A Matter of Taste

Allow me to begin with the following, I am not an architect, designer, or building professional, nor do I question the competence of those who are.

That said, I when I saw the editorial from World Architecture News about the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, I was less than excited about the design.

Although the building is um, striking, I fail to see the connection between the exterior of the building and the storied history of Porsche.

The architects, Delugan Meissi Associated Architects disagree with me and state (from the WAN editorial),

"The exterior is simultaneously engaging and appropriately reflective of the stature and confidence of the brand. Textural surface alterations and varying levels and angles offer a structural complexity reflecting the manufacture of a well-oiled machine, while slashes of glazing allow the building to shine outwardly and beckon passers-by inside, further lured by a gently sloped ramp towards the entrance."

OK, well, to me it looks awkward and lacks to beautiful lines and curves that Porsche is known for. Additionally, it fails to take advantage of the huge flat roof surface for a green roof. Not that my requirements are of any significance to Porsche. I must admit, however, that the interior offers an excellent space to show off these beauties!

You be the judge on the exterior, as these are the photos of the museum.


A Porsche on blocks??


This looks a little more like the whale-tale on the older 911s, just not as tidy.


Can you image how beautiful this would look with simple sedum? It wouldn't have to be a wild-looking grass roof, just a short and simple green roof. I wonder if there are "racing green" colored plants or even plants in the Porsche logo?












This view reminds me of Boba Fett's ship from Star Wars. See what I mean?

While I don't wish to be overly critical, nor to impose my view of the world on anybody, I do wish Porsche could have found used a design more fitting to the Porsche brand. However, if they are committed to this design, perhaps they can investigate using a green roof instead of the bland island of white space. That's just my opinion.

Walmart's Green Roof

Although Walmart is a company that many in the US love to hate, they have been taking some very serious steps in area of sustainability. These steps include a green roof experiment in one of their Chicago-area stores (#5402). $20 Off AeroGardens

According to the green roof supplier, Roofscapes Inc., the 74,000 sq. ft. roof was complete in 2006. Why would I write about something that is 3 years old? Simply, I wanted to see if there was any follow-up.

I have contacted Walmart to get an answer and am eager to share it when I get it. Mountain House Freeze-Dried Food

The most important aspects of this story are the following:

1. Green roofs are commercially desirable, as demonstrated by multiple suppliers.
2. Green roofs are considered valuable to property owners.
3. Green roofs demonstrably reduce storm water runoff and roof temperature.

As an advocate of green roofs, I compliment Walmart on experimenting with them and am eager to hear their results (and hope for more on new Walmarts!).

Green Roof to Cover British Library Storage Campus

World Architecture News. com reports in the 16 Jan 2009 editorial, "HOK’s masterplan proposes “a more distinctive identity for the British Library at Boston Spa, incorporating a clear sense of space with strong design principles reflected in the integration and use of existing landscape.”

As seen in the pictures, HOK's design is to include green roofs on many of the buildings.

These buildings "Up to 80 percent of the library’s total collection of books and the entirety of its newspaper archive..." This is a significant campus design and requires special concerns to protect the items in the collection.

HOK states, "Once completed the Boston Spa site would be the most advanced in the world and, by 2046, the whole of the Library’s collection would be stored in facilities meeting the BS5454 archival storage standard."

Here is another picture of the planned facility.

Green Roof in Lima, Peru

In my previous posts, I have discussed green roofs from all parts of the world, though there has been a strong emphasis on China. Part of this emphasis has been that China is in desperate need of cleaner air, and there appears to be a desire to build more sustainable buildings. $20 Off AeroGardens

However, there are wonderful examples of green roofs throughout the world. This post's example comes from Lima, Peru. According to LivingRoofsinc.com, the picture at the top left is of the LarcoMar commercial center. What looks like just a city park is actually an extensive green roof. LarcoMar is a very popular tourist destination built into the cliffs that bound the Pacific Ocean. It is also home to very high-end retail. Organic Flowers & Gourmet Gifts

So, if you are Lima and looking for that new Versace bag, stop by and see the beauty of this great green roof!

New Green Roof for the Department of the Interior

The US Department of the Interior announced on Dec. 16, 2008 that a green roof located on the 3rd wing of the Main Interior Building in Washington, D.C was completed. The project was a "...partnership among Interior’s Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, the General Services Administration, and the Department’s National Business Center. "

Washington D.C. has been know for storm water runoff issues and the city itself was sued by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to meet EPA guidelines. This new green roof will do the following according to the press release:

• Hold up to .7 inches of rain to reduce stormwater runoff entering the sewage system and reduce streambank erosion.
• Shield the roof from the sun’s direct rays, which extends the roof’s life span, insulates the building during the summer and saves energy as well as mitigates urban “heat island” effects.
• Improve air quality by filtering the air that moves across the plants and, through photosynthesis, convert carbon dioxide into oxygen.
• Provide habitat for songbirds and pollinators.
• Reduce noise transfer from the outdoors.
• Provide a visually attractive sight for employees and visitors.

It has also been reported elsewhere that Interior is planning to put green roofs on all six of its buildings in the District of Columbia. This marks a positive step by the US government to the acceptance and use of green roofs.

Green Roofs, French Style

The French have always been know for their keen style and sense of design. This also now extends to green roofs! Although I haven't spent much time researching the green roofs of France, this one in particular is quite striking. FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50.00 at InhabitLiving.com

Historial de la Vendée, in Lucs-sur-Boulogne, is part of a larger estate, including a period home, gardens, and other structures.

The museum itself, pictured above, was completed in 2006 and houses exhibits detailing the history of Vendee from prehistoric times until the present. The museum is built of concrete, glass, and from the translated version of its website:

• 8 000 m² green roof
• 6 500 m² floor area
• 1000 m² of windows
• 464 tonnes of steel for the frame
• 19 hectares of natural spaces

Below is my interpretation of the description of the roof itself, as the translation isn't quite clear. $20 Off AeroGardens

The roof is stainless steel, topped with triangular steel bed, filled with pre-grown plants from the Black Forest. The roof is composed of a mixture of plants which give the appearance of a prairie, thus integrating the building into the natural scenery.

This appears to be both a beautiful and functional structure that I would like to visit. The entrance fees are very reasonable. For 2008-2009, it is 8 euros per adult over 26, 5 euros for those under 26, and free for children under 18. More information can be found at their website:

http://historial.vendee.fr

London's Newest Green Building

World Architecture News.com posted an editorial about a high-density, multi-use building. This building, called Vauxhall Sky Gardens, will house residential, retail, as well as business units.

From the article:

It is unique for its 2,500 sq m of communal ‘sky-gardens’, each being triple height and on a full floor plate. Shared by their surrounding apartments they expand opportunities and choice for social interaction allowing for the creation of micro-communities within such large and otherwise inherently anonymous blocks.

Another nifty innovation of this design is: "... 9 months of the year enough area to grow a weekly salad box for every household."

While the building doesn't have a green roof per se, it does work to bring the some of the value of green roofs indoors.

The gardens will provide air filtering, additional humidity, as well as increased oxygen in the spaces. Additionally, the green spaces themselves add peace and tranquility to an otherwise ordinary apartment complex.

The two designers were London based Amin Taha Architects with careyjones architects. The client for the building is Fraser Properties.

Washington D.C.'s New Green Roof and Labyrinth

The World Resources Institute issued a press release on 08 October 2008 that the American Psychological Association (APA) has opened a green roof and labyrinth in Washington, DC.

From the press release:

This collaborative effort is part of our overall mission to create open spaces that heal the body, mind, and spirit,” said Mary Wyatt, executive director of TKF Foundation, the lead funder for the project.

The APA, in their decision to create the green roof and labyrinth, realized the benefits of green roofs, namely reduced air pollution and storm water runoff.

Green roofs are not new to Washington DC. The George Washington University put a green roof on one of its student centers. Additionally, Washington, DC city government has provided over $300,000 to reduce storm water runoff.

Organizations such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and World Resources Institute not only encourage the building of green roofs, but also help with funding and managing the projects. This involvement helps to raise awareness of the value of green roofs, as well their contribution to clean air and water.

Another Green City for China

In the 9/25/2008 issue of "China Daily," there is an article titled "China Singapore Team Up on Green City Project."

China, in cooperation with Singapore, is looking to build a new, green city on a piece of land that would otherwise be unsuitable for habitation.

From the article: "The eco city is located in Tianjin's Binhai New Area. It will cover a total of 30 sq km - 20 sq km in Hangu district and 10 sq km in Tanggu district. It is 15 km from the central part of the Binhai New Area, 45 km from downtown Tianjin, and 150 km from Beijing."

The planners are estimating a population of approximately 350,000 when complete in 10-15 years. Additionally, it will have five commercial centers.

From a sustainability point of view, "Clean energy and renewable energy resources - such as wind power, solar energy, underground heat pump and air source heat pump - will reduce carbon emissions in the city. All the buildings in the eco city will have to conform to green architectural design standards." Green roofs are included in the design.

This is the latest in a green building boom in China. Shanghai working on a green roof program, Dongtan is the green city in southern China, and Songjiang, the new green resort being built. In each of these cases, green roofs play a key role in reducing air pollution, the urban heat island effect, storm water runoff, as well as improved energy efficiency.

Interview with Atkins, Part II

This is the second part of the my interview with Atkins regarding the Songjiang resort complex, in Songjiang, China, near Shanghai. Read Part I here, and the original post ("China's Green Resort) here. Many thanks to Atkins for their time and cooperation with this interview.

Assuming the overall project is successful, does Atkins expect other Chinese hotels to use green roofs or event to remodel existing structures to promote cleaner air?
This depends on the context and location. Green roofs have their use and place but not in all situations. However it is our intention to promote green issues in hotel design in appropriate forms in all our projects.

What are the risks to this project? Specifically, are the current global credit situation or the cost of oil creating stress on the project?
Risks are that the budgets may be reduced and thus reduce the sustainability elements in this particular project. However certain features such as the green roof are an integral part of the design and cannot be omitted.

Outside of the Shimao, who are the key stakeholders in the project?
Shimao are the developers. They are currently negotiating with the prospective hotel operators. At the moment, the operator’s identity is confidential.

Has this project inspired inquiries by other hoteliers to create their own Songjiang-type hotels?
Yes we have had inquiries from a number of developers/operators in China as a result of this success. Some have specifically requested for sustainable content within their concepts.

Interview with Atkins, Songjiang's Architect

This article is the first of a two-part interview with Atkins, the architects of the Songjiang resort complex.

Many thanks to Atkins for their time and thoroughness in answering the following questions.

What were the motivations of Shimao to build Songjiang? In particular, why would they choose such a unique design?
The site is within a larger context of the ‘Shimao Wonderland’ development – a themed leisure/tourist destination. The challenge was to successfully develop such a difficult ‘brownfield’ site within this scheme.

What were the key differentiators between Atkins and its main competitors that ultimately led the Shimao to choose Atkins for the Songjiang project?
Our solution successfully integrated ‘green’ elements with the concept. The combination of the ‘green roof’, the’ hanging gardens’ and the underwater aquarium elements clearly expressed the client’s plan for the development. There is an ‘organic’ quality to the design which enables it to fit into the environment so effortlessly.

My readers are very interested in green roofs. What was the motivation to use such a large green roof?
It was the best way to integrate the building into such sensitive environment. The area is known for exceptional landscape and several green hills. This building was conceived as another ‘green hill’, and is meant to be a natural addition to the local landscape. Moreover, the environmental benefits in terms of biodiversity and the benefits to the building through the acoustic and thermal insulation lead to its utilisation.

In modern history, China has seen the natural environment as both a hindrance and a great resource. Is China trying to have both growth and environmental sensitivity with this project?
Yes, this project is intended to express the traditional and respectful attitude of the Chinese to nature. In all our architectural projects around the world we are specifically drawing attention to the importance of sustainability in building and harmony with natural environment.

Green Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio, in the American heartland, is aiming to become a leader in both commercial and residential green roofs.

In an Associate Press story, found on CBS News,

"The City Council on Wednesday became the first in Ohio with a plan to channel grants and loans to residents and businesses to replace tar and shingles with vegetation."

The City Council has recognized the benefits of green roofs, namely storm water runoff management, reduced fine particulate matter air pollution, as well as reducing the urban heat island effect.

The article points out the "how" of how to manage the increased costs of green roofs. Specifically,

"About $5 million a year in below-market-rate loans through the U.S. EPA Clean Water State Revolving Fund will be available starting in 2009 for green roof projects, city officials estimate, along with an undetermined amount of grant money from other EPA funds."

Perhaps this project will be commercial focus on the benefits of green roofs and encourage interest. The key to green roof acceptability is commercial viability. Let's hope that increased visibility and proper marketing can drive demand and bring down prices.

China's Green Resort

China is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and suffers the effects of that rapid growth. Air pollution and storm water runoff effect their major and minor cities.

The Chinese government has acknowledged these problems and has taken steps to improve the situation. One way is through green roofs.

Shanghai has defined targets for the number green roofs (details here) and design firms are lining up for cities' worth of opportunity.



Outside of Shanghai, in the Songjiang district, Atkins has designed the "Songjiang Garden City," with a resort as the focal point. According the Greenroofs.com:

The innovative design of the 400-bed resort hotel stands two levels higher than the rock face of the 100 metre deep quarry and includes underwater public areas and guestrooms... Sustainability is integral to the design ranging from using green roofing for the structures above the ground level to geothermal energy extraction.



As this is part of a larger project, as mentioned above, I will be conducting an interview with Atkins Design to learn more. Until I publish the interview, Greenroofs.com and Atkins both have good articles about this project.

Green Roof on Bus Shelters

In an article from triplepundit, the California Academy of Science is advertising its opening by putting green roofs on a number of bus shelters in the San Francisco area.

This is same museum that I wrote about in July, in a post titled, "California Academy of Science's 2.5 Acre Green Roof,"which discusses the museum and the enormous green roof.

What the triplepundit article doesn't mention is that this marketing scheme is actually a very good thing, for several reasons. First and foremost, air pollution from large diesel vehicles is greatest during acceleration. When the buses pull away from the shelter, those giant black clouds of soot and sulfur dioxide can be mitigated (at least a little) by the shelter green roof. Secondly, the green roof will help keep the shelter about 10% cooler. Finally, the green roof will help reduce runoff, while also capturing the fine particulate matter in the rain as it falls.

Perhaps green roofs on bus shelters is a idea who's time has come. If placed on every shelter in a major metropolitan area, the clean air benefits would likely exceed the cost of acquisition and installation, as well as providing a little bit of green in the urban jungle.

Suntory Creates Synthetic Soil

Suntory, the Japanese company better known for whiskey and other beverages, issued a press release announcing it had created a way to grow green roofs and green walls without soil.

From the press release: "Suntory brings its unique roof-greening system, Midori no Yane (literally, green roof), and wall-greening system, Hana no Kabe (literally, wall of flowers) onto market on March 3, 2008. "

The synthetic soil, known as Pafcal, is made from urethane and is far lighter than organic soil. Wisegeek.com notes: "It looks much like regular soil, and can be used for a variety of planting products. The material is meant to help meet new Tokyo building regulations, which insist that any new building over a certain size limit must have a roof garden to offset carbon dioxide production. "

Let's raise our glasses to Suntory for creating a lighter weight material for growing and promoting green roofs.

Shanghai Green Roofs Grow!

Shanghai gets it! In an article in China Daily, it was reported that "The Shanghai landscaping administration bureau said more than 95,000 sq m of rooftops have been covered in grass and shrubs, very close to the annual target of 100,000 sq m. The city's annual construction of green areas will be about 200,000 sq m this year, the bureau said."

This is fantastic news. Shanghai's air pollution is the third worst in China, only behind Guanzhou and Beijing. The overall commitment to improve the cityscape with green roofs is real, although annual budgets aren't very high. From the article, "The city will spend 5 million yuan ($710,000) this year on the campaign."

Like other government sponsored green roof projects, like those of Chicago, the focus is primarily on government buildings. What is positive to note is scale and commitment of putting green roofs in Shanghai. Again, from the article, "Since the campaign began in 2003, at total 500,000 sq m of Shanghai's rooftops have been covered, more than 80 times the size of Fuxing Park, a popular recreational area in downtown Shanghai."

Let's hope that with the rapid construction in Shanghai, builders and government can work together to get green roofs on as many buildings as possible.

A New Green City for China, Interview Part II

As I have written in the three previous articles (here, here, and here), Dongtan is going to be "...a city powered by local, renewable energy, with super-efficient buildings clustered in dense, walkable neighborhoods; a recycling scheme that re-purposes 90 percent of all waste; a network of high tech organic farms; and a ban on any vehicle that emits CO₂."
To get more information about the project, I have conducted an interview with Arup, the city designer. This is the second of two articles with details from the interview.

So, how does this type of dream city actually get built? The simple answer is money. HSBC and Sustainable Development Capital LLP (SDCL) are going to provide the majority of financing for the development. Both of these companies are natural contributors for this project.

From the HSBC website, "The HSBC Group is named after its founding member, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, which was established in 1865 to finance the growing trade between China and Europe." SDCL, from its site, "SDCL has an exclusive focus on projects which it considers: Have a positive environmental and social impact; Can create attractive levels of return on investment (commercial sustainability); and Are potentially transformational."

Continuing with the theme of balance between sustainability and Chinese design, it also helps to consider the philosophy of Mao Tse-tung, which considered nature an obstacle, and that of Hu Jin Tao, which declared the necessity for ecological balance and sustainability. In both cases, Dongtan will be the area to find that balance, both to sustain a growing population, as well as maintaining the highest ecological standards possible.

The final question I asked was whether Arup was persuing other similar projects? They highlighted two projects, Wanzhuang, in China and Treasure Island Community Development (TICD) in San Francisco. In both cases, sustainability, renewable energy, and ecological protection are the main drivers in the development.

I congratulate all of the parties involved in the Dongtan project and give my best wishes for their success. Further, I would like to thank Arup and its Press Office for being so generous with their time. As the project progresses, it is my intent to provide updates. Additionally, I will do the same for Wanzhuang and Treasure Island.

A New Green City for China, Interview Part I

As I have written in two previous articles (here and here), Dongtan is going to be "...a city powered by local, renewable energy, with super-efficient buildings clustered in dense, walkable neighborhoods; a recycling scheme that re-purposes 90 percent of all waste; a network of high tech organic farms; and a ban on any vehicle that emits CO₂."
To get more information about the project, I have conducted an interview with Arup, the city designer. This is the first of two articles with details from the interview.

As previously mentioned, the development is being led by the Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation (SIIC). My first question was why China wants to build a "green" city, with all of the sustainable elements. The answer can be found in a speech by Chinese President Hu Jintao, at the 17th National Congress. While I am not fond of communist propaganda, he does mention several times the need to improve environmental conditions and reduce pollution.

The second question was why Arup was chosen. While the SIIC didn't comment specifically, Arup has over 30 years experience working in China and also uses a system called Integrated Resource Management (IRM), which is a tool to optimize land use. This tool accounts for water, waste, energy, and living space necessary on a given piece of land. In this case, Dongtan is projected to hold 500,000 people at capacity.

One item that will make this city unique is that Arup has provided a design specification for types of buildings. The specifications allow designers, architects, and developers to provide structures that reflect the Chinese character of Dongtan, while creating a sustainable, green living space. Many of these buildings will also have green roofs! Green roofs reduce utility costs, storm water runoff, as well as CO2 and air pollution. Green roofs also can provide aesthetic benefits for those living in and around the buildings. Since no building will be much over eight stories, these roofs should be visible from street level.

The next article will cover questions regarding financing partners, the potential for similar projects, as well as the public response. Many thanks to Arup for participating in the interview process.

Click here to read the second part of the interview.

A New Green City for China, Dongtan Videos

Below, you will find a three videos about Dongtan, the city in the previous post, "A New Green City for China." Don't forget to also read the interview articles either (Part I, Part II)!

The first video is part one of Alejandro Gutierrez, Program Designer at Arup, talking about Dongtan. The second video is the second half. They are a little hard to hear, but worth the effort.

The third video is a fly-over video, providing an artists impression of what the city will look like.

Please note that I am working on a series of interviews with Arup to further explain the project.

A New Green City for China

**Be sure to read the update with Interview 1, Interview 2, and videos. **
Shanghai has a growing population, heavily polluted air, dirty water, and power shortages. But just a short ferry ride away is a wild-life preserve that will soon become its first green city.

Dongtan, which according to Business Week, "About the size of Manhattan, Dongtan aims to be energy self-sufficient using a combination of wind, solar power, and biofuels." The design is being done by Arup Group, out of London, with Alejandro Gutierrez as the Project Designer. Peter Head is the Project Director, and Roger Wood is the Project Manager. The final customer is Shanghai Industrial Investment Corporation (SIIC), and they will be making the final decisions. Cheap? No. 100% Free. Trade stocks for free on Zecco.com. The Free Trading Community. www.zecco.com

According to Gutierrez, as quoted in Wired Magazine, Dongtan will be "...a city powered by local, renewable energy, with super-efficient buildings clustered in dense, walkable neighborhoods; a recycling scheme that re-purposes 90 percent of all waste; a network of high tech organic farms; and a ban on any vehicle that emits CO₂." Of course, many of these buildings will have green roofs! Water Barrels and Storage

Because this is such an interesting topic, Arup has agreed to be interviewed about the Dongtan project. My goal is to bring you the details of this emerging and fascinating story! Green roofs are going to be a part of this major endeavor, and I predict it will only help their popularity.