Rooftop Spa Over Newport Harbor is a Real Looker

Rooftop retreat: Swanky. That’s one way to describe this 914-square-foot roof deck that offers sweeping views of California’s Newport Harbor. Brandon worked with an engineer to accommodate the 5,000 to 8,000 pounds of rooftop amenities. The client was a boat builder who prized quality construction, so fiber cement siding and marine-quality paint were used on the walls bordering the rooftop getaway. The spa’s original cabinetry was replaced with Brazilian Ipe wood which is a near match to the surrounding platform. Raising the spa “gives it more of a custom built-in look,” says Chris Brandon, principal architect. Built-in stucco-finish benches invite guests to sit a spell and take in the scenery, which boasts lucent city lights at night. A custom fire pit lights up dinner parties.