Source: ReNatur© Stauden Brochure
eco-roofs, nature roofs, or roof greening systems are living, vegetative
roofing alternatives designed in stark contrast to the many standard
non-porous roof choices. Their greatest potential lies in this
capacity to cover impervious surfaces with permeable plant material.
to invest in the protection of our environment by diminishing developmental
impact on our communities while providing a fresh approach with visually
appealing organic architecture. Here is a potentially ideal architectural
union of aesthetics, economics, and ecology.
Ecology is generally
defined as the study of the interactions among organisms and their environment
(Dramstad, et al, 1996). In part, the current environmental crisis
is the result of design failure to consider the health of human communities
or of ecosystems. "Thinking ecologically about design is a way
of strengthening the weave that links nature and culture." (Van
der Ryn and Cowan, 1996). In man-made/man-disturbed ecologies
or landscapes we can mend, minimize, and ameliorate the design, ultimately
restoring these landscapes (Westmacott lecture, 1999). Greenroof
ecology is certainly a new area of interest, and can be viewed both
as an independent ecosystem and as an interrelated connection to a local
ecosystem. Greenroofs are the products of natural forms
and materials and by mimicking nature, their function produces natural
processes: they represent a living dynamic system.
ZinCo International Brochure 3/98
By utilizing the
process of integrated design, we can assess the attributes of a site
and create buildings and developments that heal rather than harm the
structures can become net producers of energy, clean water and air,
as well as part of healthy human and biological communities. Mutually
dependent factors such as soil make-up, ground water, topography, microclimates,
existing vegetation and land use together combine to create our livable
environments, and we can incorporate these site- specific elements to
create a unique greenroof. The same set of beneficial landscape
ecological principles can be applied to all greenroofs, whether constructed
at the scale of a garden shed or a 40,000 m2 factory.
Instead of replacing
the natural environment with the built environment, we should strive
for an intermingling of the two so that each can help sustain the other.
Building rooftops, usually considered forgotten spaces and deserts in
biological terms, now represent valuable opportunities for creating
a new life environment. The basic philosophy of greenroofs applies sustainable
“green development” techniques to support our human and natural communities
and development while remaining economically viable for owners and users
of a site.
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