HOT TRENDS IN GREENROOF DESIGN 2007:

CHIC SUSTAINABILITY, UNIQUE DRIVING FACTORS &

“BOUTIQUE” GREENROOFS

Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA Associate, LEED AP and Haven Kiers, LEED AP

Greenroofs.com

Originally published for the 2007 Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities
Conference, Awards and Trade Show, Updated in December, 2007

Abstract

Greenroofs are constantly touted for their ecological benefits but rarely for their
contribution to the current architectural vernacular. This presentation will look beyond the
function of greenroofs and instead focus on the top 10 hottest architectural trends in
vegetated rooftop design.

Greenroofs deliver much more to the urban landscape than just the obvious ecological,
economic and aesthetic attributes of stormwater management, temperature and energy
reduction, and provision of additional green space. Why do clients want a
greenroof? Should a greenroof be defined solely by its function as an ecological cover?
Can greenroofs also be sexy and outrageous? Are they the next big design trend in
architecture? How are designers pushing the limits? These are the questions that
underpin our collection of innovative projects and market drivers from across the globe.

We will deliver a fast-paced Top Ten List of vignettes that thrum with oppositions of our
established perceptions and experience, highlighting out-of-the ordinary applications,
specialty designs and even bizarre projects on the boards. Looking beyond stormwater
and heat islands, we'll explore plans for innovative recreation, including a rooftop ski
slope in Delft, the Netherlands, and a converted helipad-turned-temporary grass tennis
court 692 feet in the air in Dubai. We’ll look at less typical greenroof market drivers, such
as a 670 SF doggie greenspace for a 10-year old, 9-pound Yorkie and a rooftop garden
with plants from the Bible as a teaching laboratory for ministers. See a native desert
greenroof in the American southwest and an old fashioned front porch perched on a
greenroof in the middle of Manhattan, complete with squeaky screen door and a rocking
chair. Explore greenroofs that defy expectations of sedum and wildflower meadows and
instead integrate sleek and sexy vegetation with the building form. Proposed projects
we'll delve into include plans for rice paddies on rooftop farms in China and the
Vancouver Olympic Village with 50% greenroof coverage.
Introduction
Headline grabbing environmental subjects like global warming, the search for renewable
energies and sustainable design have inevitably encompassed greenroofs as one of the
leading green motifs in 21st-century green architecture trends. Along these lines, “Chic
Sustainability” now runs the gamut from greenroofs designed to reintroduce biodiversity
teaming with birds, spiders and bees1 to sleek, modern design in minimalist settings
across the globe.

From the Publisher and Design Editor of Greenroofs.com comes our view of the hottest
architectural trends in greenroof design today. Our completely subjective Top Ten List is
gathered from continent to continent compiled from our experiences within the
international greenroof world – from published accounts to interviews with the designers,
manufacturers, and users – and is not meant to be comprehensive in scope, but rather
representative of the many excellent and exciting projects out there. Established, newly
built and proposed, even some unsung beauties are highlighted, all providing interesting
fodder to our eclectic mix. This is not a popularity contest, not an awards show; please
don’t be offended if your projects are not listed here! Rather they are representative of
some of the oldies but goodies and the new cutting edge off the wall projects

Influences: The Age of Technology

Advances in technology have not also only influenced the power of the media, but have
transformed the way we look at multimedia and the ways in which information is
presented to us. Take Google Earth, for example. This technology provides a true bird’s
eye view of our world at different scales - from a global mega view down to a specific
site view. Google satellite photos once only available in plan view can now be seen in 3-
D. Meant to tantalize and inform, the imagery allows us to design, view, and learn about
architecture (and greenroofs) on a global scale.

Google Maps & Google Earth: Chicago City Hall, resplendent in all its
verdant glory as compared to surrounding white and black roofs. Satellite
imagery: talk about transparency in design!

Many greenroofs stream real time data from their host websites. This advent of live
webcams perched atop projects is another example of integrating technology to further
inform and illustrate the decidedly visual properties of living roofs. Numerous greenroof
properties have webcams, including ASLA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., the
Student Union Expansion at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL, and the
Karen Peck Katz Conservation Education Center in Milwaukee, WI. Live data sharing is
one trend which will no doubt continue.

Through such technological advances, the built environment has developed to become
virtually transparent: open to the public domain, open to speculation and review. These
advances, in turn, literally provide the world with an opportunity to witness firsthand the
growing body of greenroof projects.

Multimedia Influences
The second contributing factor complementing the campaign for greenroofs is media
exposure. Interestingly, as greenroofs have been growing in number, they have also
been catching the attention of the media beyond the traditional print and even radio
venues – due, no doubt, to the innate visual nature of living architecture. National print
coverage on greenroofs continues from such sources as Newsweek, Forbes, and USA
Today, to Vanity Fair’s recent special Green Issue. But video footage in particular has
brought the concept to life. Recent greenroof footage has been included on NBC Nightly
News, CBS 3, One News from New Zealand, HGTV, and in high profile television series
including PBS’s Edens: Lost & Found and The Victory Garden.

The topic is all over the internet – on websites and forums from the greenroof standards
like Greenroofs.com and Greenroofs.org to sites less obviously associated with
greenroofs, including Fortune/CNNMoney.com, USAToday.com and MSNBC.com. Blogs
such as Gristmill, Inhabitat, Treehugger, and even Wikipedia and MySpace now include
regular postings on greenroofs. You can check out many greenroof videos on
GreenroofsTV here on Greenroofs.com from YouTube and more!

Gathered from many sources, the projects listed are exemplary on many levels, and you
will see natural overlapping within categories as greenroofs are integrated design
features of green building and therefore function on many levels. Looking beyond
stormwater and heat islands, the list will explore innovative projects around the world,
discover greenroofs that defy expectations of the norm, investigate sleek and sexy
vegetation integrated into the building form, and delve into plans for some out-of-this
world organic architecture. Our Top Ten List is offered simply to inform, entertain, and
perhaps inspire you to perceive and embrace applications or designs beyond your own
established perceptions, as we see it. Let us know about your designs for next year’s
list!
 Favorites not on “The List”
On a lighter note, and before we get to the real thing, here are some categories and
projects that for one reason or another just couldn’t cut it for our 2007 Top Ten List. But
we’re going to show them, just for fun…

A new organic way to green the skyline: The Greenroof Transportation? Leave it up to the
“Green Gherkin,” Inhabitat's April Fool’s ‘07 Swiss! Interestingly, the company advertised is
Inspiration – CHIA vegetated wall and roof a medicinal herb company. Photo Courtesy
panels? Too bad it’s not real! Rob Berghage from Penn State.

Fashion & Décor: What to wear at your next green party from
Inhabitat…And how to dress your tablescape and surroundings for green
chic sustainability and success, too!

And our favorite fantasy living roof of all time not on “The List” is:
 Edible Residential Greenroofs in Middle Earth: Unfortunately, Hobbits
were not eligible this year, but were encouraged to try again…

And now without further ado, back to the real thing:

The Top Ten List of Hot Greenroof Design Trends for 2007:

10) Unique Market Drivers: Boutique Greenroofs

9) Sports & Recreation in Unexpected Places

8) Living Roofs and Living Walls = a Living Skin for Green Buildings

7) Eco Resorts, Hotels & Therapeutic Gardens

6) Food on the Roof: Skyrise Urban Ag

5) Physics-Defying & Cutting-Edge Applications

4) Government and Big Box Retailers as Big Environmentalists

3) Cool Green Residences: Organic Integration of Mind, Body & Soul

2) Bigger is Better – Mega Greenroofs

1) Visionary Proposed Projects

10) UNIQUE MARKET DRIVERS: BOUTIQUE GREENROOFS

One of the benefits of greenroofs is that they create amenity space where there once
was none and provide owners with a blank canvas upon which they can construct their
ultimate vision and fulfill their perceived needs. Boutique greenroofs are highlighted as
niche projects designed for distinctive, highly personal reasons. Each novel application
has the potential to be "the next big thing" in greenroof design, but right now these
projects are simply designed to solve client-specific objectives.

Carrabba's Italian Grills2: Market Driver is
Carrabba's “Illusion of Tuscany” from 1998-
2005; Commercial; Architect: James Wines;
Approximately 104 restaurants greened
ranging from 1,000 – 1,700 sf;
throughout the U.S.
Asphof Hen Unit3 (above) and Asphof
Hay Shed4: Bio-hen unit for free
roaming organic chickens & owner’s
need for growing a crop of "medicinal
plants” for glaucoma relief; 2005;
Commercial; Rothenfluh, Switzerland.

3TEN HauStudio5: Doggie Laban Dance Centre6 (above) and Creekside

greenspace and park for an
elderly 10-year old, 9-pound
Yorkie; 2001; Multi-Use;
Greenroof Design Consultant:
Linda S. Velazquez, Sky
Gardens Design and Shelly
Cannady, Connoisseur
Gardens; Atlanta, GA.
Education Centre7 (right): Brown “rubble” living roofs
for natural colonizing help reestablish the habitats of
endangered black redstart birds. Brownfield re-
developer requirements have resulted in “Over
100,000 m² Greened for a Bird Alone”8 in London,
England; 2002/2003; Commercial/ Educational;
Architect: Herzog & De Meuron/ Alexander Sedgley,
Urban Edge Studio;
London, England, UK.
 10) UNIQUE MARKET DRIVERS: BOUTIQUE GREENROOFS (CONT.)

Augustenborg's Botanical Roof Garden9: The
world’s first botanical garden located entirely on
top of a roof for education, testing, growing crops
(atop the Scandinavian Green Roof Institute);
2001-ongoing; Municipal/Educational; Designers
and Greenroof Systems: Various;
Malmö, Sweden.
Mazurek Art Studio10: Parents wanted the
setting to blend into their organic gardens
and natural environment for pets & wildlife
and to encourage artistic creation for their
young children; 2004; Residential;
Designer: Patrick Carey, hadj design;
Seattle, WA.

Calhoun School11: The school expansion
eliminated the playground, so they moved it
to the roof with an educational meadow and
more; 2004; Educational; Designer: Fox and
Fowle; Greenroof System: Roofscapes;
New York, NY.
High Desert Church Bible Garden12: A
rooftop garden with historical plants from the
Bible as a teaching laboratory for ministers
(e.g., anise, hyssop, marjoram, heath, myrrh,
rushes); Current; Religious; Architect &
Landscape Architect: RNL; Victorville, CA.
9) SPORTS & RECREATION IN UNEXPECTED PLACES

When people think of greenroofs, images of sledding hills, sky-high tennis courts, and
bowling don’t normally come to mind – let alone sunbathing "au naturel." But this first
category of greenroofs defies expectations by raising athletes and bystanders both to a
higher level of competition (or participation).

Burj Al Arab Hotel13: A converted Giese + Giese Golf Course14: An intensive

helipad-turned-temporary grass tennis
court 692 feet in the air was the setting
for Roger Federer and Andre Agassi
at the world’s only 7-star hotel; 2005;
Commercial; Architect: Jumeirah;
Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Par-3 golf course on the roof with water
features offers clients and employees
unexpected sporting and recreational benefits;
1996; Corporate; Greenroof System: ZinCo;
Berlin, Germany.

Brit’s English Garden Pub15: A Delft Technical University Library16: A

manicured rooftop lawn doubles as a greenroof is converted into a winter hill for
bowling facility attached to an Irish Pub; sledding; 1998; Educational; Building
1997; Commercial; Physics Consultant: Advies-bureau Peutz
Minneapolis, MN. Associes b.v.; Delft, The Netherlands.
 9) SPORTS & RECREATION IN UNEXPECTED PLACES (CONT.)

Subaru Showroom17: A car and sport Böblingen Mineraltherme18: Mineral baths,

utility showroom has its own test driving
course for off-roading maneuvering on
top of their roof for promotion and
customer enjoyment; 2005; Commercial;
Greenroof System: ZinCo; Singapore.
pools, spa and activities for the whole family with
greenroofs for sunning and relaxing - clothing
optional! 1990; Commercial; Böblingen,
Germany. Photo submitted by Jörg Breuning and
Peter M. Philippi of Green Roof Service LLC.
 8) LIVING ROOFS AND LIVING WALLS

Living walls have emerged as the next big thing in architectural greening. And the latest
trend is to combine them with greenroofs to create a “living skin” for buildings. What
better way to create truly “green” architecture? Organic architecture on facades and
rooftops has been around for centuries, but the modern day visionary has to be Austrian
Friedenreich Hundertwasser. Here we look at various styles of green walls and see how
the definition of wall and roof is sometimes blurred and morphed as they integrate with
greenroofs to fully encompass a building as a living machine.

Friedenreich Hundertwasser as the inspirational artist, and living wall trailblazer.

Hundertwasser-Haus in Vienna, Austria: 1977-1986.
Left Photo Source: http://www1.kunsthauswien.com/english/hwh.htm
Right Photo Source: http://www.hundertwasserhaus.at/1st.html Photo Copyright 2003 Glenn Bristol.

ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural Aargauer Kunsthaus (Art Gallery)20: Living shingles of

International Hall19: 100,000-square- mosses green up the roof and walls in the form of pre-
foot park in the city center onto 15 grown tiles; Commercial; 2003; Greenroof/Greenwall
stepped terraces - a roof or living System and Designer: MCK ENVIRONNEMENT;
walls, or a combo of the two - a Aarau, Switzerland.
pyramid! 1995; Commercial; Architect:
Emilio Ambasz & Associates;
Fukuoka, Japan.
 8) LIVING ROOFS AND LIVING WALLS (CONT.)

Munich Re Office Building21: Insurance offices Aquaquest, the Marilyn Blusson

with interior greenroof courtyard and exterior living
wall panels of mosses; Corporate; 2002; Greenroof
System and Designer: MCK ENVIRONNEMENT;
Munich, Germany.
Learning Centre, Vancouver
Aquarium22; A living wall with intensive
roof deck planters; 2006; Sharp &
Diamond Landscape Architecture Inc.;
Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

Musee de Quai Branly23: A lush living wall
on Jean Nouvel’s Musee de Quai;
Commercial; 2006;
Designer: Patrick Blanc; Paris, France.
Culver House24: A condo project with a
double-paned glass facade that includes a
planted green roof, terraces and green-
houses; Current; Mixed Use/Residential/
Condominium; Architect: Dirk Denison;
Chicago, IL.
 7) ECO RESORTS, HOTELS & THERAPEUTIC GARDENS

Move over Marriot, and bland, antiseptic hospitals, too. The new trend for luxury hotels
and medical care is sometimes sleek, sometimes fully organic, but always chic and
environmentally friendly, with greenroofs topping the list of “must have” amenities.
Luxury eco travelers and healthcare patients and visitors alike now bask in the soothing,
healing properties of nature found atop a greenroof. As green building increasingly
becomes “de rigueur,” thanks in part to the United State’s Green Building Council’s
LEED certification program as well as to the growing realization that building green can
often save money over the long term, more and more architects and designers have
begun designing for sustainability of the senses and our Earth.

Kandalama Hotel25: Modern hotel
designed to blend into the lush jungle
landscape with green roofs and planted
facades; 1991-1994; Commercial;
Architect: Geoffrey Bawa;
Dambulla, Sri Lanka.
Post Ranch Inn – Ocean House26: Five
single standing structures with curved beam
roofs covered in wildflowers and overlooking
the Pacific Ocean; Commercial; Architect:
Mickey Muennig; Big Sur, CA.

InterContinental Resort27: Soothing
roof meadows calm hotel guests and
blend into the natural scenery of the
Alps; 2004; Commercial;
Greenroof System: Optigrün;
Berchtesgaden, Germany.
Hotel Remota28: This 4-star ocean front eco-resort
“Remote Hotel” is a 72-room hotel that blends into
the surrounding vistas, thanks to the native
greenroofs, and offers unparalleled luxury in the
Patagonia of southern Chile; 2006; Commercial;
Architect: German del Sol; Puerto Natales, Chile.
 7) ECO RESORTS, HOTELS & THERAPEUTIC GARDENS (CONT.)

Princeville Hotel29: A luxury hotel perched
on the cliffs above Hanalei Bay in Kauai -
greenroofs were added to the stepped
roofs below main hotel to soften the view
out to the bay (and improve images
displayed on hotel’s web cam); 2005;
Commercial; Developer: Princeville
Associates LLC; Princeville, Hawaii.
Warapuru Resort30: An exclusive modern eco-
resort set on the beach off the Bahia coast in
the Brazilian rain forest also offers lavish
private residences; Current; Commercial, Multi-
Use; Anouska Hempel Design;
Itacaré, Brazil.

Olson Family Garden, St. Schwab Rehabilitation Massachusetts General

Louis Children's Hospital31:
This interactive healing roof
garden offers horticultural
therapy and fun, dedicated to
healing mind and body through
connections with nature; 2006;
Healthcare; Landscape Architect:
EDAW and Mackey Mitchell
Associates;
St. Louis, MO.
Hospital Rooftop
Garden32: The hospital’s
roof-top garden was the
best solution for providing
real life skills practice for its
patients; 2003; Healthcare;
Greenroof System:
American Hydrotech;
Landscape Architect:
Douglas Hills Associates;
Chicago, IL.
Hospital Yawkey Center for
Outpatient Care33: The
Howard Ulfelder Healing
Garden is meant for relaxation
and meditation; 2005;
Healthcare; Architect:
Cambridge Seven Associates;
Landscape Architects:
Halvorson Design Partnership;
Boston, MA.
 6) FOOD ON THE ROOF: SKYRISE URBAN AG

In an era where society is increasingly questioning the distance produce travels from
farm to table and its associated environmental costs, an emerging trend is locally grown
vegetables – often from the roof directly overhead. At the small scale, homeowners and
small businesses are using wasted roof space to create kitchen gardens that supply
everything from herbs to tomatoes. On the larger scale, “sky farms” are being proposed
on roofs and on bridges between buildings to grow vegetables hydroponically. See the
potential for thousands of wasted, barren roofs to be converted into productive crops for
private and community enjoyment.

Changi General Hospital34: Planting Raffles City Shopping Centre35: Above

hydroponics on the rooftops provides food
for the hospital and absorbs the heat from
the roof, cooling the wards facing it; 1998;
Healthcare; Design: Gregory Chow;
Singapore.
the main Raffles City entrance, rooftop
agriculture is established as a flower and
garnishing "farm" for the complex.1980;
Commercial; Architect: I M Pei;
Singapore.

Trent University Vegetable The Fairmont Royal York Earthpledge

Garden36: An intensive organic
vegetable garden on the roof of
the Environmental Sciences
building provides 30 to 40
different crops of produce for
school and local civic groups; the
rooftop garden also serves as a
test zone for tropospheric ozone;
1996; Educational; Designer:
Professor Tom Hutchinson;
Peterborough, Canada.
Hotel37: Luxury Hotel has 15
beds of herbs, including
organic basil, parsley, sage,
tarragon, chocolate mint,
peppermint, spearmint,
chives, and lemon balm, a
single apple tree, marjoram
hot peppers and cayenne
pepper plants; 1998;
Toronto, Canada.
Foundation Veggie
Garden38: Rooftop
garden for sustainable
cooking classes taught
by staff; 2002; Multi-
Use; Greenroof
System: American
Hydrotech; Designer:
Leslie Hoffman;
New York, NY.
 5) PHYSICS DEFYING & CUTTING-EDGE APPLICATIONS

Greenroof technology has evolved in leaps and bounds from the days of dark, damp,
underground houses and on-site maintenance in the form of goats. Greenroofs can be
coupled with photovoltaics to create a synergistic effect, and grids can be incorporated
into structural designs to create greenroofs with a 45 degree slope and more. This next
group of projects celebrates the technologies that have evolved over the last 30 years
and looks at greenroof projects that incorporate the latest and greatest innovations.
Feats of engineering marvels are explored as well as high and low-tech combinations of
energy saving technologies with greenroofs.

California Academy of Sciences39: Betonwerk Eisack (Concrete

Planted roof on seven undulating domes;
two have nearly 60 degree slopes; Current;
Institutional; Ecological Consultant: Rana
Creek; Architect: Renzo Piano Building
Workshop, Chong Partners Architecture;
Landscape Architecture: SWA Group;
Waterproofing: American Hydrotech;
San Francisco, CA.
Factory)40: This building has a 70 degree
slope on a cement factory in Italy, and is
referred to locally as the "green ski-
slope"; 2005; Commercial;
Greenroof System: Optigrün;
Klausen, Italy.

Palais Omnisports de Boston World Trade Center BedZed43: The Beddington

Paris-Bercy41: An indoor
tennis stadium is planted
with turf at a 45 degree
angle – mowed by a cable
and pulley system rigged
to a standard push lawn-
mower; 1994; Commer-
cial; Architects: Andrault-
Parat, Prouvé, Guvan -
architects; Paris, France.
West Podium42: The Zero Energy Development is
greenroof was designed to the first large-scale ‘carbon
resist 90 mph winds off the
neutral’ community with
harbor; 2003;
Commercial/Multi-Use; extensive greenroofs, solar
Kallmann McKinnel & Wood pv's, and wind funnels; 2001;
Architects; Greenroof Multi-Use; Bill Dunster
System: Roofscapes; architects ZEDfactory Ltd;
Boston, MA. Beddington, England, UK.
5) PHYSICS DEFYING & CUTTING-EDGE APPLICATIONS (CONT.)

Cannon Beach Residence44: The
home generates as much energy as it
consumes on an annual basis; 2004;
Residential; Architect: Nathan Goode;
Cannon Beach, OR.
Hydrogen House45: The first U.S. green
hydrogen house is earth sheltered;
photovoltaic (solar electric) power will produce
hydrogen from water to use for all fuels; 2005;
Residential; Owner/Designer Mechanical
Engineer: Bryan Beaulieu; Scottsdale, AZ.
 4) GOVERNMENT AND BIG BOX RETAILERS AS BIG ENVIRONMENTALISTS

Greenroofs provide an obvious means for advertising a company’s environmental

conscientiousness or demonstrating a government agency’s commitment to the
environment. Unlike other, more subtle, green building measures like low flush toilets or
energy efficient light bulbs, most greenroofs are obvious, and designed to be seen.
Indeed, greenroofs have emerged as a salient marketing tool for retailers and an
environmental pledge from our government. Governments at all levels are leading by
example, and some mega-companies are jumping on the eco-bandwagon and are
beginning to go green.

Chicago City Hall46: First U.S. city
hall greened, the result of Mayor
Daley's city-wide greening
initiative; 2000; Municipal;
Greenroof System: Roofscapes;
Architect: McDonough + Partners;
Landscape Architect: Conservation
Design Forum; Waterproofing:
Sarnafil; Chicago, IL.
The Portland Building47: Significant
architecture by Michael Graves now
involves a modern geometric greenroof
retrofit; Current; Municipal; Greenroof
Design: macdonald environmental
planning, p.c; Architect/Re-roofing:
Carleton-Hart Architects;
Portland, OR.

Marin County Jail48: A 110,000 sf correctional Minneapolis Central Library49: The

facility nestled in a hillside and located next to the
Hall of Justice and Civic Center designed by Frank
Lloyd Wright: 2004; Municipal; DMJM – Planning,
Design, and Construction;
San Rafael, CA.
City of Minneapolis is the local favorite!
2005; Municipal; Landscape Architect:
The Kestrel Design Group; Architect:
Abraham and Associates; Greenroof
System: Henry Company;
Minneapolis, MN.
 4) GOVERNMENT AND BIG BOX RETAILERS AS BIG ENVIRONMENTALISTS
(CONT.)
Target Stores in the Chicago
area: Visible from many
vantage points, Target decided
to go green with greenroofs
atop their South Loop Store50
(2004); West Addison51 –
photo above (2004); and the
McKinnley Store 52 (2005);
Commercial; Greenroof
System: Green Grid;
Chicago, IL.
Starbucks in the Austin Wal-Mart #540255: The largest
area: The Escarpment big box retailer has the largest
Village Starbucks53 is the greenroof in the world
first Starbucks to be greened
currently being monitored;
(2005) followed by the
Starbucks at Circle C 2006; Commercial; Greenroof
Ranch54 - photo above System: Roofscapes;
(2006); Commercial; Green- Architect: BSW International;
roof System: Green Grid; Chicago, IL.
Ecological Consultant: Lady
Bird Johnson Wildflower
Center; Austin and Southwest
Austin, TX.
3) COOL GREEN RESIDENCES: ORGANIC INTEGRATION OF MIND, BODY, &
SOUL

For years most greenroofs could only be found on commercial projects. One of the
biggest trends to emerge recently has been the drive to incorporate greenroofs into
residential projects. For all the talk of cutting edge applications and modernist design,
there’s something to be said for constructing a project that fully integrates into its
surroundings and provides very little visual impact. The beauty of greenroofs is that, by
their very nature, they can blend with existing vegetation at the site. More and more
frequently, designers are specifying greenroofs in ecologically sensitive areas or in
places where the natural view, not the man-made architecture, takes precedence. The
residential market is embracing greenroofs from modern interpretations of classic
landscapes to full integration into the landscape to personal escapes into nature from the
harsh city.

Taghkanic Residence56: A residence with Reeve Residence57: A residence nestled

upper glass pavilion built atop a concrete into the cliff to blend with the scenery;
plinth bermed into a hill side; 2002; 2002; Residential; Cutler Anderson
Residential; Architect: Thomas Phifer and Architects; Photo Source: Architecture
Partners; Taghkanic, NY. Week; Lopez Island, WA.

Villa Saba58: A 5,400 sf modern
sloping masterpiece in Tibilis,
Georgia, of the former USSR;
2003; Residential;
Greenroof System: ZinCo;
Tibilis, Georgia.
The Kin West Village, NY, Private
Residence59: An Residence60: An old-fashioned
ecological 800 sf penthouse porch with flowering
architectural jewel;
meadow is perched on a 6-story
2000 (Phase I);
2004 (Phase II); apartment building; 2006;
Residential; Residential; Greenroof System:
Greenroof System: American Hydrotech, ZinCo;
Roofscapes; Architect: Lawrence Tobe;
Wrightsville, PA. New York, NY.
3) COOL GREEN RESIDENCES: ORGANIC INTEGRATION OF MIND, BODY, &
SOUL (CONT.)

328 Euclid61: Architect owners look out onto
their roof from their bedroom with 3 different
tiers of roof w/3 different microclimates of
shade to full sun; 2005; Residential;
Architects: Jana Levitt and Dane Goodman;
Greenroof Design/Build: Gardens in the
Sky; Toronto, Canada.
Riverfront Residence62: A stunning native
desert greenroof in the American
southwest; 2006; Residential; Architect: Bil
Taylor Associates; Landscape Architect:
Quetzalli Bartholomaei, Blue Mesa Studios;
Waterproofing: Sarnafil;
Tucson, AZ.
 2) BIGGER IS BETTER – MEGA GREENROOFS

Looking to differentiate your greenroof from other greenroofs? One obvious way is to
make it the biggest greenroof on the block – the biggest sloped greenroof, the biggest
greenroof at grade, or even the biggest proposed greenroof. Is bigger better? Not
necessarily, but the ecological footprints of these structures are certainly lighter with
living roofs. Bigger may not always be better, but it’s sure guaranteed to generate some
publicity as well as (hopefully) a sense of responsibility to trend lighter upon the Earth.

Hemel Ski Centre63: Britain’s McCormick Place Aquascape Design

largest proposed greenroof is Convention Center64: When
designed to cover an indoor completed in August, 2007,
ski area; Current: this was the largest modular
Commercial; Architect: B L greenroof in the world at
Architecture & Design; 96,000 sf; 2007; Commercial;
Hemel Hempstead, Greenroof System:
England, UK. Green Roof Blocks;
Chicago, IL.
Headquarters
“Aqualand”65: The world’s
largest sloping greenroof at
256,000 sf; 2005; Corporate;
Architect: Terry Martin,
Artisan Design Build;
St. Charles, IL.

Howard Hughes Medical Vancouver Convention Centre Ford River Rouge

Center66: The Janelia Expansion Project67: When Plant68: 10 acre extensive
Farm Research Campus completed, the largest greenroof greenroof on top of Ford
will have 243,000 sf of in Canada at 261, 360 sf;
Motor factory held the title
roof meadows, three Current; Municipal; Architect and
descending terraces and Model Courtesy of: LMN of "World's Largest Green
19 elevated roof gardens; Architects; Ecological Roof" for a few years;
2006; Commercial; Consultant: Rana Creek Living 2003; Industrial; Architect:
Architect: Raphael Viñoly; Architecture; William McDonough +
Greenroof System: Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Partners; Greenroof
Roofscapes; System: Xero Flor;
Dulles, VA.
Dearborn, MI.
 2) BIGGER IS BETTER – MEGA GREENROOFS (CONT.)
Logistikzentrum, Bondorf
(Logistics Center)69: This
400,000 sf extensive greenroof
in Bondorf on a Logistics
Center was designed primarily
as a nature roof and as a water
retention roof; 1998;
Commercial;
Greenroof System: Optigrun;
Bondorf, Germany.
Millennium Park70: A park that
extends 24.5 acres (1,067,220
sf) over underground parking
garages, it is the largest
overstructure in the world;
2004; Municipal/Park;
Landscape Architect: Terry
Guen Design Associates, Inc.;
Irrigation, Great Lawn and
Turf Consultant: Jeffrey L.
Bruce & Company;
Chicago, IL.
Financial District Banco
de Santander71: The
world’s largest free-
standing greenroof at
1,100,000 sf in a live, work,
play environment in a
suburb of Madrid; 2005;
Commercial/ Multi-Use;
Architect: Kevin Roche;
Master Plan; Designer/
Greenroof Provider: Maria
Jose Barrio, Vicom SL;
Greenroof System: ZinCo;
Boadella del Monte, Spain.
 1) VISIONARY PROPOSED PROJECTS

What makes a project visionary? Innovative solutions to environmental, social, and

economic design challenges necessitate a combination of the above trends at various
scales with a higher purpose for a higher good. These projects may still be on the
books, but they’re the ones that will define greenroofs for years to come for their
ingenuity, productivity and compassion for both the human and built environments.

Literacy for Environmental Justice Vancouver Olympic Village (Millennium

Living Classroom72: A flagship "living
system" closed loop system project w/
integrated pv panels on the living roof,
passive solar design, cutting edge water
management systems, "living machine" to
process blackwater and use greywater,
native wetlands, all through education;
Current; Educational; Rana Creek &
Architect and Image Courtesy: Toby Long
Design; San Francisco, CA.
Water)73: A proposed new complex to host
athletes for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games
with 50% green roof coverage - extensive and
intensive greenroofs of 80,000+ sf will also
include urban agriculture on the roof tops;
Current; Multi-Residential Housing; Developer:
Millennium Development Corporation;
Vancouver, B.C., Canada.

Khan Shatyry
Entertainment Centre74.
The entertainment center
will house 100,000
square feet of public
park, retail, and entertain-
ment space. Developed
as a response to harsh
weather conditions, the
soaring structure rises
from a 200m elliptical
green base; Proposed;
Commercial; Architect:
Foster + Partners;
Astana, Kazakhstan.
 1) VISIONARY PROPOSED PROJECTS (CONT.)

Conceptual Rooftop Rice Paddies in Liuzhou, Songjiang Hotel76: A stunning, luxury

China75: The premier of China has said that if the
country continues at its current pace it will lose
twenty-five percent of its farmland by 2020 - this
proposal incorporates unused rooftop space in
China to create rice paddies for local farmers;
Conceptual/ Proposed; Commercial/Multi-Use;
Architect: William McDonough + Partners; Greenroof
Consultant: Xero Flor;
Liuzhou, China.
five-star resort hotel set within a
beautiful water-filled quarry close to
Shanghai in China. The designers say,
“Sustainability is integral to the design
ranging from using green roofing for
the structures above the ground level
to geothermal energy extraction “;
Current - Completed by 2010;
Commercial; Architect: Atkins;
Songjiang District, China.

And our favorite #1 project symbolizing the very best in innovative ecological
design today which not only incorporates but embraces sustainable architectural
elements is:

The Tower of Tomorrow77: A Conceptual

World Prototype: William McDonough
says, "The building of the future will not
just sit on a lot – it will breathe, sleep, and
wake up in the morning.” And it will be
beautiful: Fortune's Tower of Tomorrow
prototype is designed for complete
sustainability and healthy living, and
greenroofs and living walls, among
numerous other features.

The integrated state-of-the-shelf urban

tower was dubbed the "Tower of
Tomorrow" by the editors of Fortune
Magazine; Multi-Use; Conceptual -
Proposed; Architect:
William McDonough + Partners;
The World.
Conclusion
The current architectural trend making greenroofs one form of “Chic Sustainability” is
now firmly entrenched in green design, and promises to truly explode. Greenroofs are
more than just the pretty or exciting face on the fifth façade of a building, and need to be
considered as an ecological and economic work horse to substantiate their further
development and consideration as meaningful, quantifiable infrastructure. But isn’t it
awesome that they can also relate to us on a psychological, earthy, human plane, and
appeal to us on aesthetical, creative, and even sensual levels?

“Organic architecture,“ indeed.

1
Greenroofs.com, “Wild Roofs: Current research into green roofs and biodiversity in London,” by Dusty
Gedge (December 2003): http://www.greenroofs.com/archives/gf_dec03.htm
2
The Greenroof Projects Database, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=518
3
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=144
4
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=145
5
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=1
6
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=549
7
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=550
8
Greenroofs.com, “London, England, Sky Gardens ~ Travels in Landscape Architecture,” by Linda S.
Velazquez (January 2004): http://www.greenroofs.com/archives/sg_jan-apr04.htm
9
The Greenroof Projects Database, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=60
10
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=541
11
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=67
12
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=533
13
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=520
14
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=521
15
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=522
16
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=534
17
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=519
18
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=546
19
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=476
20
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=563
21
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=564
22
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=552
23
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=553
24
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=542
25
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=555
26
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=544
27
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=537
28
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=554
29
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=543
30
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=556
31
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=595
32
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=237
33
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=478
34
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=565
35
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=566
36
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=558
37
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=557
38
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=17
39
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=509
40
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=535
41
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=540
42
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=128
43
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=547
44
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=532
45
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=559
46
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=21
47
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=539
48
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=561
49
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=232
50
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=379
51
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=366
52
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=380
53
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=359
54
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=461
55
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=560
56
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=538
57
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=562
58
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=527
59
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=450
60
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=531
61
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=548
62
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=516
63
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=551
64
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=508
65
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=526
66
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=269
67
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=545
68
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=12
69
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=536
70
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=459
71
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=525
72
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=568
73
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=523
74
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=597
75
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=524
76
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=529
77
Ibid, http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=530