Green Roof Creates "Image of a Mountain" in Japan
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 07.23.08
Green roofs are all the rage now, but back in 1995 it was pretty unusual when Emilio Ambasz and Associates extended Fukuoka's Tenjin Central Park with a terraced building covered in gardens. Builder Takenaka calls "a step-shaped rooftop garden in order also to create the image of a mountain as the view from the park."
View from park
"Spatial structure and vegetation structure were selected which produce the time-to-time changes of the four seasons."
"Effluent follows the drainage system of a natural mountain. The system used as a base entails rainwater from the top floor (13th floor) permeating into the soil and following water paths, before permeating through to the step gardens on lower floors, before reaching the ground level."
Metaefficient tells us that " The garden terraces, which reach up to about 60 meters above the ground, contain some 35,000 plants representing 76 species. A huge semicircular atrium and the triangular lobby provide contrast to the greenery, in this space is a symphony hall, offices and shops." ::Metaefficient
More on Green Roofs in TreeHugger:
Green Roofs in Osaka
Newest Green Roof Accessory: Bees
2008 Award-Winning Green Roofs and Walls
Green Roof Photo Gallery
TreeHugger Picks: Green Roofs Go Big-Time
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This is an awesome way to blend buildings into the landscape and almost make them invisible.
I also saw something similar with a cabin in the woods. It was so cool, and way camouflaged...talk about ultimate privacy.
Why aren't all buildings designed like this?
OK, I know it is a "dumb question" but hey, someone has to ask. Anyone knows?
- Martin