Biophilia: For the Love of Nature, Part 2 (Green Roofs & Green Walls)

“Love of life is human nature.”

– Biophilia Network

Welcome or welcome back, nature lovers! If you're joining us for the first time, Biophilia: For the Love of Nature is a four-part mini-series that explores our affiliation with nature and the whimsical world of green infrastructure, from how it benefits us and the earth to how it is integrated into cities and urban areas around the globe. In Part One, we delved into the origin, definition, and concept of biophilia, how it is expressed in modern society, and the benefits it can provide for us and our planet. In Part Two, we will be learning about the intricate design, functionality, and benefits of green roofs and green walls with awe-inspiring examples from around the world. DIMENSIONS OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

Green Roof

Green roofs are commonly integrated into urban infrastructure as a stormwater management practice and as a climatological boon, like the ACROS Fukuoka Prefectural International Hall in Fukuoka, Japan. The building (60 m) boasts intensive green roof terraces with 120 botanical species and 50,000 specimens. © Patrick, 2015.

A green roof (syn. living roof, vegetation roof, eco-roof) is a vegetative veneer comprising of sequential biological and synthetic components that is installed on an existing ceiling truss. A green roof can be modularly integrated or individually manufactured and assembled with structural elements such as vegetation, soil media, insulation, filters, membranes, vapour

controls, structural support and drainage or storage layers.

Structural diagram exhibiting the architectural layers of an extensive green roof system. © American Hydrotech Inc., 2010.

Green roof systems can be classified as extensive or intensive based on infrastructure age, structural weight load and degree of public access. An extensive green roof is a simplified green roof design primarily engineered for existing infrastructure retrofit or renovation. Extensive green roof systems are designed as an environmentalism without public access due to its lightweight, slender composition of vegetation, soil media, waterproof membranes and root barriers (50–150 mm). In comparison, an intensive green roof is a complex green roof design predominantly incorporated into new infrastructure due to anticipated weight load from materials and public access. Intensive green roof system designs require greater structural capacity (20–30+ cm) to accommodate various network components.

Lycée Jean Moulin is a senior high school located in Revin, France that exhibits a retrofitted extensive green roof system (1,072 m2). The academic complex revision was commissioned by Duncan Lewis Scape Architecture and OFF Architecture (c. 2008–2012). In this topographic urban design, landscape architects have manipulated the infrastructure to complement the surrounding topography while providing spectators with expanded vistas of the countryside. The tiered infrastructure transforms the surrounding topography into an aesthetic albeit functional striation, creating a comprehensive canopy of green roof architecture with each tier connected via infill clerestory window glazing. © Matthieu Tregoat, 2016.

Eighth Avenue Place (LEED™ Platinum, Core and Shell) is a certified extensive green roof system located in the downtown core of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Eighth Avenue Place is owned by Ivan Cambridge, Alberta Investment Management Corporation and Matco Investments. The total infrastructure is calculated at approximately 78,000 m2 and includes a mid-level garden platform and a naturalized green roof (2,700 m2). The building promotes environmental principles via technological materials4 and judicious waste assimilation (e.g. external air input systems, restricted water consumption (-40%), bicycle storage (300), industrial waste diversion (75%), low emission chemicals and refrigerants, etc.), which reduces total energy usage and cost by 58%, (-$108,000/year5) and prevents an additional 1,250,000 kWh/year or 1,100 tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere. Kevin Neveu, President and CEO of Precision Drilling Corporation commented that “sustainability was a criterion for our decision making” when signing the office rental lease for his employees as it provided the best vocational environment for productivity and personal satisfaction (Cadieux, 2013). © Eighth Avenue Place, 2008.

Green Wall

Living green walls are commonly used in office buildings to ameliorate indoor air quality, like this green wall (378 m2) at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Philidelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. The green wall was designed by British Landscape Architect Kim Wilkie and installed by Ambius, Rentokil Initial, PLC. © Public Domain, CC/0.

A green wall (syn. living wall, vertical garden) is a vertical surface partially or completely covered with vegetation and substrate media. A green wall can be expressed as a panel, tray or freestanding design depending on its purpose and functionality.

Structural diagram exhibiting the architectural layers of a living green wall. © Daniel Nyman, n.d.

A green wall should not be confused with a green façade. A green façade is a vertical surface partially or completely covered with a special type of climbing vegetation called a vine. Green façades only exhibit substrate media at the base of the wall, which permits circumnutating vines to cover the surface via modified botanical structures such as tendrils or adhesive discs. In comparison, a green wall exhibits substrate media as a modular component integrated on or within the wall, which permits plants to grow directly within the infrastructure without compromising structural integrity.

Sportplaza Mercator is an example of ecological urban design that incorporates fundamental permaculture concepts into its purpose and function. Sportplaza Mercator is an athletic and leisure sports complex (7,100 m2) located in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The building was commissioned by Venhoeven CS (c. 2001–2005). The exterior of the building is classified as a “living landscape” with over 50 botanical species being utilized for temperature regulation and water harvesting. Sportplaza Mercator is considered to be a nexus of ecology, with its environmental vision synthesizing both multiculturalism and bio-design into a unique and innovative style. © Luuk Kramer, 2006.

This private residence exhibits an autonomous network of symbiotic relationships that contribute towards sustainable solutions in urban areas. The titular private residence is an experimental house located in Paris, France. The dwelling (130 m2) was commissioned by R&Sie(n) (c. 2008). The petite three-story pavilion supports a vertical garden system consisting of 1,200 hydroponic ferns and misting nozzles that distribute harvested rainwater. The glass vases facilitate the fermentation of rhizobium, a type of beneficial soil bacteria that fixes atmospheric nitrogen for plant use. © William Wiles, 2009.

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Stay tuned for our next installment in December! Biophilia: For the Love of Nature, Part 3 (Rain Gardens, Barrels, Bioswales, & Permeable Pavement).

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