| | Amidst growing media interest and demand from public and private sectors, multidisciplinary professionals - from architects to environmental engineers, city planners to landscape architects and beyond - are redefining sustainability in the context of building design. We’re examining our environmental impacts on the Earth from a more integrated, holistic approach and using technologies which encourage energy efficient and environmentally friendly building envelopes, including the ubiquitous “fifth façade” – the rooftop.
And how ecologically better, in terms of the highest and greatest ecological use of space, than to cover these generally unused fifth façades than with living, breathing, vegetative roofs? Living roofs are true workhorses of the roofing world in that they offer such a wide spectrum of environmental benefits and opportunities for Earth’s flora, fauna, and human communities – all while pleasing our economic, aesthetic, and psychological sensibilities, too.
As such, greenroofs are fast becoming green staples of chic sustainability in mainstream architecture and high performance building with a hip environmental sheen that is attractive to young and old. And we all know that greenroofs are vibrant and exciting alternatives to the average unused, hot, and often downright ugly black tar or concrete roofs that we see covering the world, but what and where are the new and exciting projects on the boards?
Enter the Greenroofs.com
Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof Design to showcase the important, newsworthy and exciting greenroof projects from around the world! Our
Design Editor Haven Kiers and
Publisher/Editor Linda Velazquez inaugurated the series in 2007 at the Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Our Top 10
List is designed to be an eye catching and fast-paced presentation of case study vignettes representing the selected top ten categories highlighting the very best of what's hot now. Whether based on traditional applications with a twist or avant-guard projects combining living roofs, energy, and other green technologies, we select time-honored examples from which we designers can draw inspiration to current conceptual, high-profile media grabbing greenroofs which stimulate the senses! How do we decide the
Top 10
List of Hot Trends in Greenroof Design?
In 2007, we explored "chic
sustainability" and looked at examples of trailblazing and trendsetting
greenroof design. Aside from our own editorial and experiential input,
last year we turned to greenroof industry professionals for inspiration
and guidance and asked them to share their top 10 trends of 2008 with
us. Together we chose "The Influence of LEED on Design Professionals =
Pushing the Green Envelope," "Sky High Cool Green Schools," and
"Eco-Communities & Eco-Cities" for the top three spots.
In 2009 the projects we chose
all share a similar concept - the desire to improve their surrounding
environment. The focus of the Top 10 Trends of 2009 was on greenroof
design as a means to combat problems in our world of the built
environment versus nature, and restore sustainability to the eco-system.
Although environmental drivers have
always played a role in greenroof development, until recently they have
taken a backseat to the flashier concepts of style and high design. The
greenroofs previously garnering the most attention were the ones that
skillfully blended vegetation with sleek proportions and transformed
buildings into works of art. 2009's selection of greenroof projects
still has that "wow" effect, with the exception that now aesthetics have
become increasingly subservient to environmental and social
functionality. These projects tackle global warming, stormwater run-off,
decreased biodiversity, societal responsibility and other ecological
issues with a combination of grit and style previously lacking in
building design.
What will 2010 bring to the table?
We'll soon see!
2009
Hot
Trends
in GREENROOF DESIGN
The Greenroofs.com Top
10 List:
10) Client
Specific ‘Boutique’ Greenroofs
9)
Design Competitions: Promoting Future
Inspiration
8)
Earth-Sheltering for Sustainable Site Design
7)
Master Plans – Greenroofs in Every Corner
6)
Sustainable Stimulus: Green Buildings
Creating Green Collar Jobs
5)
LID Strategies: Celebrating Water with
Greenroofs, Rain Gardens, Stormwater
Catchment & Beyond
4)
Championing the Green Machine: Policy
Driven Ecological Development
3)
Healthy, Efficient & Affordable Green
Housing
2)
Sky-High Green Living on the Rise:
Condos, Townhomes and Lofts
1) "Towers
of Power" - Mega Vertical Structures
Linking Earth and Sky
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