Pulse Magazine
Spring 2017
Reuse. Reread. Recycle
Green Roofs
The Future of Modern Architecture
Photo Courtesy of Gracen Hansen
By Gracen Hansen
Take the grass we walk around on, put it above you and see what happens. Green Roofs, or vegetation as a replacement for tiles or shingles, are an environmental revolution for the urban cityscape. Green Roofs in Canada have been doing just that.
Planting low-growing vegetation on the roof of a building creates multiple environmental benefits. According to Kara Orr from Green Roofs, having a green roof, “reduces energy use by keeping the building cooler, prevents water [and] pipe contamination and helps with rain water drainage.”
Every green roof is created with its specific location in mind. The low-lying vegetation is created to thrive off of the climate it is placed in, making any additional watering or heavy maintenance unnecessary. According to Orr, in Canada, buildings of a certain size are required to have a green, environmentally responsible roof. In an urban city, it is easy to push green spaces and parks to the side when housing and business spaces are in high demand. Moving green spaces from the ground to the roof not only creates a more environmentally sound building and city but also has a more aesthetically pleasing look.
Ideal for rain-heavy climates, the Green Roof absorbs water that normally runs through a city and provides nourishment to the low-lying greenery rather than directing it to the gutters, which causes water pollution and pipe damage. And because each roof is specific to its environment, it’s unnecessary to hydrate the plants with additional water, reducing a city’s water usage.
Photo Courtesy of Gracen Hansen
Similar to a Green Roof, but in true New York fashion, lies the High Line. The former subway line in Chelsea was converted to an elevated walkway and garden park in 2009. All the plants on the High Line are sourced from within a 100-mile radius of the site. Although the plant life is drought sensitive, all vegetation still needs to be watered. The High Line is hydrated by a drip irrigation system which uses as little water as possible.
Having this green space in urban Manhattan improves air quality and encourages time spent outdoors, which is good for both mental and physical health. In an interview with Yuka Yoneda of Inhabitat.com, Piet Oudolf, the garden designer of the High Line gave his reasoning behind the plants he chose:
“A lot of people that were looking more ecologically at plants from the point of view of habitats, communities, and I grew to know a lot of them, and that is why my thinking started to change. I discovered that I could do something much deeper and nicer by following the sort of rules of what plants like… That I could work with plants that work well together and not just use plants that I like.”
The environmentally conscious have created a thriving ecosystem on the High Line. According to the Air Survey at NYC.gov, the air quality of New York has improved over the past decade. With The High Line first opening in 2009, one has to wonder if there is any causation in this correlation. Other cities that have adopted a High Line-like park are The Beltline in Atlanta GA, The Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago IL, Park 101 in Los Angeles CA and many more.
With parks already helping the environment, the economic benefits of a Green Roof cannot be ignored. When being environmentally conscious meets economic advantages it makes perfect sense to take advantage of the opportunity. Saving money and helping the environment are huge benefits of taking on the personal responsibility of a Green Roof.
It doesn’t matter if the greenery is above or below you, Green Roofs and green spaces create a thriving environment for all. It is the responsibility of those who live on this earth to care for it. In large cities, it is easy to forget about the ground around us when we are surrounded by concrete and skyscrapers. Making environmentally conscious decisions as simple as an added park or some vegetation on a roof can have lasting positive impacts on the earth and its inhabitants.