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They're called green roofs. It's partly in response to new stormwater management regulations in some areas that mandate that stormwater be retained on the property prior to making its way to the stormwater system and partly because those types of roofs tend to lower cooling costs in the summer.
Here's a green roof--it looks like a park from the air, but this is on top of a multi-story building that actually extends several levels underground. The building was designed this way to allow sunlight to hit the solar array on the next building. Half the park is no longer landscaped because there was a plan to demolish this building and create a new tower, canceled due to budget cuts. It is kind of an elevated oasis and a preferred spot for lunchtime dining in good weather. It was built in the 1970s as part of a series of architectural experiments in state buildings. The view from the park is interesting: several 1950s-70s office buildings, a 1920s funeral home converted into a gym, and two Second Empire mansions, with 21st century office towers poking up behind the older office buildings.
Green roofs keep the building cool in the summer, warmer in the winter, reduce the heat island effect of masses of raw concrete on hot summer days thus combating smog, and they look nice and so raise the property values of the building. They're generally lauded as good for the environment because of the passive way they increase building's efficiency, just by sitting there, looking pretty, and moderating the temperature changes on the roof.
Green roofs keep the building cool in the summer, warmer in the winter, reduce the heat island effect of masses of raw concrete on hot summer days thus combating smog, and they look nice and so raise the property values of the building. They're generally lauded as good for the environment because of the passive way they increase building's efficiency, just by sitting there, looking pretty, and moderating the temperature changes on the roof.
I definitely appreciate the vibrancy and eye-catching looks that the vegetated roofs provide, as I mentioned in the first post, and it makes sense that it has the positive benefits you mention (eg. clean the air, moderate temperature, and increase property/aesthetic value in the city), but one thing I do wonder though is if it's a hassle to maintain the rooftop trees in the gardens as well as if there will be issues with the trees' roots causing wear and tear of the building as it grows (perhaps they can only be allowed to grow a certain size?) as well as if the trees' branches etc. might fall etc. in storms, or need regular maintenance through the year. (perhaps the benefits outweigh those costs, so keep the urban greenery coming ).
This is not a new concept. It has been done in Norway for centuries if not millenia. Though usually one puts a goat up there too so the trees don't get too big. :-)
I definitely appreciate the vibrancy and eye-catching looks that the vegetated roofs provide, as I mentioned in the first post, and it makes sense that it has the positive benefits you mention (eg. clean the air, moderate temperature, and increase property/aesthetic value in the city), but one thing I do wonder though is if it's a hassle to maintain the rooftop trees in the gardens as well as if there will be issues with the trees' roots causing wear and tear of the building as it grows (perhaps they can only be allowed to grow a certain size?) as well as if the trees' branches etc. might fall etc. in storms, or need regular maintenance through the year. (perhaps the benefits outweigh those costs, so keep the urban greenery coming ).
They're almost always potted and usually a dwarf variety. Here are the birches on my roof. They're still young, but I don't think they'll get much bigger.
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