The brief is to design a home studio and a guest bedroom above the existing garage. However, a 3 meter setback requirement opens up a window of opportunity to build an L-shape addition around the existing courtyard on top of the existing garage and laundry room. The other half of the space on top of the garage is used as a stepped roof garden, following the natural ground level as well as softening the edge of the house and providing a view to the neighbour. The decision to have a flat roof also respects the neighbour as it doesn’t deprive them of their existing view to the river.