the surrounding vegetation makes this terrace feel like a garden.

those mature evergreens took years to grow in, and they're doing serious work screening out the neighboring sightlines. at 2,065 square feet with 40 feet of width, this direct living terrace seats a dozen people comfortably before anyone notices the courtyard orientation. west-facing means late afternoon sun, which is exactly when you want it.

the direct living terrace in this home is almost useless beyond framing your views with plants, but that is ok, as the direct roof terrace is very spacious and practical

long but narrow, with limited practical use

twelve feet of width on a second level terrace, and they've actually done something with it. that composite bench runs long enough for a proper stretch, and the young trees in those planters will fill in nicely over the next few summers. the skyline view past that glass tower gives you something to look at besides your neighbor's hvac. good privacy here, which on a rooftop in manhattan usually means the surrounding buildings haven't figured out their own outdoor spaces yet. room for a small dinner party, solo morning coffee, or just watching cranes build the next thing blocking someone else's view.

that door opens directly from the living room, which technically makes this direct living. but at 160 square feet with what looks like barely enough depth for two chairs and a potted olive tree, we are in balcony territory here. views are pleasant, neighbors can see you. morning coffee, not dinner parties.