New York secret rooftop world – Alex Maclean

Another amazing work made by a pilot and photographer Alex Maclean. He captured the stunning images for his new book Up on The Roof: New York´s Hidden Skyline Spaces. In the book’s introduction architecture critic Robert Campbell writes: ‘Rooftops will be the lungs of the denser city of the future.

‘As the world urbanizes, the rooftops will connect us with nature, with wind and sun and rain and snow, with the natural processes of growth and decay.’

This incredible collection of aerial photographs taken above New York gives a rare glimpse of a hidden rooftop world. Just a few stories above the non-stop hubbub of city life exists an incredible oasis of lush gardens, restaurants, swimming pools and even tennis courts.

Thanks to Mayor Bloomberg’s eco-friendly ‘roofscaping’ initiatives, the tops of dozens of buildings have been transformed into amazing outdoor living spaces and models for green-city living.

Other amazing features include beehives, basketball courts adventure playgrounds artworks and even a vintage Sopwith Camel biplane.

Secret world: One of photographer Alex Maclean’s amazing aerial shots shows a block in Upper West Side.

Growing trend: A one acre urban farm in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens.

Guests at the city’s Standard Hotel enjoy the rooftop life.

Urban jungle: A multi-level rooftop garden overlooking Central Park in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Artificial materials and pebbles make up the camouflage pattern on the roof at the Museum of Modern Art.

The High Line, an elevated park in the sky built on top of the tracks of a disused railway, weaves its way through the city blocks.

Tudor City, Manhattan: A mid-rise apartment building topped with terrace gardens detailed with Tudor style flourishes.

Chelsea, Manhattan: A Cool mural on a white roof above a gallery building in Chelsea.

New York truly is a “concrete jungle where dreams are made of…”. An amazing visual and architectural work of photography.