outdoor space, in essence an addition to the apartment itself, to seamlessly align with the feel of the interior below. It must be built to withstand not only everything nature can throw at it, but also to withstand the whims of its inhabitants—present and future—always serving their needs, day-to-day, year-to-year. It is to be modern, yet timeless.