Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2008 - (Page 22)

PROJECT “The concept of the green roof, though centuries old, is one that until recently had been forgotten in architecture and urban design.” times and bright blooms in shaded areas was also important but had to be weighed against the desire to keep the palette as simple as possible. Required planting depths for trees and large shrubs were attained by mounding plant beds or retaining higher growing media areas behind site walls. A light-weight growing medium mix and polystyrene insulation board was used to assure that the designed live and dead loads remained well within the structural limitations of the deck. In designing the sub-surface drainage system, drain mats of varying thicknesses and flow rates were specified to control the amount of water available below the soil. Zones in which plant material would require higher moisture levels were allowed to percolate at a slower rate than areas requiring less moisture. This helped to reduce the burden on the irrigation system and minimize the amount of water entering the City’s stormwater system. Spray irrigation was limited to the lawn area and is monitored to assure that the system is not active during high-wind periods or when moisture levels are adequate. The rest of the roof is irrigated via a zoned drip system, maximizing the efficiency of the system and assuring that the specific watering requirements of the various planting zones are met. DESIGNING WITH CONCRETE & LIGHT The concrete walls were a critical element in the design not only for their practical function of soil retention, but also for the role they would play as the vertical expression of the design concept. A concrete form pattern was designed with the intent of creating a subtle surface texture across the face of the walls. Cast in place form ties were left unfilled and the surface itself was left unfinished, allowing the texture of the wood grain in the formwork to read through clearly. Finally, a tint was added to the concrete mix to provide a subtle warmth to the color and tie it to the palette of the surrounding architecture. Cor-ten® Steel accent walls were also incorporated as a contrast to the concrete walks and walls. A patina process was specified to assure that the natural aging of the steel would yield a color that would best compliment the hardscape. The walls were also designed in angular, canted planes to reduce the prominence of the many vertical surfaces in the design and to provide subtle transitions through planted zones. The fountain serves as the heart of the space. Given the strict structural considerations, the overall size of the feature as well as the surface area of any associated pool had to be as modest as possible and the overall depth kept to a minimum. The 48-inch tall x 40-foot long (roughly) water wall addressed these restrictions by minimizing the amount of water on the roof at any given time and reducing the amount of standing water on the deck. Granite cobble blocks make up the vertical surface, each course stepping back slightly to 22 LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR FALL

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Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2008 Contents From the Founder: A Robust Economy Letters Strata - People, Products & Projects: Austin's Hotspot for Habitat & Baltimore Hilton Goes Green A Green Roof for a County Courthouse Research Grant for Design Tool On the Roof With... A New Vue on Downtown Open Space Sound Transmission Loss of Extensive Green Roofs On Target Optimizing for Sustainability First GRHC Green Roof Symposium in Florida Welcome New Corporate Members Professional Calendar Experts Reflect on the Value of the GRP

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Fall 2008

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