# Brownstone rooftop pool with a Manhattan view in Brooklyn A plunge with an attached hot tub, a glass fence and a pergola, thirty feet above a quiet street. Drawn for a four-story Brooklyn brownstone with a glass rooftop bulkhead, a roof deck and a low parapet wall, with a roof deck with planters of birch and ornamental grasses, wooden water tanks on neighboring roofs and the Manhattan skyline behind. A design idea for Brooklyn, NY. Northeast and New England, urban rooftop, Contemporary. Updated 2026-10-04. ## The numbers - Size: 16 × 8 ft (3.5 to 5 ft deep) - Water surface: 130 sq ft - Water: about 4,000 gal - Coping: 48 linear ft - Deck: 760 sq ft - Hot tub: 7 ft square (about 1,100 gal) ## The design, spelled out The floor is 3.5 ft deep at the steps and stays level for about 4 ft, slopes over about 5 ft, then runs level at 5 ft for the last 6 ft. ### Shape: Rectangle A rectangle with square corners. It is the simplest to build, covers neatly and fits a modern or formal house. ### Size: 16 × 8 ft A small pool about 8 ft wide and 16 ft long. A plunge pool is for cooling off, soaking and a small yard, not for swimming laps. That is about 130 sq ft of water and about 4,000 gallons. ### Steps: Corner steps Steps tucked into a corner. Keeps the water free for swimming and saves space in a small pool. The steps lead into water 3.5 ft deep. ### Hot tub: Spills into the pool, 7 ft square A hot tub built into the pool and level with the deck, spilling into it. It shares the pool's water and equipment, so one heater and one set of chemistry cover both. The tub holds about 1,100 gallons. ### Pool finish: Plaster A smooth cement-based finish. A clean, classic surface that typically needs resurfacing sooner than pebble. A freeze season stresses plaster, so ask how the pool is winterized to protect the finish. ### Finish color: Light grey finish, soft turquoise water A light grey interior. Gives soft turquoise water that suits most houses. ### Waterline tile: White White porcelain at the waterline. A clean, bright line that looks crisp against dark water. It runs about 48 linear ft around this pool. ### Coping: Porcelain Large-format grey porcelain with a square edge. Crisp and low maintenance, ideal beside a modern house. Check it is rated for exterior use where it freezes. It runs about 48 linear ft around this pool. Coping takes the worst of freeze and thaw, so it should be rated for it and set in a flexible joint. ### Deck: Wood-look deck Warm brown composite wood-look boards. Soft on bare feet and warm to look at. Darker boards can run hot in full sun, so check the color. The deck is about 760 sq ft here. Where it freezes, the base and the joints matter more than the surface. ### Planting: Modern Ornamental grasses, gravel strips and square planters. A tidy, low-maintenance frame that suits clean architecture. ### Pool fence: Glass A frameless glass pool fence. It keeps the view open. Your town's barrier code sets the height, the gate and the latch, so ask before you design around it. ### Add to the yard: Pergola Pergola: A pergola over part of the deck. Gives shade and a room feeling. It may need a permit and engineering where it is windy or snowy. ### Furniture: Loungers, Dining table Loungers: A pair of chaise loungers. The first thing people want on a pool deck. Dining table: An outdoor dining table and chairs. Turns the pool into the place where meals happen. ### Light: Golden hour Shown in golden-hour light. Low sun is when the finish, the tile and the planting look their best. ## Why it suits this house The yard: a roof deck with planters of birch and ornamental grasses, wooden water tanks on neighboring roofs and the Manhattan skyline behind. A rooftop pool is a structural and access project before it is a design project. A roof has a weight limit, and water is heavy. A structural engineer signs off on the load, the pool is often built as a lightweight shell, and every piece comes up by crane or stairs. That is why rooftop designs stay compact. The house is a four-story Brooklyn brownstone with a glass rooftop bulkhead, a roof deck and a low parapet wall. A contemporary house asks for hard edges, quiet colors and one confident feature. Rectangles, large-format porcelain or concrete, and a single water feature keep the yard calm and let the architecture lead. ## Will it fit your yard? Plan on a clear area of about 43 by 26 ft for the pool, the tub, 4 ft of deck around the water and 5 ft to the fence line. The deck as drawn here is about 42 by 25 ft. ## Northeast and New England: what the climate asks of this pool A Northeast pool is built for a short season and a long winter, in yards that are often small and tight. - Winterizing is a yearly job. A safety cover, drained and blown lines and frost protected equipment are part of the plan. - Freeze and thaw is hard on stone and concrete. Pick paving that is rated for it and ask how the base is drained. - Space is tight and access can be hard. A crane, a narrow side yard or a rooftop changes what can be built and how it is brought in. - Historic districts and homeowner associations can review fences and structures. Check before you commit to a look. ## What this will cost No price is printed for this design. Ask a local builder for a quote. What moves the price: - Size. This pool has about 130 sq ft of water surface and about 4,000 gallons. More surface means more excavation, steel, finish and equipment. - Deck. About 760 sq ft of paving is a large line item on its own. Ask for the deck priced separately so you can compare materials. - The built-in hot tub, its heater, plumbing and equipment pad. - About 132 linear ft of glass fence around the deck as drawn, set by what your town's barrier code requires. - The yard additions (pergola), which are often permitted and priced separately. - Rooftop work: structural engineering, a crane lift and a lightweight shell. ## Questions to ask a builder - How will equipment and materials reach this yard, and what does winterizing involve for this layout? - Do the pool and the tub share a heater, and can the tub run alone in cold weather? - Will a pool this small have room for the equipment, and can I swim in it or only soak? - What does the town's barrier code require for the glass height and the gate, and how do you clean it? - Does the pergola need a permit or engineering for wind or snow, and who builds it? - How hot does this composite get in the sun, and what is the warranty on the color? 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