An Urban Roof Deck Oasis, Imagined by Artist Haemee Han
Standing 16 stories-tall at 155 Washington Street, Newark Urby has a unique silhouette among the Newark skyline. Originally an Art Deco era parking garage from the 1920’s, it has now been restored and expanded, making life more conducive to Newark residents. From studios to 3-bedroom apartments, Newark Urby has something for every walk of life, with over 250 apartments available to rent.
Previously built Urby locations in Dallas, Harrison, Jersey City, Staten Island, and Stamford all showcase architecture that centers around a neighborhood feeling. Newark Urby furthers this communal ethos, by providing residents with shared spaces such as a Courtyard, Co-Work, Gym, Garden Room, Study, Yoga Studio, and a newly opened Roof Garden.
Urby partnered with artist and landscape designer Haemee Han to create a Roof Garden with a story to tell. Vertical living in a modern tower doesn’t always provide street level interaction, at times feeling secluded from the hustle and bustle of what’s below. Newark Urby’s Roof Garden brings a familiar streetscape experience directly to residents. With stoops to sit on and chat with neighbors to exposed brick that reminds viewers of traditional brownstones, and street lampposts to provide ambiance at night, Urby and Han created nostalgic street vibes on their third floor Roof Garden.
Designed by Han, the Roof Garden serves as a testament to Urby’s commitment to collaborate with young artists. Han’s story started in South Korea, where she lived with her family until her early teen years. "Growing up I really liked music and sound, but I ended up changing disciplines to something more visual as I grew older," shared Han, reflecting on the beginning of her artistic journey.
Han later attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree. A few years later, she graduated from Harvard University Graduate School of Design with a Master of Landscape Architecture. After obtaining her Master’s degree, Han worked on various projects, further developing her artistic style. “It was 2019 when I started getting more and more projects, so I decided to leave my job and create my own studio,” shared Han. As a result, Jaemee Studio was founded. From that point on, Han has exhibited her public art and garden installations across America, Europe, and Asia. Most notably, being recognized for her “20 Doorways” project that was featured in the Chaumont-Sur-Loire International Garden Festival in France.
Fast-forward to 2020, when Urby selected Han to conceptualize and design their new outdoor area. “I always start a project with an object and then transform it into something new. Here at Newark Urby’s Roof Garden, I wanted to start with the idea of a stoop, a familiar sight that people will recognize immediately, and then transform that into a communal resident streetscape,” stated Han. “I’m interested in creating landscapes and public art projects with objects that trigger memories, whether it be collective or individual,” reflected Han.
Noticeable throughout different sections of the Roof Garden are replicated stoops as you’d find in a typical city neighborhood. They serve as gathering spots and places for people to watch the world wander past. Adjacent to a series of planter beds, Han implemented steps and handrails to visually guide the viewer through areas of the Roof Garden. These familiar visual cues evoke natural interactions, allowing residents to meet their neighbors in organic ways.
"I could tell that Urby was trying to create a sense of community around their Roof Garden, and I wanted to bring that to this shared space,” said Han. Further developing her streetscape design, Han implemented additional objects such as streetlamps, garden patches, and recognizable brick accents that provide a sense of street life. Han also provided rich social settings for residents to congregate in by adding outdoor barbeques and kitchens, alfresco style dining tables with modernist pergolas, as well as a scaled down version of a private dog park.
The addition of garden patches allow residents to get their hands dirty while also connecting with nature and the changing of seasons. The close proximity of personal gardens let residents tend to their own crops, and exchange gardening tips with neighbors while doing so. Residents can grow everything from herbs and spices to juicy watermelons and wildflowers. Through this shared experience of farming and gardening, residents can find solace in the beauty of nature while still having the Newark skyline serve as their backdrop.
Creating pockets of privacy, Han used a plethora of planters and trees to define zones and articulate the space. These colorful and eye-catching blooms add a sense of wild-flower nature with urban living. Meticulously curated by Han, the landscaping on the Roof Garden can make you forget your city dwellings and transport you to a more relaxing environment.
Recognizing the importance of pets in the community, Han designed the adjacent Woof Garden (Dog Park), which is connected to the Roof Garden. Thoughtful design and use of scale encourages residents and their furry companions to engage with neighbors. “I wanted that sense of community to extend to not just the resident populated areas but also to the Woof Garden as well," said Han. These pet friendly areas use similar design elements as the Roof Garden but are scaled down to dog height. There’s raised and lower levels, a miniature archway, and other dynamic spaces for pets to explore.
"Working with Urby was great. They gave me the freedom to make choices as a designer, while still having that collaborative aspect," expressed Han. This partnership showcases the transformative power of art and design in shaping community living. It also ties into a common theme found at every Urby building. The Newark Roof Garden is just another example of Urby’s commitment to their residents through the creation of communal shared spaces that inspire connections.
