Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 5/04/15

Private Kiawah Island, SC Residence
Kiawah Island, SC, USA
1,500 sf. Greenroof

Project Description & Details

This private residential green roof is located in the marsh sensitive ecology of Kiawah Island in coastal South Carolina. The semi-intensive green roof works not only to visually delineate the union between the building and the surrounding tidal marsh environment but also works to protect the vital buffer zone from harmful storm water. The homeowners enjoy full access to the roof via slate pavers that lead to a wonderful outdoor space overlooking open marshland.

The green roof is a custom built-up system with subsurface irrigation, installed by Living Roofs Inc. Waterproofing from Sika Sarnafil and Bonar drain mat were used throughout the green roof ensuring a watertight structure and providing both water retention and drainage. The vegetation is made up of 5 species of grasses including natives such as Muhlenbergia and Nassella. Perennial grasses were chosen in order to create a seamless visual transition from the roof to the marsh below. Two pieces of marsh cedar driftwood collected from the surrounding environment were placed among the grasses providing natural design and habitat for marsh species. The green roof was installed in May of 2011 and by the end of the same summer, fiddler crabs were found crawling through the grasses on the roof! The installation was challenging as space was limited for staging materials and lifting the growing media and pavers to the roof, but the team at Living Roofs Inc. persevered through hot and muggy Charleston weather to finish this very successful project.

Find more photos and additional information about this project in The International Greenroof & Greenwall Projects Database.

Thank you to to Bonar for supporting Greenroofs.com as one of our Diamond Sponsors at our Greenroofs & Walls of the World Virtual Summit 2015, open now through May 31!

Year: 2011
Owner: Private
Location: Kiawah Island, SC, USA
Building Type: Single-Family Residential
Type: Semi-Intensive
System: Custom
Size: 1,500 sq.ft.
Slope: 1%
Access: Accessible, Private

Designers/Manufacturers of Record:

Drainage & Water Retention: Enkadrain, Bonar USA
Waterproofing: Sika Sarnafil
Architect: Thomas and Dezinger Architects
General Contractor: Koenig Construction
Landscape Architect: Wertimer & Associates
Green Roof Installation: Living Roofs Inc.

Project of the Week Video Feature

Watch the Private Kiawah Island, SC Residence Project of the Week Video below or see it on our GreenroofsTV channel on YouTube:

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Love the Earth, Plant a Roof!

~ Linda V.