Knowing Roof Garden: History, Benefits, and Applications - The development of modern roof garden (roof garden or green roof) is a relatively new phenomenon. Roof garden technology was first developed in Germany in the 1980s and then spread to other European countries such as Switzerland, the Netherlands, Austria English, Italian, French, and Swedish. Even today, an estimated 10% of all buildings in Germany has a rooftop garden. In addition to Germany, Austria (Linz city) has developed a roof garden project since 1983, as well as the Swiss began to intensively develop the roof garden since 1990.
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| The Green Rooftop - Image by Google |
In the UK, London and Sheffield city authorities have even made a special policy regarding the development of a roof garden. Development of a roof garden is also popular in the United States although less intensively than in Europe. In America, the roof garden concept was first developed in Chicago, then became popular in Atlanta, Portland, Washington, and New York (Wikipedia, 2008). Several countries in Asia such as Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, China, and Singapore were activists in the rooftop garden project.
The existence of a roof garden, especially in large cities (metropolitan) has an important role as well as other green spaces. The threat to the existence of green space from the development of city infrastructure can be offset or compensated by developing the common rooftop. Generally, benefits from a garden roof (roof garden) is as follows (Green Rooftops, 2008, Holladay, 2006):
Reducing the level of air pollution, the vegetation on the roof garden can transform pollutants (toxins) in the air into harmless compounds through resignation, roof gardens also play a role in stabilizing the amount of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere of the city so as to suppress the greenhouse effect, Lowering the temperature, the presence of roof garden can reduce the effects of heat radiation from the sun and from the walls of the ground (heat island effect), water conservation, roof garden can keep most of the water comes from rain water that provides a mechanism evaporation-transpiration more efficient, reduce noise pollution / noise, the composition of the vegetation on the roof garden has a good potential for reducing the noise that comes from outside the building (the noise of the motor vehicle or industrial activities) Showing the beauty aspect of the building (aesthetics), as well as the function of the park in general, garden roof (green roof) provides development aspects beauty that looks more alive, beautiful, and comfortable, increasing biodiversity diversity of the city, the roof garden can serve as the hub for the movement and habitat organisms (animals) between green space in urban areas.
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| Images by Google |
Based on the total cost (maintenance) is needed, the depth of the soil (growing media), and the type of plants used, roof garden is divided into three kinds, namely (The Site.org Environment, 2006):
Extensive roof garden (Green Roof wide), the type of roof garden maintenance cost is low enough, the growing media (soil) is shallow, and the plant used is a light ornamental plant garden. Roof scales are light and narrow buildings are widely used in homes that are not too area such as a garage, roofs, terraces, or walls.
Extensive roof garden Semi (Semi-Extensive Green Roof), a roof garden has a depth of planting medium (soil) over a spacious roof garden, can accommodate a large number of plants and more decorative. The roof garden requires a stronger structure and weight.
Roof Garden Intensive (Intensive Green Roof), a roof garden has a broad measure of the structure of a large and powerful, able to accommodate various types of small and large plants (trees) .Taman roof of this type are widely used in large buildings (skyscrapers) and can be used as recreational facilities.
The rooftop garden also has many advantages are many. Benefits The benefits of roof gardens include:
1. The benefits of ecology
- Can create a cool microclimate.
- Inviting animals - animals such as birds and other poultry.
- Preserving other plants.
- Reduce air pollution.
2. Technical Advantages
- For inhibiting the rate of rainwater.
- as a protective roof, so that the concrete becomes more durable.
- can reduce urban noise.
3. Advantages for building owners
- The more durable roof of the building so that the cost of care more efficient.
- Adding a new room that will be used.
- and can certainly improve the marketability of the building.
In urban areas, most of the space is filled with great buildings (skyscrapers), has great potential to be developed park roof (roof garden). Application roof garden is now widespread, not confined to the building of skyscrapers, but it can be developed in the construction of the home, though. Applications rooftop garden can be done in urban areas (urban areas), in office buildings, shopping malls, hotels, apartments, or flats, the area or the residential complex (housing), in industrial areas such as factories, and in other places such as amusement parks (recreation), museums, schools, universities, hospitals, airports, stations, libraries, and so forth (Green Rooftops, 2008).
Some examples of buildings that are equipped with roof garden including ACROS building (Asian Crossroads Over the Sea) in the city of Fukuoka, Japan, Namba Park in Osaka, Japan, Chicago City Hall, United States, Ballard Library in Seattle, USA; Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Singapore, the Horniman Museum and Canary Wharf in London, England, museum L'Historial de la Vendée, France, and the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, USA. via Graniterock
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