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You need to hire an architect (or zoning attorney) to evaluate what you can legally do to this space. You may be able to do a partially enclosed space, a canopy over the terrace, etc. City Planning as well as your building management will have to approve of the change. It's fairly standard procedure, but is not a cheap process. If it means a lot to you to have a "sunroom" penthouse-type space, it is likely worth the effort. Also, I assume that you own the space and are not renting?

Matilda, Rear Window took place entirely on a soundstage, with the floor excavated to allow for a multi-storey apartment building. The production in general was really interesting (I wrote a paper about the production/construction techniques in college.)

As for the question here ... yes, I agree with the above who said Joe should keep the terrace and just jazz it up as an outdoor space. I think most people in NY would kill to have a terrace in the summer ... it would be a shame to close it up (even with a greenhouse-style enclosure). Incidentally, are you allowed to grill on terraces in Manhattan?

btw, Rear Window was filmed on a set, not "on location"

FYI Open flame (grills) are illegal in NYC. Just don't get caught.

I would enjoy the terrace if I were you, spend a few hundred on plants and maybe get some nice outdoor furniture and enjoy what you have. Making this a nice outdoor space will be one tenth the cost of making it a nice indoor space.

If you want to permanently enclose the space you will need the building owner's approval, and get a building permit from the city. Since you are changing the use and egress of teh space, you will need more than just a typical "renovation" permit. Plus you will need to hire an architect to check zoning regulations to make sure your addition doesn't put your building over the allowable FAR (floor area ratio) The building will probably hire the architect, but you will be responsible for paying his or her fees (plan on about $3,000 to $6,500)

Unless you have a lot of time on your hands (week or so) to stand in lines, I suggest you hire an expeditor (usually $1,800-$3,200, plus fees.) You also need to make sure you comply with your building's rules on construction, and they will undoubtedly want to have a say in how it gets built and what it looks like. If you are in a landmark district you will also need to get it passed by the landmarks commission. The expeditor will take care of this for you though for an extra fee.

An alternative is to just get a retractable awning and cover the sides in plastic. it's cheap and ugly, but its legal. just be ready for neighbor complaints.

I'd just use it as a terrace. Outdoor space is so rare in the city, don't close it up!

I would get some more large plants, like the one you already have, to create some screening from the windows around. Get some weatherproof loungers and dining table and use it as a place to eat and relax.

Oooh, a terrace! I agree with Max, but understand that in the winter a terrace doesn't get much use. The only way I would convert a terrace (if I had one) would be to enclose it with a series of glass sliding doors/windows, and a glass greenhouse-style roof. That way in the winter it could be shut up and used as a sunroom and in the summer you could open up the doors and have an "outdoor" room. I also think Rob's idea of a plant screen would be very calming. View or no view, it's a great space.

There is usually a reason that a terrace is a terrace. Be advised that if you put a roof over it (even a temporary tarp like roof), you may be putting your entire building in violation of the zoning resolution over allowable residential floor area and/or setbacks. Also, there is a good chance that this will be in violation of the condo or co-op by-laws (or at very least require board approval). I hope I'm just being overly cautios and you've already solved these questions. Good Luck!

This looks like a tricky one, because you are not always allowed to buildup on a terrace.

I would say put some effort into "pimping out" the space with a great outdoor dining set or seating, some plants, even sculpture. You have enough room, so grow some tomatoes or herbs this summer! That's the best organic stuff you'll ever get.

Also remember that if you close this in, you'll get no breeze and less light in the windows you have there.

And, for winter use, get an outdoor heater, these are in allot of outdoor bars and it can really make for a nice winter cook-out.

If there is electric wiring on the terrace, you could make a really nice conservatory. The only thing you need to check (and this is a big one) is if it would change the C of O of the apartment/building. If it wouldn't, what about doing half of the terrace as a winter room and the other half as a terrace? You have two entrances so maybe this could work. I'm jealous of your problem, by the way.

By the way, "Rear Window" actually had an excellent view! Anyone know where that was shot?

check your zoning laws as evering has already warned you.

but i'd USE THE OUTDOOR SPACE. but since the view is lacking & you aren't the telescope type :P , i'd try to give it the illusion of a room. make it a sort of outdoor sanctuary in the city. there are lots of ways to wall places off that still allow light & wind through. i suggest hiring a gardener for consultation. he'll be likely to know the area what condition you'd be facing. some tall plants that grow back every year would be great.

I'm so bad with plants that an outdoor space like that would be kind of a weird limbo kind of Hell. That sounds so weird, I know, but plants are a lot of trouble to keep watered, and maintained, and whenever I do try to do plants, I tend to kill them, and re-buy them and that gets expensive.

The Hell part? Because I think that seriously you could get in serious trouble walling that in like a room, and quickly.

And it kind of depends, because if you did it very nice and very classy, like with full-height glass windows and create a sunroom, it might look so naturally architecturally organic to the building that no one would object.

BUT ... it would be so expensive, that once you were challenged, you might want to jump off it if you had to make it go away.

So, outdoor furniture from Martha Stewart from KMart, with those tent things would be KIND of like an outdoor room thing. And if you got in trouble for THAT, you might be able to sell it, instead of do a demolition.

But must do some plants. Anyway... it's such a HUGE amount of space, I can see why you'd want to use it.

My balcony is similar except I had to deal with winds so high they would tear any plants to shreds. I used several artifical cedar topiaries from Petals.com to line the railing. This gave me some softness and privacy. I had to wire them to the railing!

Then just furnish your outdoor room to suit your taste. Don't forget a large outdoor rug. And enjoy.

yes, and in reference to what diane just said, flor has some nice outdoor types of rugs including a fake grass one. i think that i saw flor here first on AT.

http://www.florcatalog.com

i would do lots of bamboo around the perimeter. it grows so fast and can make the space feel even more intimate.

Have you considered closing in the space visually with things like screens or shade cloth? I think you oculd get a nice semi-enclosed casbah vibe going with moderately weather-proof fabrics and such and then just bring a heater out in the wintertime. A couple of nice loungey chairs and a side table and you would have a nice hangout.

Bamboo screening that you buy by the metre along the railing side so that you hide the view - astroturf on the floor - lots of plants - outdoor hanging lights and lanterns - plastic parrots - garden furniture - totally camp it up!

I was thinking along the lines of Anne (in Reno).. weatherproof seating, bamboo screens, some mood lighting and even a bar... would make it a fabulous area to hang out...

Ooh here's an example:
http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/2002/archives/2002/home_among_the_gum_trees/around_the_home/balcony_makeover

How about an arbor with flowering vines? A table and chairs under it would be a lovely way to entertain in the evening if you also put up Chinese lanterns.

Byran has bad information.
NYC does regulate use of grills in multi-unit dwellings. You can do whatever you want if you are in a single family home.
Apartment dwellers may grill with charcoal or wood on balconies & terraces (not fire escapes), so long as grill is positioned 10 feet away from anything combustible.

My mom did something similar to what you want to do with her Park Lane flat in London. The terrace, next to the living room, was really windy and smaller than what is shown here but had a partial view of Hyde Park. In the winter it was just a wind tunnel so it wasn't getting much use (basically it was my smoking section). Once someone dealt with the paperwork stuff, the builders came in and, in one day, erected ledge-to-ceiling windows and hung a insulated roof over it. It was a corner terrace with only two sides to fill in. A carpet was laid and some lighting installed on a wall, plus some curtains. A sofa and a low table and, voila, we had a pretty nice extra room. Still had plenty of light and air-flow because of the large windows. Because the side that opens into the living room was all windows too, the new room was basically a glassbox. In the summer, it was used just like a terrace with the windows open. In the winter, it was a cozy sunroom. It had no heating though, but turned out to be the best room in the winter because the rest of the flat was so warm. When friends or relatives visited, I would give up my own room and crash in the new room. When I went to college in the US and gave my room to my brother, I was happy to come home and crash in that room.

With your terrace, you should only cover part of it, maybe covering both doors, so both doors open into the terrace-room. Remove part of the railing and the windows can go up from the ledge. Make it so that the new side not facing the railing can be opened as much as you can so in the summer it can be one space. In the winter, you'll still get a glassbox and a terrace. I can see it happening. A room for morning paper and coffee. I don't think it will be a bad thing.

Thanks, AT readers, for all the good suggestions. I'm definitely going to keep it as a terrace -- what I have in mind is an outdoor room with a mahogany plank floor (perhaps), and then maybe 8 or 9 ft tall plantation shutters running along the Rear Window edge. I need to keep the plantings fairly simple since there's no water hookup on the terrace and I travel sometimes in the summer. For winter use I've looked at cafe-style smudge pots but haven't seen anything that I'd like to have live with all year. Anyway, I hope to have some "after" shots to post before long. Joe