
Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
Most high-rise homeowners covet top floors for city views, but this couple chose the ground level in order to create a lush courtyard surrounded by Buckhead’s skyline. Interior designer Bill Musso and his husband, Bryan Cooke, saw a concrete slab sometimes littered with debris and imagined possibilities. With the help of garden designer Alex Smith, they now enjoy an extra 3,200 square feet of outdoor living space, including nine trees.
“I wanted the garden to pull you into it as if it were magnetic,” says Bryan. “When we have friends over, they usually bypass the living room and head straight for the garden.” The two often start their days there with coffee, take work calls outside, then enjoy dinner or a cocktail al fresco in the evening.

Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein

Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
Installing a garden on top of concrete—with a parking deck below—was no easy feat. Alex and Patrick Walker of Malone Construction worked with engineers to ensure the weight of garden walls, planters, and plant material would be safe, as well as to address water and drainage issues. Artificial turf and raised planters give the illusion of a natural lawn, with Chinese fringetrees, Korean boxwoods, and Wheeler’s dwarf pittosporum providing structure.

Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein

Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein

Photograph by Lauren Rubinstein
The couple was somewhat inspired by the Lurie Garden in Chicago’s Millennium Park, which was also built above a parking garage. As in that garden, here, they bring out seasonal items such as a citrus tree and climbing roses in warm weather. The playful frog sculpture by Robert Kuo can be moved around to add visual interest. “We use the garden year-round but mostly in spring and fall,” says Bill. “It’s such a natural space to entertain in.”
Resources | Interior design: Musso Design Group | Garden design: Alex Smith Garden Design | Construction: Malone Construction
This article appears in our Fall 2022 issue of Atlanta Magazine’s HOME.