Our vision of producing and sharing the virtual experience to our industry with our inaugural Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 was successful, and we couldn’t have done it without the great support of many people, in particular our main patron, Rare Earth Sponsor TREMCO, along with Emerald Sponsor American Hydrotech.
We are so proud to have put together the most amazing community of talented international speakers that you could have asked for – all leaders in their fields. See the Speakers page and read all about them and their presentations.
Speaking of our Sponsors, Exhibitors, and Speakers, I’d like to stress that although the 2 live days have passed, the end of the Virtual Summit is on October 28 – if you missed out on September 27 & 28, you can still register until October 28!
You can’t beat the price of only $49 – or $25 for students/faculty/government professionals - to access all 32 of our great panel sessions, interviews, presentations, and live Q & A commentary plus see the latest from manufacturer/supplier and organization/government exhibitors.
Visit all of our truly unique and innovative areas within the virtual environment: the Rare Earth and On Demand Auditoriums, the Tremco Meeting Room, the Sky Terrace Networking Lounge, the Media Lounge, and the International, North American & Associates Pavilions at the Expo – did you know you can still chat with your fellow online attendees either in a public or private via video, audio, or text while logged in?
We’re putting together an awesome Highlights Video of our wonderful participants to give you a taste of what you are missing – look for it soon! We hope to see you still in Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011! Register here.
Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 9/19/11 Musée du quai Branly Green Wall Paris, France 8,600 sf. Greenwall
Year: 2005 Owner: Musée du quai Branly Location: Paris, France Building Type: Museum Type: Living Wall System: Single Source Provider Size: 8,600 sq.ft. Slope: 100% Access: Accessible, Open to Public
Project Description & Details
Situated close to the Eiffel Tower, the Musée du quai Branly features indigenous art, cultures and civilizations from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. The museum complex contains several buildings, as well as a mediatheque and a garden. The building was designed by architect Jean Nouvel, and the façade measures approximately 13,000 sf (1,200 m). Yet its most noticeable feature is the stunning and now iconic 200 m long by 12 m tall living wall covering the entire northwest façade, punctured by large windows.
Designed by Patrick Blanc using his hydroponic Mur Végtal system, the Musée du quai Branly greenwall is one of Blanc’s most famous vertical gardens, and one of the most highly photographed in the world. Facing the River Seine with a park and small streets in between, the micro-climate creates a good environment for a large variety of plants. A range of species were selected from the world’s main temperate zones, including North America, Europe, the Himalayas, China, Japan, Chile, and South Africa. Patrick insisted that the biodiversity represented in this vertical garden echo the cultural diversity of artists the world over, whose works were on exhibit in that very museum.
Designers/Manufacturers of Record
Architect: Jean Nouvel Green Wall Designer: Patrick Blanc Green Wall System: Mur Végétal Planning Phase Project Director: Françoise Raynaud Construction Project Director: Isabelle Guillauic
Nicknamed MQB, the Musée du quai Branly opened in June, 2006. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum hosts a variety of shows, concerts, cinema and cultural activities all year round. Behind a sound-proofed glass wall is a secluded garden where visitors can sit and relax after their tour.
At first, residents were unsure of the new living wall cloaking the four-story building, and now they are highly protective of it.
I was in Paris last year in May and of course I made sure to visit the Musée du quai Branly, not the inside, just the outside. To say I was fascinated is an understatement! As I examined plant species at eye level I started following flowing drifts of plant communities diagonally, upwards, downwards…
The building was enveloped in different shades and sizes of green, red, yellow, lilac, pink and white. I started to feel like the reflective windows were just getting in the way of the beautiful picture, yet after a while of observing the colors of the sky change and white billowy clouds pass by, the juxtaposition of modern architecture and the look of a primeval forest was somewhat surreal.
Writing in the 2006 New York Times article “Quai Branly: A perverse, magical space” Nicolai Ouroussoff says, “By contrast, the exterior of the administration building is swallowed up by a vertical carpet of exotic plants punctured by big windows. On some stories, the plants invade the building, crawling down the interior walls. (“When you put in little flowers, people are happy,” Nouvel said of his design.)”
I can see that. The building is almost magical in its irreverent disregard for the status quo of boring flat façades of “normal” buildings - the undulating plant masses, the lushness of the sensuous sweeping bands of vegetation, and the desire to touch them all draws the visitor into the façade itself, as if it were a sub-tropical forest floor on its side. Photo above and below by contributing editor Christine Thuring in 2009.
One of the very best qualities about Patrick Blanc’s works is that the plants really look like they are the structure – not just planted on top of it. Integrated design at its finest! Patrick is a great proponent of plant biodiversity - the wall contains over 15,000 plants and 150 different species from around the world.
It was fun watching some people’s reactions as they passed by – the thoroughfare that runs along the left bank of the Seine is very close to the Eiffel Tower, and the street is heavily populated with tourists. I guess Parisians have had a few years to become accustomed to the rather large structure and have since become nonplussed – but I noticed that most passersby had to stop, look at the wall and then touch it, as if to make sure the plants were real!
A lot of people gingerly felt the many varieties of species, and in fact Patrick Blanc told me that he and architect Jean Nouvel not only expected people to touch them, they hoped they would! Some wanted to put up a screen or see-through barrier so people couldn’t access the plants, but Patrick stood his ground and said most certainly not, that it was part of the experience to use all the senses to really appreciate this living work of art.
As a result, some portions of the living wall need to be replaced occasionally, and Patrick said he was fine with that - sometimes folks pick the “pretty flowers and leaves” and don’t realize it’s a living being.
I saw several areas where the felt had obviously been replaced and stapled in new – to be honest, I’ve seen this in numerous applications of this type of living wall system, although this is the first (but certainly not last) and only Patrick Blanc greenwall I’ve seen.
The patented Mur Végétal system has been around for about 15 years now, and there are many knock-offs. Patrick says he’s flattered and welcomes the opportunity for others to learn from his many years of research an experience with the hydroponic system.
Paris is a refined global city always seeking new ideas and ideals, and the Musée du quai Branly is a modern museum living in this classic setting, yet it also has been designed to contradict and inspire. Just like Patrick Blanc’s magical vertical garden wall.
“This is a museum built around a specific collection, where everything is designed to evoke an emotional response to the primary object, to protect it from light, but also to capture that rare ray of light indispensable to make it vibrate and awaken its spirituality. In a place inhabited by symbols of forests and rivers, by obsessions of death and oblivion, it is an asylum for censored and cast off works from Australia and the Americas. It is a loaded place haunted with dialogues between the ancestral spirits of men, who, in discovering their human condition, invented gods and beliefs. It is a place that is unique and strange, poetic and unsettling.” ~ Ateliers Jean Nouvel
Read about my visit with Patrick Blanc a couple of weeks ago here, and don’t miss my exclusive interview with Patrick Blanc and his “The Vertical Garden – from Nature to Cities” presentation at the Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 on September 27 & 28.
Watch our short, fun, trailer here (under 3 minutes):
Last week I highlighted international professionals from Germany, Mexico, Canada, Chile, and the U.S., and here is the remaining line-up of wonderful, talented speakers at our inaugural online event, also from countries around the world:
Matthew Dillon, Australia: The Vice President of GreenRoofs Australasia and member of World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN) will present “GreenRoofs in Australasia.”
João Manuel Linck Feijó, Brazil: The principal of Ecotelhado, Director of ATVBrasil, and World Green Infrastructure Network (WGIN) board member will present ”The Work of ATVBrasil.”
John Shepley, USA: The engineer, co-founder of Emory Knoll Farms, founding board member of the Baltimore Biodiesel Cooperative, chairman of the Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance and contributing editor on Greenroofs.com will present “Sustainability at a Small Business: Emory Knoll Farms.“
If you haven’t yet, register today! Please help us spread the world – tell your colleagues, Twitter followers, Facebook fans, newsletter subscribers, and LinkedIn connections to register here.
I think there’s plenty of room in our relatively close-knit greenroof and wall community to explore new information technologies together and not feel threatened by competition – don’t you? In fact, don’t you agree we should celebrate each other’s innovations?
This is the social media event of the year! We need to support each other and continue to find ways to collaborate and share information. We’re thrilled with the many features we have up our sleeves, and we hope you will be, too.
Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 9/12/11 World Expo Zaragoza 2008/Zentro Expo Zaragoza Zaragoza, Spain 765,000 sf. Greenroof
Year: 2008 Owner: Expo Zaragoza Empresarial, previously Expoagua Zaragoza 2008 S.A. Location: Zaragoza, Spain Building Type: Commercial Type: Intensive System: Single Source Provider Size: 765,000 sq.ft. Slope: 1-5% Access: Accessible, Open to Public
Project Description & Details
The theme of the World Expo Zaragoza 2008 was “Water and Sustainable Development” and architects and designers from around the world were called to build forward-thinking structures for the 57-acre site. Massive greenroof areas covering the 765,000 square feet of the elevated structures also included photovoltaics.
Only 11.172 sq meters out of the total surface were viable for pedestrian use due to structural requirements and building time restrictions, so a ZinCo system with a 25 cm thick light substrate growing medium was used. The 754,000 sf “Pabellones de las Naciones,” or Pavilions of the Nations, displays various types of water distribution found in nature as you meander through lush landscaped areas of pathways, seating areas and a constructed river. The 11,000 sf roof of “Aguas Compartidas,” or Shared Water Pavilion No. 6, has varying slopes up to 18 degrees. Its design intent was to show the potential for fair distribution of water across the region; rainwater was collected and used for irrigation of the beautiful perennial gardens.
Designers/Manufacturers of Record
Greenroof System: ZinCo Botanist and Landscape Architect: Projects Department: Carlos Ávila Calzada, Expo Zaragoza 2008 Pavilions of the Nations Greenroof Provider: Central VICOM Pavilions of the Nations Greenroof Construction: Aimad, S.L. Aguas Compartidas Greenroof Provider: Massoni, SL Aguas Compartidas Roof Construction: VALLIMPER, SL
Additional Info
Located on the banks of the Ebro River, careful site design and sensitive construction practices were essential to maintaining its essential physical, social and environmental characteristics .
In reference to selecting an appropriate greenroof system to cover the huge expanse, and do so beautifully and well, Carlos Avila Calzada, Head of the Landscape Department for the Expo Zaragoza 2008 said:
“Regarding the green roof structure it was decided to choose a ZinCo system with a 25 cm thick topsoil layer, formed by a light substrate. When designing the green roof we set three main objectives: choosing a design that would provide a global idea of all the pavilions’ roofs, creating a green structure which would show a vivid contrast between a neutral background and large colourful areas and incorporating the photovoltaic panels in the design. The walking area has different characteristics as there are wooden paths and spaces for the visitors to sit down and enjoy the view over the exhibition site or the rest of the city. These areas, equipped with furniture and lighting, resemble those of public use in cities more than a green roof.”
105 countries were represented here with an extensive cultural program. Concentrated on the future of water, the event ran for 93 day and experienced long waits for many of the pavilions, but despite that visitor numbers were lower than forecast at 5.5 million instead of 6.5 million.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia attended the closing ceremony, and according to TypicallySpanish.com, the King said such events “encouraged us to take on new projects together, and served to unite and build an always better Spain.” Spain commissioned a special stamp commemorating the Expo:
Once concluded on September 14, 2008, the World Expo Zaragoza 2008 was redeveloped and revitalized by new owners Expo Zaragoza Empresarial and renamed Zentro Expo Zaragoza – the new activity, entertainment, and economic center for the city – and opened again to the public on January 20, 2011.
Dismantling of the pavilions and thematic spaces resulted in the creation of the state-owned (Government of Aragon) Ebro River park. The mission states that they are “socially and environmentally committed to the future challenges of Zaragoza.”
“El meandro de Ranillas” is the largest open area with natural greenspace for the people of Zaragoza and its surroundings. More than 120 acres of recreated nature and outdoor activities now include the Water Park -120 acres of nature and outdoor activities with a whitewater channel and the first artificial beaches in Spain - and a variety of commercial and service facilities. The “Ranillas Meander” is a space that attracts audiences of all ages and is very family oriented.
This complex of over 77,000 m2 of offices creates a unique environment of office space called Dinamiza (Boost) Business Park. And Fluvia is an exclusive enclave of only 18 commercial stores offered here with more than 19,000 m2 of space. An estimated 1,500 visitors each day are offered a wide variety of entertainment options including cinemas, shops, a gym, over 15 restaurants, bars and cafes with outdoor terraces – all overlooking the river Ebro.
Also present on site of the former World Expo Zaragoza 2008 is the new Institute of Climate Change which intends to be a unique platform for the meeting of the Spanish scientific community and international participants to implement innovative and cutting edge research on a global level, making Zaragoza a role model for their commitment to the environment:
To all accounts, the greenroofs have fared well and will, no doubt, continue to provide a lovely cooling respite to inhabitants of Zaragoza and international visitors alike.
Roland Appl, Germany: The Technical Director of ZinCo and President of the International Green Roof Association (IGRA) will present “Combining Green Roofs with Photovoltaics.”
Jörg Breuning, USA and Germany: The principal of Green Roof Technology (Previously Green Roof Service) and co-founder of Green Roof Safari will present “Green Roof Technology Sails Around the World.”
Tanya Müller Garcia, Mexico: The founder of AMENA – Asociación Mexicana para la Naturación de Azoteas – (National Mexican Greenroof Association), Vice-President of WGIN, and Director of Urban Reforestation and Bikeways for the City of Mexico will present “Development of Greenroofs and Walls in Mexico and Latin America.”
Richard Hayden, RLA, ASLA, CLARB, USA: The landscape architect and Garden Roof Department Manager at American Hydrotech, Inc. will present “Sloped and Complex Green Roofs.”
Haven Kiers, LEED AP, GRP, USA: The founding partner of GreenSwell Design and Planning, trainer with Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, and contributing editor on Greenroofs.com will co-present the “2011 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof & Greenwall Design” with Linda Velazquez.
Terry McGlade, Canada: The horticulturalist, landscape designer, and founder and President of Gardens in the Sky will present “Constructing Gardens in the Sky.”
Imagine a world of green: What are we doing to create organic architecture?
Next week I’ll highlight the rest of our stellar cast of greenroof and greenwall professionals and enthusiasts!
See the GGW Virtual Summit Speakers page and Agenda to learn all about each presenter and their presentations or the panel sessions.
You’ve got to admit that you can’t beat the super low registration fee of $99 for September 27 and 28 plus the 30 days archived on demand through October 28 to hear from all of these excellent speakers…
… but we want everyone to qualify for the even lower Associate Rate of only $49 (just type in the name of the non-profit/organization/constituency that you belong when prompted) or the Students/Faculty/Government Professionals Rate of only $25 (state the school/university or government).
And, you’ll be automatically entered for the chance at winning our second Apple iPad2 drawing, announced on September 30, 2011.
We hope you join us for this very interactive virtual experience – think film festival meets 2-day webinar and online expo extravaganza!
Brought to you by Greenroofs.com, we’d like to thank to our Virtual Summit Sponsors TREMCO (Rare Earth) and American Hydrotech (Emerald) and our Exhibitors, Associates, and Media Partners – make sure to visit them at the Expo Pavilions.
Just a quick post to remind you to pre-register for the Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 by midnight tonight EDT to qualify for the half-off price of only $49 ($25 for students/faculty and government professionals).
PEOPLE: Creative thinkers, innovators, and trailblazers sharing project-focused organic “vegitecture”
PROJECTS: International icons of sustainability: early successes + current & visionary profiles of excellence in design
DESIGN: Proven standards of diverse green technologies + dynamic and cutting edge designs for greening the planet with building integrated greenery: bioclimatic, biodiversity, biomimicry & chic sustainability
This gives you full access to all the presentations, panel sessions, Expo Pavilion booths, Sponsor Meeting Rooms, Networking Lounge, Media Lounge and all your Social Collaboration Network (SCN) online video, audio, and text chatting on both September 27 and 28 and 30 days archived on demand through October 28!
As I’ve said before, we’re really giving away two iPad2’s to registrants and attendees. But increase your chances by pre-registering now and to become eligible for the first drawing, announced tomorrow, September 9, 2011 at noon.
One random winner will be chosen from the Early Bird Registrations and one from attendees who have been the most active using the (SCN) during the Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 on September 27 & 28. This includes all your online chatting and visiting our very important sponsor and exhibitor booths at the Expo Pavilions! Swipe your Virtual Badge at each exhibitor booth you visit to increase your chances. See the official Rules & Regulations here.
Watch our quick Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 Trailer below for highlights of Speakers, the Agenda and more:
Visit the Virtual Summit website here to see how it all works.
See the GGW Virtual Summit Speakers page and Agenda to learn all about each presenter and their presentations or the panel sessions.
Speaking of our panel sessions, we have seven very distinct, innovative,and important collaborations that you are sure to enjoy and learn from personal experiences of movers and shakers in their respective fields from international non-profit, private and university level to U.S state, city, and borough level to professional association, private enterprise, and corporate experiences.
Click on the photos or titles to learn more about each scheduled time slot on the Agenda and each individual - they all have live Question & Answer sessions afterwards, so don’t miss them to pick their brains on how they are succeeding in greening our roofs and walls:
Christine is moderating the panel on “Biodiversity and Green Roofs” where she also speaks about her research on plant community development and ecological processes on extensive green roofs with time. Nathalie speaks about “Green Roofs / Natural Roofs = Biodiverse Habitats and Ecological Compensation in Urban Space: 15 Years of Experience in Switzerland.” Dusty speaks about “Designing and Working for Biodiversity on Green Roofs for Over 10 Years.” And Gary speaks about “My First Biodiverse Green Roof in 1992, Considerations for Planning and Design and Some Thoughts on the Future.”
This panel featuring: a State Senator, noted business leader, NYC project manager, health care manager, social service providers and a dedicated educator speaks to triple bottom line benefits, impacts and the uses of green roofs, green walls, and urban agriculture as highly replicable, critical components to creating and leveraging social equity and economic and educational opportunities in challenging times.
“The Portland Ecoroof Program: A Cross-section of the Green Roof Movement in Portland, Oregon” above left to right: Tom Liptan, Matt Burlin, Amy Chomowicz, Casey Cunningham, and Alice Meyers. The Portland Ecoroof Program started in 1996 when a city employee constructed an experimental ecoroof on his garage. From this small start, the program has grown and as of July 2011 there are over 420 green roofs of varying sizes, on all types of buildings, from multi-story apartment complexes and commercial buildings to humble sheds, kiosks, and garages. These green roofs cover nearly 30 acres of Portland rooftops (extensive and intensive roofs).
The Portland Ecoroof Program consists of technical support, incentives, education, policies, and research. The program is incentive-based rather than regulatory, and the city’s policies reflect this approach. This presentation provides an overview of how these program elements work with the private sector and general public to sustain the green roof movement in Portland.
U.S. Congressman Tom Reed from the 29th district of New York, Tom Ferraro, CEO of Foodlink – a national network of 200 food banks – and George Irwin, CEO of Green Living Technologies International (GLTi), provide interactive conversation and commentary concerning the impact of education, economics and opportunity around local food production with green walls and roofs. Rochester-based GLTi started in New York City and has since grown nationally and internationally through education and collaborative hands-on projects with local youth, the underprivileged and disadvantaged in New York and Los Angeles and with business partnerships in Santiago, Dubai, and beyond to include their Food Factory and more.
“Wind. Water. Heat. Grow. Greenroofs.” above left to right: Dr. Bill Retzlaff, David Aponte, Kevin Songer, and Joe Webb. Greenroofs are impacted by wind, water and heat on an unrelenting basis. Through wind trials and real hurricane survival stories in Houston, TX, Jacksonville, FL, Edwardsville, IL, and Puerto Rico, we have met those challenges and will discuss various projects’ responses and successes to Hurricanes Ike and (any others?). Drought, hot winds, and unseasonable 100° days can also quickly desiccate or kill greenroof plants.
Dr. Bill Retzlaff moderates discussing wind studies and plant trials for greenroofs at SIUE. Joe Webb talks about his project which endured 110 to 120 mph winds and 11” of rain in 24 hours and shares water mapping and Living Building Challenge Water requirements. Kevin Songer talks about the Outdoor Turbine Hurricane Simulator at the University of Florida, water conservation through ‘nature-based irrigation design,’ and the importance of biodiversity. David Aponte speaks to his experience of engineering and designing greenroofs with the correct growing media and plants in hurricane-prone, sub-tropical Puerto Rico.
“Greenroofs: Wind & Fire” Panel above left to right: Kelly Luckett, Mike Ennis, and Jim Kirby. No longer can the green roof be deleted from a project due to failure to comply with the fire code. After three years in the making from members of Single Ply Roofing Industry in cooperation with Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (GRHC), we now have a green roof design guide for minimizing the risk of fire on green roofs. The securing of a place in mainstream construction through the International Code Council (ICC) has resulted in a milestone for the North American green roof movement. Fire concerns are only half of the code story as the wind design guide is still progressing through the ANSI process – we must overcome both the wind and the fire obstacle.
Kelly Luckett, President of Green Roof Blocks, moderates and shares his experiences representing GRHC with the consensus based ANSI/SPRI VF-1 and RP-14 standards. Jim Kirby, NRCA’s AED, Technical Communications, provides NRCA commentary about building codes, vegetative roofs and RP-14. Mike Ennis, Technical Director for SPRI, speaks to SPRI’s leadership leadership in the development of fire and wind standards and experience in the building code arena.
And, because the panel sessions weren’t stirring enough, we’ve ended with the “Green Roofs Without the Hype” Panel above left to right: Patrick Carey, Dr. Robert Berghage, Charlie Miller, and Ed Snodgrass. Here are four people with the knowledge to speak frankly about the current state of affairs in green roofing. This panel focuses on the designation and evaluation of expertise, appropriate background and training, roadblocks to research and education, design origination and control, chain of custody issues, installation, and the residential market.
We hope you join us for this very interactive virtual experience – think film festival meets 2-day webinar and online expo extravaganza!
Pre-register or learn more by visiting: virtual.greenroofs.com. Don’t forget to pre-register by this Friday, September 9 for the discounted Early Bird rate of only $49 ($25for students/faculty and government professionals).
Brought to you by Greenroofs.com, we’d like to thank to our Virtual Summit SponsorsTREMCO (Rare Earth) and American Hydrotech (Emerald) and our Exhibitors and Media Partners – make sure to visit them at the Expo Pavilions.
Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 8/29/11 8 House (8 Tallet) Copenhagen, Denmark 18,300 sf. Greenroof
Year: 2010 Owner: St. Frederikslund Holding Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Building Type: Multi-Use Type: Extensive System: Single Source Provider Size: 18,300 sq.ft. Slope: 40% Access: Inaccessible, Private
Project Description & Details
8 House (Tallet in Danish) is a 61,000 m2 bowtie-shaped mixed-use building of three different types of residential housing and 10,000 m2 of retail and offices which comprise Denmark’s largest private development ever undertaken. Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the 8 House sits on the outer edge of the city as the southernmost outpost of Ørestad. Rather than a traditional block, the 8 House stacks all ingredients of a lively urban neighborhood into horizontal layers of typologies connected by a continuous promenade and cycling path up to the 10th floor creating a three-dimensional urban neighborhood where suburban life merges with the energy of a big city, where business and housing co-exist.
With spectacular views towards the Copenhagen Canal and over Kalvebod Fælled’s protected, open spaces, 8 House not only offers residences to people in all of life’s stages as well as office spaces to the city’s business and trade – it also serves as a house that allows people to bike all the way from the ground floor to the top, moving alongside townhouses with gardens winding through an urban perimeter block. Two sloping green roofs totaling 1,700 m2 are strategically placed to reduce the urban heat island effect as well as provide the visual identity to the project and tying it back to the adjacent farmlands towards the south.
Designers/Manufacturers of Record
Architect: Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) Contractor: Hopfner Partners Civil Engineer: Moe & Brødsgaard Roofing Contractor: Uldum Tag ApS Roof Decks: Skandek Tagelementfabrik A/S Pre-vegetated Mat Greenroof System: Veg Tech A/S Partner-In-Charge: Bjarke Ingels, Thomas Christoffersen, Bjarke Ingels Group Project Leader: Ole Elkjaer-Larsen, Henrick Poulsen, Bjarke Ingels Group Project Manager: Finn Norkjaer, Henrik Lund, Bjarke Ingels Group
Additional Info
With offices in Copenhagen and New York City, the Danish architects of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) describe themselves as “architects, designers, and thinkers operating within the fields of architecture, urbanism, research, and development.” Known for some truly spectacular work, this young firm has definitely been pushing our comfort zones by playing with shapes and forms and redefining space. BIG’s founder, the creative and energetic Bjarke Ingels, leads their approach of Hedonistic Sustainability which “helps cities adapt to tomorrow’s challenges and why sustainable future doesn’t need to involve sacrifice” through his design philosophy and as a TED and keynote speaker at conferences and universities worldwide.
8 House has received plenty of national and international attention. Last month, 8 House was selected as a finalist for the 2011 World Architecture Festival Award in the Housing and Future projects category. The winners will be announced at the annual WAF festival which takes place in Barcelona on November 2-4, 2011.
While attending the opening of a Global Green Growth Institute in Copenhagen this past May, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark were treated to a guided tour of 8 House by Bjarke Ingels.
Last December, 2010, Huffington Post selected 8 House as one of “the ten most-meaningful architecture moments from an exceptionally topsy-turvy decade.” Read Jacob Slevin’s 10 Best Architecture Moments of 2001-2010.
Located in the Ørestad area of Copenhagen, 8 House was slated to be the first in a collection of buildings to push development in this outskirt neighborhood of wide open fields and pastureland.
BIG says 8 House was partly inspired by classic townhouses as well as “the open, democratic nature of functionalistic architecture.”
The undeniably unique, long, multi-sloped house has immense differences in height which the architects feel “create a strong inflow of light and a unique local community with small gardens and pathways that channel your thoughts into mountains in Southern Europe and memories of a childhood home.”
At a cost of 92,000,000 Euros, its base consists of 10,000 m2 of businesses spread out at street level alongside the surrounding main streets and at the northern courtyard that houses an office building. The building’s housing program offers 476 residences with three kinds of accommodation varying in area from 65 to 144 m2: apartments for rent, and penthouses and townhouses for purchase.
“The different housing typologies are united by the exterior dimensions which provide inspiration for adventures, inspiring communities.” ~ BIG
Where the 8- or bow-shaped structure meets, two distinct spaces were created, separated by this center of the bow which hosts the communal facilities of 500 m2. BIG says, “At the very same spot, the building is penetrated by a 9 meter wide passage that connects the two surrounding city spaces: the park area to the west and the channel area to the east.
“Instead of dividing the different functions of the building – for both habitation and trades – into separate blocks, the various functions have been spread out horizontally. The apartments are placed at the top while the commercial programme unfolds at the base of the building. As a result, the different horizontal layers have achieved a quality of their own: the apartments benefit from the view, sunlight and fresh air, while the office leases merge with life on the street. This is basically emphasized by the shape of 8 House which is literally ‘hoisted up’ in the North East corner and ‘squeezed down’ at the South West corner, allowing light and air to enter the courtyard in the middle.”
“This is our take on creative, experimental architecture, which surprises and calls for a life based on a sense of community. We have actually elevated the shared facilities around the height axis, so that gardens, trees and the system of paths follow the body of the structure all the way to the roof. On the rooftop, eleven stories up, these shared spaces culminate in a combined ‘mountain path’ and rooftop garden. From here, you can enjoy the view of Kalvebod Fælled’s nature resort.” ~ Bjarke Ingels.
Originally, the entire roof 8 was designed as a continuous greenroof, with pre-vegetated mats from Veg Tech A/S used on the extensive 30-40% slope portions and recreational intensive roof gardens planned atop the flat areas.
Yet, because of the economic climate and budgetary restrictions, only the lower sloped portions were greened. Here’s 8 House under construction:
Here are a couple of great views of the greenroofs as they meet:
Referring to the greenroofs, Kai-Uwe Bergmann AIA, RIBA, MAA, LEED AP and BIG Partner, Director Business Development says, “Our design called for the entire roof area but the flat areas were cut due to the financial crisis and ensuing financing difficulties – so the other portions were sacrificed. But it’s even amazing that the building was built at all these past three years.”
Aramis and I met Kai-Uwe last November when we both spoke at the International Skyrise Greenery Conference in Singapore – his presentation most definitely had the wow factor! He started with the eye-catching, frenetic “Yes is More” video highlighting the young firm itself plus some of its equally eye-catching projects, including 8 House.
By the way, BIG’s ”Archicomic Yes is More is World’s 1st Architectural Monograph” is available as an iPad app featuring loads of bonus material, including 25 integrated videos and animations, updates of 8 House and the Danish Expo Pavilion and three new projects not available in the printed version. You can download it on iTunes here.
8 House is unique not only because it reduces the urban heat island effect with its cool courtyards, planted trees at entrances, container plantings on the balconies, and 18,300-square foot greenroofs, but the living roofs visually connect back to its pre-construction site on the prairie fields, creating a true sense of ‘genius loci’ or spirit of place.
So, ultimately, the dramatic greenroofed “V” of 8 House blends the iconic Danish structure beautifully with the original natural site and sets it off against the reflecting water of Copenhagen Canal:
Certainly, the sloped V roof line is as dramatic in a sunless, snow-covered winter landscape…
…as on a warm summer’s evening as seen from across the water:
Watch a video of Bjarke Ingels of BIG as he introduces you to his office and how their conceptual designs morph into reality with teamwork, including 8 House, below:
The ever growing demand for sustainable design continues to grow across the world – especially with living architecture, and Greenroofs.com’s inaugural Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit held online on September 27 and 28, 2011 is truly a groundbreaking event you can’t miss!
Join us as we inform, share, and create a global social media experience for learning and networking via the power of the Internet. It’s a community destination that will allow you to connect with everyone in our growing community!
Over 50 speakers from around the world are joining us in the Virtual Summit including architects, ecologists, landscape architects, engineers, educators, industry CEOs, product manufacturers and suppliers, botanists, non-profit directors, government officials and representatives from the state of New York, cities of Portland, OR; Chicago, IL; and the Bronx.
We’ve just released our very impressive international speaker line-up for the Virtual Summit 2011 – you can now see the Speakers page and Agenda to learn all about each presenter and their presentations or panel sessions.
Our Keynote Speakers are thinkers, designers, trend setters, eco-luminaries:
“Imagine a world of green: What are we doing to create organic architecture?”
Dr. Patrick Blanc, France: The renown botanist and creator of Le Mur Végétal will present “The Vertical Garden – from Nature to Cities” with an exclusive interview by Linda Velazquez.
Xianmin Wang, China: The Deputy Chief of the Vertical Greening Academic Group of China Green Building Council; Vice Chairman of the International Rooftop Landscaping Association will present “The Current Situation and Future of Green Roofs in China.”
We’re treating our Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summit 2011 as a production, and now you can see the trailer – it’s fast, fun, and informative and gives you a glimpse of presentations to come. Watch just a few highlights from our stellar cast of greenroof and greenwall professionals below:
Don’t forget to pre-register by September 9 for the discounted Early Bird rate of only $49 ($25 for students/faculty and government professionals) for access on both September 27 and 28 and 30 days archived on demand through October 28! Plus, you’ll be automatically entered for the chance to win the first of two Apple iPad2s that we’re giving away.
One random winner will be chosen from the Early Bird Pre-Registrations and one from attendees who have been the most active using the Social Collaboration Network, including all your online chatting and visiting our very important sponsor and exhibitor booths at the Expo Pavilions!
Brought to you by Greenroofs.com, we’d like to thank to our Virtual Summit Sponsors TREMCO and American Hydrotech and our Exhibitors and Media Partners:
See our Press Release here. Join us for the sharing, networking and fun event of the year!
Greenroofs.com Project of the Week: 6/20/11 Hotel Ushüaia Low-Tech Vertical Garden Ibiza, Spain 3,735 sf. Greenwall
Year: 2011 Owner: Hotel Ushüaia Location: Ibiza, Spain Building Type: Commercial Type: Living Wall System: Single Source Provider Size: 3,735 sq.ft. Slope: 100% Access: Accessible, Open to Public
Project Description & Details
The newest vertical garden project from the young Spanish firm Urbanarbolismo was completed on May 20, 2011, in collaboration with Alijardín and Alicante forestal. Situated in the Hotel Ushüaia de Ibiza, the four panel eco.bin greenwall acts as a sound barrier between the open air disco located in the hotel’s central courtyard and the neighboring guest rooms. The unique garden wall system consists of rows of ceramic terracotta containers whose circular openings are individually filled with growing medium and planted.
Each interconnected planted ceramic, with its own substrate and vegetation, works together to create this sound-absorbent garden space. Keeping in account the climatic characteristics of the Mediterranean island of Ibiza, the designers have selected a variety of crassula, euphorbia, echeveria, aeonium, kalanchoe, sedum and sedeveria which can adapt to these conditions. In comparison to complex automated vertical gardening systems, this type requires a more personalized maintenance regime, yet the designers feel this low-tech typology option also offers more people a greater possibility of having a vertical garden of their own.
In Spanish, “Urbanarbolismo” literally means “UrbanTreeism” – wow, it sounds very tree huggerish yet obviously on a larger, urban scale – and that’s part of the philosophy of this design/build architect-led group of designers. They believe there is no division between urban and natural: Urban development should not only create a space for us; we should ameliorate previous ecosystems and if they were not present, we should find ways to recreate them. Known for a handful of previous local greenroofs and greenwalls, founding principal Jordi Serramia Ruiz tells us that this is their first project utilizing their new greenwall system called “eco.bin.”
The design of the plant-filled ceramic greenwall allows for curvaceous, undulating, and sweeping vistas, creating a sense of dizzying vertigo with colorful succulents – nonetheless beautiful and eco-friendly while cleansing the air and providing a sound barrier to boot. You have to admit that along with their own resident mega-ants, seen above crawling up the stark white stucco walls, the Hotel Ushüaia Low-Tech Vertical Garden is truly unique! And strategically placed accent lighting highlights the spiky leaves of the succulent vegetative structures seen poking through their ceramic plant holes.
Developed by Urbanarbolismo as a way to make vegetated walls affordable to most people, four separate panels help define the intimate space, including a smaller living wall greeting people the entrance from the outside of the hotel below:
Once you plant the wall, you’re set, and the low-maintenance drip-irrigation watering system also keeps it low-tech, especially since they’re designed to tilt towards each interior cell, thereby retaining water at the bottom for future use.
The design appears to be avant-guard in its execution while promising to be easy and low-tech. Seeing how this one-month old greenwall is brand-spanking new, let’s see how it develops and fares over time. If you visit this gorgeous party island of Ibiza and get to the popular Hotel Ushüaia, send us some photos to share!
Year: 2005
Designers/Manufacturers of Record
Year: 2008
Greenroof System: 
Roland Appl, Germany: The Technical Director of ZinCo and President of the International Green Roof Association (IGRA) will present “
Jörg Breuning, USA and Germany: The principal of Green Roof Technology (Previously Green Roof Service) and co-founder of Green Roof Safari will present “
Tanya Müller Garcia, Mexico: The founder of AMENA – Asociación Mexicana para la Naturación de Azoteas – (National Mexican Greenroof Association), Vice-President of WGIN, and Director of Urban Reforestation and Bikeways for the City of Mexico will present “
Haven Kiers, LEED AP, GRP, USA: The founding partner of GreenSwell Design and Planning, trainer with Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, and contributing editor on Greenroofs.com will co-present the “
Terry McGlade, Canada: The horticulturalist, landscape designer, and founder and President of Gardens in the Sky will present “
Chris Wark, MSME, LEED AP, USA: The engineer, Senior Energy Analyst for Viridian Energy & Environmental, and contributing editor on Greenroofs.com will present “
Year: 2010
Designers/Manufacturers of Record
Where the 8- or bow-shaped structure meets, two distinct spaces were created, separated by this center of the bow which hosts the communal facilities of 500 m2. BIG says, “At the very same spot, the building is penetrated by a 9 meter wide passage that connects the two surrounding city spaces: the park area to the west and the channel area to the east.
Rosemarie S. Andolino, USA: The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner will present “
Dr. Patrick Blanc, France: The renown botanist and creator of Le Mur Végétal will present “
Dr. Nigel Dunnett, UK: The Director of the Green Roof Centre and University of Sheffield Professor will present “
Paul Kephart, USA: The President of Rana Creek and ecological designer will present “
Xianmin Wang, China: The Deputy Chief of the Vertical Greening Academic Group of China Green Building Council; Vice Chairman of the International Rooftop Landscaping Association will present “
Year: 2011
Designers/Manufacturers of Record
