Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Top Ten Hot Trends in Greenroof Design

The Greenroofs.com Top Ten List of Hot Trends in Greenroof Design showcases the important, newsworthy and exciting greenroof projects from around the world.

Inaugurated in 2007 at the Greening Rooftops for Sustainable Communities Conference, Awards and Trade Show in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the 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, Greenroofs.com select time-honored examples from which designers can draw inspiration to current conceptual, high-profile media grabbing greenroofs which stimulate the senses.

Read more at the resource link below.

Resource: http://www.greenroofs.com/top10hottrends.htm#2009


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.
Seattle City Hall in August, 2004; Photo by LSV

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.

Jiang Cultural Center

This year, the projects we have chosen all share a similar concept - the desire to improve their surrounding environment. The focus of the Top 10 Trends of 2009 is 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.

Sandton City Shopping Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

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. This year'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.

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



The 2009 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof Design PowerPoint:





Uploaded on authorSTREAM by greenroofs.com


See Linda's Blog Post Greenroofs.com Announces the 2009 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof Design! of June 8, 2009. Check back soon to see the 2009 paper with hyperlinks to each project in The Greenroof Projects Database.



The 2008 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof Design PowerPoint:





Uploaded on authorSTREAM by greenroofs.com



Download the complete PDF:

THE 2008 TOP 10 HOT TRENDS IN GREENROOF DESIGN
by Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA Associate, LEED AP, Greenroofs.com Publisher/Editor & Design Consultant and Haven Kiers, MLA, Design Editor & Design Consultant



The 2007 Top 10 List of Hot Trends in Greenroof Design:
Chic Sustainability, Unique Driving Factors & "Boutique" Greenroofs PowerPoint:





Uploaded on authorSTREAM by greenroofs.com




Download the complete PDF:

HOT TRENDS IN DESIGN 2007:
CHIC SUSTAINABILITY, UNIQUE DRIVING FACTORS & “BOUTIQUE” GREENROOFS
...
by Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA Associate, LEED AP, Greenroofs.com Publisher/Editor & Design Consultant and Haven Kiers, MLA, Design Editor & Design Consultant