© Paul Warchol
In Le Corbusier’s 5 points of architecture, he advocates the inclusion of flat roofs hosting roof gardens, providing valuable outdoor space for the inhabitants of the building in order to replace the ground lost to the construction of the building. But while this acknowledgement of outdoor space was important for people, Le Corbusier‘s sculptural concrete roof gardens were little consolation to the non-human flora and fauna that were displaced by his works.
Recent improvements in our understanding of ecosystems and the environment, as well as a better scientific understanding of the needs of plants, have changed this dramatically. In the past few decades, green roofs and living roofs have exploded in popularity, and now adorn every kind of building–from small private houses to the gigantic surface of Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn.
We’ve collected together some excellent examples of these living roofs, including the structural detailing that makes them possible. Read on for 13 spectacular green roofs that achieve environmental benefits including reduced stormwater runoff, and reductions in energy use and the heat island effect.
© Paul Warchol
Lakeside Retreat / GLUCK+
+ House for Trees / Vo Trong Nghia Architects
© Hiroyuki Oki
House for Trees / Vo Trong Nghia Architects
+ Vias Cultural Center / Estudio SIC
© Esaú Acosta
Centro Creación Joven Espacio Vias / Estudio SIC
+ House at León / ALARCÓN + ASOCIADOS
© Cortesía de Alarcón + Asociados
Casa en León / Alarcón + Asociados
+ House C / Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP
© Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP
Casa C / Hiroshi Nakamura & NAP
+ Galeria Mario Sequeira / Carvalho Araújo
© Pedro Lobo
Galería Mario Sequeira / Atelier Carvalho Araújo
+ Cubierta Verde / Cardoso + Zúñiga
© Luis Alonso
Cubierta Verde / Cardoso + Zúñiga
+ Senior Citizen Community Center / F451 Arquitectura
© José Hevia
Senior Citizen Community Center / F451 Arquitectura
© José Hevia
Casa OS / Nolaster
© RPBW
Vulcano Buono / Renzo Piano
© Lluís Ros / Optical Adiction
Villa Bio / Enric Ruiz Geli
+ Line of Work / Jill Anholt Studio
© Martin Tessler
Line of Work / Jill Anholt Studio
+ Sports Pavilion / Filipe Brandão and Nuno Sanches
© Nuno Sanches
Pabellón de Deporte / Felipe Brandão y Nuno Sanches
Check out more great projects with green roofs here.
Sig Nordal 