In the world of landscape architecture and design, roof garden designs are big news. some truly inspiring designs have incorporated the most innovative landscaping materials to produce public spaces and roof terraces that take the inner city dweller to a whole new realm of greenery and nature since developers and urban designers look up to the sky for the last remaining spaces for landscape.

The number of roof garden design rocket with a number of high-profile designs achieving media coverage in 2014. Controversially by some, London’s Sky Garden, loved by others, a roof garden design within the Walkie Talkie building, incorporates landscapes that make the visitor feel as if they have walked over the brow of a hill to see the impressive London cityscape open up before them. Another roof garden design made the press at the University of Greenwich. It unveiled 14 new roof garden designs within a purpose-built campus that provide outdoor spaces for students and academics. Late last year, another high-profile roof garden revealed was the iconic Battersea Power Station whose design comprises a 355-metre long landscaped roof garden space that was designed by the architects behind New York’s High Line.

As reports of the UK’s cities losing more and more of their public spaces come to light, 2015 looks set to truly be the year of the roof garden and the roof terrace. And we should expect to see more and more high-profile, innovative balcony designs throughout the year. With innovative products designed and adapted especially for installing where there are no aggregate footings and where drainage and the ability to access flooring exists, advancements in landscaping products and landscaping material are one of the pivotal forces behind this trend in landscaping. One of the examples of this is the ability to install paving and non-slip composite decking in roof garden and balcony designs, thanks to advancements in paving support and decking support pedestals.

Thanks to decking pedestals, composite decking can be installed within pretty much any balcony or roof terrace setting. Non-slip composite decking retains the natural feel of timber decking to balcony and roof designs, but with the longevity and non-slip qualities of wood-polymer materials. Being much safer and slip-resistant, composite decking resists the elements and requires very little maintenance over the years. Adjustable and raised, paving and decking pedestals allow for full drainage of hard surfaces, as well as allowing easy access of cabling or other services running underneath.

Roof spaces offer superb opportunities to create outside and public spaces since property prices throughout the UK’s capital continue to rise. We can all look forward to seeing more and more interesting roof garden designs emerging as we approach the summer with 2015 now well underway.