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| Banca Catalunya,
Barcelona, Spain; Photo
by LSV. |
|
Unattractive, unused, and impermeable
roofs represent enormous wasted opportunities in our urban and suburban environments.
Because of the durable and size-flexible nature of greenroofing systems, they
can be utilized in lieu of traditional planting options and built into a variety
of settings. Extensive and intensive greenroofs along with earth-sheltered buildings
of all kinds could make considerable contributions to improving our quality of
life.
In light of the numerous environmental, economic,
aesthetic and psychological benefits
provided by greenroofs, several market applications come to mind for potential
opportunities for their widespread promotion, construction and enjoyment
throughout the world:
The photo below is from Paul Collins of the
Nottingham Trent University, School of Property
and Construction. He has an informative website,
Green Roofs & Earth Sheltered Buildings. Paul is Principal
Lecturer and Head of Postgraduate Studies Faculty of Construction, Computing and
Technology. The photo is of the International School located in Lyons,
France, and it is an example of a "suspended" greenroof - where the
greenroof is created on a suspended membrane structure. For more photos of
this roof and other suspended greenroofs, see Design Editor Haven Kiers' October
2005 Chic Sustainability Column entitled "Green, Chic, and Sexy - And
Good for You, Too!"
 |
|
A greenroof waterscape in
The Netherlands;
Photo Courtesy Gary Oberts
|
Gary Oberts, of Metropolitan Council
Environmental Services in St. Paul, MN, took the photo at right of a house-barge
he discovered in Amsterdam during the fall of 2000. Here is an example of
a truly creative way to integrate a greenroof within a cityscape, or in this
case, a waterscape!
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