I picked up The Professional Design Guide to Green Roofs at the San Francisco Garden Show several years ago, after attending a presentation by two of its authors. Green Roofs was written by Karla Dakin, Lisa Lee Benjamin, and Mindy Pantiel, and published by Timber Press (Portland, Oregon 2013). The authors are professional landscapers with portfolios of significant roof top and ground-based landscape projects, and a network of roof top landscapers around the world.
Green Roofs is comprised of two sections. Part One: Inspiration—Form and Function describes finding inspiration for designs from nature and culture. Chapters include Shapes and Patterns, Creating Living Spaces, Wildlife Friendly Spaces, and Plant-Driven Environments. Part Two: Process focuses on project management for the professional landscaper. Chapters take the reader through the processes of predesign, site analysis, client program, planning and conceptual design, design development and construction, and contracts, construction, and maintenance. The final chapter, The Evolving Frontier of Landscape Design, casts vision for the future of roof top gardens in the urban landscape. The back matter includes a bibliography, acknowledgments and credits, a chart of USDA climate zones, and a thorough index.
The book is filled with beautiful photographs that illustrate concepts and serve as a portfolio of projects installed by the authors and other green roof landscapers. Their projects include both living spaces and living meadows, depending on the weight the roof can bear. I especially appreciated learning about the the move toward providing green roofs in the urban settings for practical reasons, like filtering rain water, lowering the heat island effect, and providing a habitat for pollinators and migrating birds (imagine an aerial wildlife corridor through busy cities where migrating birds can touch down for rest and nourishment). Green roofs can also provide a space for city dwellers to seek respite from urban life, and enjoy fantastic views.
I was also pleased to see some favorite titles in the bibliography, like Thomas Church's Gardens are for People; Theodore H. Osmundson's Roof Gardens: History, Design, and Construction; and Tim Richardson's Futurescapes: Designers for Tomorrow's Outdoor Spaces (as well as many other new titles to explore). With a growing population and spreading cities, the ancient idea of green roofs is a timely vision for the future.
Green Roofs is comprised of two sections. Part One: Inspiration—Form and Function describes finding inspiration for designs from nature and culture. Chapters include Shapes and Patterns, Creating Living Spaces, Wildlife Friendly Spaces, and Plant-Driven Environments. Part Two: Process focuses on project management for the professional landscaper. Chapters take the reader through the processes of predesign, site analysis, client program, planning and conceptual design, design development and construction, and contracts, construction, and maintenance. The final chapter, The Evolving Frontier of Landscape Design, casts vision for the future of roof top gardens in the urban landscape. The back matter includes a bibliography, acknowledgments and credits, a chart of USDA climate zones, and a thorough index.
The book is filled with beautiful photographs that illustrate concepts and serve as a portfolio of projects installed by the authors and other green roof landscapers. Their projects include both living spaces and living meadows, depending on the weight the roof can bear. I especially appreciated learning about the the move toward providing green roofs in the urban settings for practical reasons, like filtering rain water, lowering the heat island effect, and providing a habitat for pollinators and migrating birds (imagine an aerial wildlife corridor through busy cities where migrating birds can touch down for rest and nourishment). Green roofs can also provide a space for city dwellers to seek respite from urban life, and enjoy fantastic views.
I was also pleased to see some favorite titles in the bibliography, like Thomas Church's Gardens are for People; Theodore H. Osmundson's Roof Gardens: History, Design, and Construction; and Tim Richardson's Futurescapes: Designers for Tomorrow's Outdoor Spaces (as well as many other new titles to explore). With a growing population and spreading cities, the ancient idea of green roofs is a timely vision for the future.
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