<strong>Perched above the city:</strong> These rooftop refuges, far above the hustle and bustle of life on the ground, are the stars of "Rooftops: Islands in the Sky," the latest book from Taschen. The Skypark at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore has a stunning infinity pool and observation deck 57 levels above the city.
Perched above the city: These rooftop refuges, far above the hustle and bustle of life on the ground, are the stars of "Rooftops: Islands in the Sky," the latest book from Taschen. The Skypark at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore has a stunning infinity pool and observation deck 57 levels above the city.
Timothy Hursley/Taschen
<strong>Conrad Hotel, New York City:</strong> Noted landscape designer Ken Smith created this rooftop garden project for the Conrad Hotel in Lower Manhattan.
Conrad Hotel, New York City: Noted landscape designer Ken Smith created this rooftop garden project for the Conrad Hotel in Lower Manhattan.
Alex S. MacLean/Taschen
<strong>CapitaGreen, Singapore:</strong> Architect Toyo Ito designed this rooftop paradise with two sky terraces, a stunning pool, and a "sky forest," with trees that should eventually be 15 meters in height.
CapitaGreen, Singapore: Architect Toyo Ito designed this rooftop paradise with two sky terraces, a stunning pool, and a "sky forest," with trees that should eventually be 15 meters in height.
Kai Nakamura/Taschen
<strong>Museum of Modern Art Roof Garden, New York City:</strong> MOMA guests can't visit the museum's roof to explore landscape designer Ken Smith's creation. Created using only man-made materials -- the roof could not support the weight of a natural garden -- the camouflage-like creation can actually only be spotted from neighboring buildings. Very modern.
Museum of Modern Art Roof Garden, New York City: MOMA guests can't visit the museum's roof to explore landscape designer Ken Smith's creation. Created using only man-made materials -- the roof could not support the weight of a natural garden -- the camouflage-like creation can actually only be spotted from neighboring buildings. Very modern.
Peter Mauss/Esto/Taschen
<strong>SushiSamba, London: </strong>Designed by CetraRuddy, SushiSamba (shown here) and Duck & Waffle are both located in Heron Tower, the tallest building in the city of London. The design is meant to reflect "the merging of Japanese, Peruvian, Brazilian and English cuisines and cultures," the architects say.
SushiSamba, London: Designed by CetraRuddy, SushiSamba (shown here) and Duck & Waffle are both located in Heron Tower, the tallest building in the city of London. The design is meant to reflect "the merging of Japanese, Peruvian, Brazilian and English cuisines and cultures," the architects say.
KALORY AGENCY/Taschen
<strong>Holmenkollen Ski Jump, Norway: </strong>At the highest point of the JDS-designed Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo, the architects explain: "Atop the ski jump is a platform where visitors can take in some of the most breathtaking views of Oslo, the fjord and the region beyond. It's a new form of public space, using an unlikely architectural form as its host."
Holmenkollen Ski Jump, Norway: At the highest point of the JDS-designed Holmenkollen Ski Jump in Oslo, the architects explain: "Atop the ski jump is a platform where visitors can take in some of the most breathtaking views of Oslo, the fjord and the region beyond. It's a new form of public space, using an unlikely architectural form as its host."
Marco Boella/Taschen
<strong>Le Loft Restaurant, Hotel Stephansdom, Vienna</strong><strong>:</strong> Designed by Jean Nouvel in collaboration with Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist, the rooftop restaurant combines Rist's willfulness with Nouvel's strict lines. There's more art to be created by chef Fabian Günzel.
Le Loft Restaurant, Hotel Stephansdom, Vienna: Designed by Jean Nouvel in collaboration with Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist, the rooftop restaurant combines Rist's willfulness with Nouvel's strict lines. There's more art to be created by chef Fabian Günzel.
Roland Halbe/Taschen
<strong>Louis Vuitton Foundation, Paris: </strong>Considered one of renowned architect Frank O. Gehry's masterpieces, the Louis Vuitton building on the outskirts of Paris has 11 art galleries and an auditorium that can seat 350. But the stars of this structure are the many rooftop terraces, where visitors can enjoy different views of the building itself and the towers of La Défense in the distance.
Louis Vuitton Foundation, Paris: Considered one of renowned architect Frank O. Gehry's masterpieces, the Louis Vuitton building on the outskirts of Paris has 11 art galleries and an auditorium that can seat 350. But the stars of this structure are the many rooftop terraces, where visitors can enjoy different views of the building itself and the towers of La Défense in the distance.
Iwan Baan/Taschen
<strong>Radio Rooftop Bar, ME London, England.</strong> Located on the tenth and top floor of the ME London, a five-star hotel designed by Foster + Partners, the bar's name comes from the site's original use as the home of the BBC on the Strand. The bar has inside and outside seating and 180 degree views.
Radio Rooftop Bar, ME London, England. Located on the tenth and top floor of the ME London, a five-star hotel designed by Foster + Partners, the bar's name comes from the site's original use as the home of the BBC on the Strand. The bar has inside and outside seating and 180 degree views.
Joakim Blockstrom/Taschen
<strong>Sirocco Restaurant & Skybar, Bangkok: </strong>Located in the Dome of the State Tower, a 247-meter high skyscraper, Sirocco is located above the Lebua Hotel on the 63rd floor of the building. The bar and the renowned restaurant offer 360 degree views of the city.
Sirocco Restaurant & Skybar, Bangkok: Located in the Dome of the State Tower, a 247-meter high skyscraper, Sirocco is located above the Lebua Hotel on the 63rd floor of the building. The bar and the renowned restaurant offer 360 degree views of the city.
Taschen
<strong>Georges Restaurant, Pompidou Center, Paris: </strong>One of the more successful rooftop restaurants in the world, Georges is located in the Pompidou Center. Although the center was designed by world-famous architects Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano, the Paris firm of Jakob & MacFarlane is responsible for the restaurant's design. Its indoor/outdoor options take advantage of spectacular views of the city of light.
Georges Restaurant, Pompidou Center, Paris: One of the more successful rooftop restaurants in the world, Georges is located in the Pompidou Center. Although the center was designed by world-famous architects Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano, the Paris firm of Jakob & MacFarlane is responsible for the restaurant's design. Its indoor/outdoor options take advantage of spectacular views of the city of light.
Nicolas Borel/Taschen
<strong>The Docks Rooftop Terrace, Paris:</strong> The landscaped rooftop terrace was part of the renovation of a 1907 industrial warehouse into a fashion and design showplace in the 13th arrondissement. An exterior lighting system attracts attention to the structure at night. <br /><br />
The Docks Rooftop Terrace, Paris: The landscaped rooftop terrace was part of the renovation of a 1907 industrial warehouse into a fashion and design showplace in the 13th arrondissement. An exterior lighting system attracts attention to the structure at night.

James Ewing/OTTO/Taschen
<strong>1 Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach:</strong> The hotel formerly known as the Gansevoort South Hotel, cousin to the Gansevoort Park Avenue Hotel in New York, was designed by the same team of Stephen Jacobs and Andi Pepper. Now called 1 Hotel South Beach, this elegant hotel has a rooftop terrace that has all the South Florida elements: a raised pool and deck, palm trees, an outdoor bar, cabanas and that spectacular view.
1 Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach: The hotel formerly known as the Gansevoort South Hotel, cousin to the Gansevoort Park Avenue Hotel in New York, was designed by the same team of Stephen Jacobs and Andi Pepper. Now called 1 Hotel South Beach, this elegant hotel has a rooftop terrace that has all the South Florida elements: a raised pool and deck, palm trees, an outdoor bar, cabanas and that spectacular view.
Claudia Uribe Touri/Taschen
Taschen photos: Reinventing the rooftop
CNN  — 

As cities become more crowded and congested at the street level, refuge can often be found many stories above.

More than 50 rooftops designed by some of the world’s most renowned and up-and-coming architects and landscape designers is featured in “Rooftops: Islands in the Sky,” Taschen’s photography book releasing February 15 in the United States.

The book features forests reaching for the skies, blooming gardens, pools flowing to a building’s edge, art installations and outdoor spaces that switch easily from serving lunch to pouring drinks as nighttime hot spots.

“There may be as many ways to design and convert rooftops as there are buildings in modern cities,” writes the book’s editor Philip Jodidio.

“The attraction of the roof, the high place, is ancient, surely going further back in the human psyche than even the Old and New Testaments or the Qur’an,” he goes on. “Simply put, the roof offers a view, a place to contemplate the city, or to escape from its bustle and noise, at least for a time.”

Click through the gallery to see the work of Norman Foster,?Shigeru Ban,?Toyo Ito, Frank Gehry, Ken Smith?and?more.