Part of a building - What is it called?

[genlisae]

Here is the really quick (like 2 seconds quick) sketch I made up earlier when asking various people here what it was called.



I am aware my scribble scratch is hard to read so I will attempt to explain. We have a building, two stories, the lower portion is a bar. Upstairs, accessed by external stairs along the side of the building leading to the first floor roof, is two apartments. The roof area thing at the top of the stairs is the only access to these apartments. What is the roof area thing called?

It is not a veranda (there is no overhanging roof). Nor is it a balcony (not projecting from the building). Isn't a porch since it is on the roof of the first floor and spans the entire length of the building (and half the width). Patio should be on the ground, this isn't. Best I could think of is a "deck" or "terrace" but it doesn't really feel like either fits. 

Suggestions?

Comments

[century-eyes.livejournal.com]

A landing? That doesn't seem quite right either, since it spans the length of the building. If it's narrow it could be called a walkway, I suppose.

Now it's going to bug me. I'll have to check back and see if there's a consensus.

[genlisae.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of landing. I think it could work.

[azzy.livejournal.com]

Landing?

[genlisae.livejournal.com]

Seems like. In any case I think it will convey what I need it to convey. Thanks.

[nebulousfirefly.livejournal.com]

I think landing as well. And, checking dictionary.com, this seems correct:

Landing (Architecture)
a. a platform between flights of stairs.
b. the floor at the head or foot of a flight of stairs.

[genlisae.livejournal.com]

Thanks. This doesn't fit with my preconceived mental image of what a landing is, but hey, I have been wrong before! :D Landing it is.

[andlani.livejournal.com]

I think it could be roof garden, but I'm not sure. Also I think it can be just called terrace (I could name it this way here in Poland).

[abstract-pixels.livejournal.com]

^ This! My relatives' house has two spaces like this and that's what they called them on plans.

[genlisae.livejournal.com]

It was called a terrace on the plans?

[abstract-pixels.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they bought a plan off from someone and they did most of the building themselves so we've been informed on various things.

[genlisae.livejournal.com]

Interesting. So it is sounding like I have a bunch of options to go with.

[genlisae.livejournal.com]

I am discovering things seem to be named differently depending on where you live. Which is really helpful to know! Like what I know as a "close" (a road that ends in a loop, also known as a cul-de-sac) is not what is called a "close" in other places (a common, open area in the centre of a square of free-standing houses, also called a commons, courtyard or just "the yard"). Isn't language fun?! :D

[andlani.livejournal.com]

Yes, sometimes this is very funny to find out that in other language something has different meaning. In example polish word "zamek" mean 3 things ('a castle','lock' and 'zip fastener'). Or word "droga" means 'road' in polish, but is 'drug' in czech, slovak, spain, and in italian means 'spice'.