The meadow on the roof

Making green roofs is advantageous in terms of energy and building image

The idea of covering roofs with greenery has roots in traditional construction practices. With respect to surfaces made with stone or terracotta – which facilitate drainage – the so-called green roof is based on a different concept.

Rain, in fact, is partially stored and released very slowly: it penetrates the soil which acts as a substrate for the plants, nourishing grasses and assisting with their metabolic processes.

The development of waterproofing techniques, the careful study of strata and substrates and the search for botanical species that can stand up to long dry spells have led to the rediscovery of this rural tradition, transformed into an advanced construction process increasingly in demand for urban settings.

This is the case of the Groener Wonen residential building recently completed in Lent (Netherlands) and featuring a daring green roof, which clearly stands out from the neighboring buildings with its 45° pitched roof.

The reduction of heat dispersion is remarkable, along with the performance in terms of acoustic insulation, provided by the layer of soil placed on the roof. The insertion of Fakro roof windows, installed with strategic solutions to guarantee maximum resistance to humidity, makes the interiors very luminous.

The whole building – including the roof windows – has been made with natural and sustainable materials like wood and glass. Groener Wonen demonstrates that today it is possible to build in tune with nature and to live in spaces flooded with light, using healthful ecological materials.

#architecture #sustainability

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