What happens if an impromptu pop-up garden doesn't ever pop back down?
The Dalston Roof Park in northeast London's Hackney neighborhood shows no signs of disappearing; it's in its third summer of entertaining the locals—students, immigrants, artists, and hipsters—with a tongue-in-cheek interpretation of a traditional English garden. Created by the Bootstrap Company as a serendipitous community gathering space, the park has a white picket fence, a swath of green lawn, and the requisite allotment garden raised beds. Oh, and also concerts, a bar, puppet shows, and film screenings:
Above: The park's pop-up bar serves cocktails every evening after five o'clock. Photograph via the Bootstrap Company.
Above: The park's summer calendar: yoga classes, barbecues, and live music. Photograph by Alex Pink, via Flickr.
Above: Lettuces, herbs, and other edibles flourish in donated Gro bags. Photograph by Julian Walker, via Flickr.
Above: From the park, a view of the building that houses the CLR James Library, named for the historian, and the London Borough of Hackney Archives. Photograph by Julian Walker, via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Alex Pink, via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Brad, via Flickr.
Above: A white picket fence and rooftop solar panels (L). Photograph by Julian Walker, via Flickr.
Above: Solar panels supply electricity to the Print House on Ashwin Street. Photograph by Julian Walker, via Flickr.
Above: Photograph by Martha Pichey. (N.B.: For 204 images of Roof Gardens, see our Gallery of rooms and spaces.)