"green roof"

This community engagement project for YMCA in Milton Keynes featured Wallbarn M-Tray on a roof space which acted as a leisure and social area for the students and residents of the YMCA campus in Milton Keynes. It also featured in the training and development of young people with learning difficulties and with challenging upbringings to learn about construction and green roofing, being able to gain NVQ qualification and further certification for installing green roofs.The green roof will be moved in its entirety to a new premises in early 2022 where the benefits of the M-Tray system are fully demonstrated. Rather than have to dig up tonnes of loose aggregate, established sedum and wildflower planting and sheet drainage materials; each module can be simply lifted up and transported via pallets to the its new home the other side of Milton Keynes at the new YMCA building. As this new premises will house many of the young people using YMCA services, this new green roof becomes their green roof to enjoy.

This project involved the construction of a Data Centre just outside Dublin, with a focus on incorporating a green roof. MOY collaborated with the client, their design team, the main contractor, and the roofing installer to execute the roof installation for an extensive green roof. The green roof utilized MOY's Paraflex FM Global approved Warm Roof System, featuring Paratherm T 120mm insulation board and an anti-root cap sheet. The final touch included the installation of a sedum blanket grown in Ireland, containing native Irish sedum species registered in the national biodiversity database, creating a durable and vibrant living roof.

This project had incredibly restricted access, where the client wanted a green roof on an existing bitumen rooftop overlooked by hotel rooms. The M-Trays® had to be transported on a trolley through the hotel kitchens. They were winched onto the roof itself using a genie lift and slotted into position in a matter of hours. Trying to construct a roll-out green roof was impossible, given the restricted access. Installation was fast and effective, taking only a day and giving an instant green roof. M-Tray® dramatically improved the view from the rooms and improved the guests’ experience.

Boughton’s Intensive green roof substrate has been successfully trialled in a ground-breaking analysis project at Coventry University assessing the feasibility of ‘greening’ landscapes with ecological beneficial habitats.  With the objective being to research the benefits and plausibility of incorporating green space and wildlife-friendly habitats into heavily built-up areas, Coventry University handpicked Boughton’s Intensive IN1 substrate based on its nutrient content, weight, and the inclusion of a water supply in chambers beneath the sub-base.The majority of green roofs in the UK fall into the ‘extensive’ category and are based on a low growing succulent, Sedum, which only requires a few centimetres of substrate to grow, whilst intensive green roofs provide a deeper soil depth and can support a more complex plant system. To this end, Coventry University wanted to explore the advantages of intensive green roofs, which offer greater biodiversity, often create accessible spaces, and offer the best insulation properties and storm water management. The organisation partnered with SEL Environmental, who provided its intelligent water management systems for the project.Boughton’s Intensive IN1 substrate boasts greater organic content than extensive substrates, meaning it supports larger plants and can be installed at greater depths, varying from 100-500cm. IN1 provides a stable growing medium for wide variety of plants in intensive green roof installations, including green roof lawns, shrubs and trees.Depending on the substrate depth and plant type, permanent irrigation systems (above or below ground) are sometimes installed with this substrate to as a backup for extended dry periods. They are not required for everyday irrigation, as the substrate has the ability to hold onto sufficient moisture during ambient conditions. The project, funded by Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) and headed up by Sophie Barron-West, followed plant growth for four years from 2017, with a break due to Covid 19. Dr Stephen Coupe and Dr Liz Trenchard from the University’s Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience (CAWR) offered their research expertise.CAWR’s Dr Stephen Coupe says: “The technical requirements of Boughton IN1 were a big part of why we chose it. We also wanted the chance to get as many wildflowers in the space as possible. The nutrient levels were perfect because it wasn’t too rich. In fact, it was a ‘just right’ formulation that wasn’t going to overstimulate but would also deliver enough nutrients for what we needed. Ultimately it was going to be perfect for long-term sustainable plant growth.”He continues: “Reliability was another consideration because we knew we could get it delivered on site on time and, because of Boughton’s location in Kettering, we weren’t concerned about lead times, so that was a plus. It’s safe to say it was a studied choice.”Ground-breaking resultsAccording to the University, the trial resulted in ground-breaking analysis into how different types of green roofs can be created and maintained, as well as what their benefits would be alongside others in a built-up area.  The project successfully demonstrated the ecological impact of placing retrofit green roofs onto existing infrastructure, even with a focus on wildflower species and a relatively short development time. An independently-conducted ecological survey recorded five insect species that have national and local rarity value, including two species of bee that are deemed ‘nationally scarce’ and ‘nationally rare’. Of 457 preserved specimens taken on the green roofs at Coventry University, a total of 120 different insect species were recorded, including wasps, sawflies, hoverflies, beetles, and as many as 11 species of bee.  Coventry University’s findings revealed that the innovation in green roofs has improved and increased the total constructed habitat for rare insects. Research has also enabled better water management alongside habitat enhancement. This research has been incorporated into SEL’s product range, where green roofs are now used across four sites in Coventry, London, Aylesford and Blackburn. CAWR’s Dr Stephen Coupe said: “Ecology, biodiversity and wildlife are largely forgotten by planners, designers and builders in developments. Most green roofs installed in the UK are based on sedum, and, while there are additional features that can be added to these green roofs to improve biodiversity, they are rarely incorporated. Our findings, using Boughton’s Intensive green roof substrate, are that the retrofit of green roofs is feasible and, more than four years into development, IN1 has supported verifiably diverse green roofs. The plants on these roofs supported several insects that have rarity status in the UK, which is very positive.” Dr Coupe adds: “Whilst it is probable that substrates take many years to develop anything like the maturity comparable to natural soil, after just four years, IN1 went from having no recordable eukaryotes, to a concentration of organisms, including worms, soil mites and rotifers.”  Boughton Business Development Manager, Jason Lock comments: “Boughton was delighted to be part of this groundbreaking project and buoyed by such positive findings. Our products have been used successfully in a number of iconic green roof developments around the country over the years but it was a pleasure to be involved in such an important trial that would deliver verifiable results assessing the potential for green roofs to create new habitats in urban environments and enhancing local ecological diversity. Boughton offers an extensive range of green roof substrates and we welcome any research that helps further innovation around the application of green roofs.” The experiment at Coventry University is ongoing and the team are set to feed back again at the end of the summer about how prolonged dry weather has affected results. Dr Coupe says: “The beauty of this project is that there is no general timeline for a piece of green space. We need funding to support our ongoing investigations but there are options and opportunities for long-term research. It can last for the lifespan of the site and I think we will see really interesting developments. There is no reason why, over time, these green spaces would be indistinguishable from an existing habitat.” Boughton’s portfolio of green roof substrates are specifically engineered for different types of roof greening, both for domestic and commercial projects. A full product specification is available for each of Boughton’s Green Roof Substrates, and other landscaping products, making exact specification simple and straightforward. There’s also a section on each product listed online, titled ‘to specify (copy & paste)’, designed to make your job even easier. To enquire about your next project, contact Boughton by calling (01536) 510515 or email sales@boughton.co.uk.

This project involved a brand new Starbucks drive-thru being built in West London where the customer wanted the overlooked rooftop to be green. The customer was able to give the basic dimensions to our team and describe how they wanted the roof laid out. We then calculated the exact quantity of units needed with our inhouse software and gave delivery and installation guidance to the contractor and end client. Wallbarn also supplied the materials for the semi-extensive border including geotextile fleece, drainage board and our specially-developed substrate for a comprehensive green roof solution,

The Flower Bowl is a large new build leisure complex in in a semi-rural Lancashire location close to Preston. It offers a range of attractions, including an indoor bowling alley, a curling rink, a crazy golf course and golf simulator, a cinema and restaurants.Green roof components:Sika Liquid Plastics‘ Decothane Root Resistant.Sika Liquid Plastics‘ Decotherm insulation.S-VAP 500e Vapour Control and Moisture Barrier Layer.Green Roof Detailing Coat.

Luxury coastal apartments able to withstand the elements with Sika roofing system. Owing to its beautiful coastal location, The Liner, a nautical-inspired £35 m residential new-build in Falmouth, presented a compelling roofing challenge. Exeter-based roofing contractor, Progressive Systems, assisted by Sika, took on the task, installing a roof to withstand the harsh seaside conditions with an immaculate finish.Green roof composed of:Sika® Sarnafil® G410 18EL PVC Single Ply Waterproofing Membrane.Sarnavap® 5000E SA Vapour Control Layer.Sarnafil® Primer 610.Sarnatherm® ‘G’ insulation.Sikalastic® 625.Sarnafil® G445-13 PVC Protection Sheet.Sika® Green Roof System.

The client desired a green roof at the back of this beautiful family home. Access was very restricted. The speed and ease of transporting and installing our modular trays meant minimum disruption for the homeowner. Trays were delivered to site on pallets and handballed to the roof. The modules were laid down onto a geotextile fabric. Pebbles were then laid around the perimeter between the trays and any outlets to provide the required firebreak. Vegetation blended quickly creating a seamless green roof and, looking out from the upper floors, a sense of continuity from the house across the garden.

Raithwaite Hall is a 5 star, 45 bed boutique hotel set in 85 acres of wooded valleys within the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. The hotel offers terraced views of the landscape and across the Whitby coastline. A new extension was designed that is built against the hillside with stepped landscaped areas around the new building and an intensive green roof terrace to help blend the structure in with the surrounding gardens.The intensive green roof terrace is installed directly above a new function and dining room and required a specialised design to accommodate the additional loading and provide the necessary drainage for the turf lawn.     By utilising a multi-purpose geocomposite roof drainage board, the green roof system could be achieved to meet the project specific requirements. The ABG Deckdrain 2540S-NW20XUV product offers a lightweight option that delivers the equivalent drainage capacity of 300mm of drainage stone in a 25mm layer that weighs over a 100 times less per square metre. The lightweight drainage layer is supplied in rolls and is fast to install and move into position. The Deckdrain layer includes an integrated filter geotextile bonded to the top of the cuspated core. This prevents the growing media layer from intruding into the drainage void and filters the soil to prevent clogging. The Deckdrain is made from a high strength HDPE core that supports the 200mm deep layer of growing media required for the intensive green roof installation with deeper root systems. The underside of the product is impermeable and provides additional protection to the liquid waterproofing membrane. A green roof surface finish further helps to prolong the lifespan of the waterproofing layer and prevent UV degradation. The large grassed area on the podium also reduces surface water run-off and the grass is protected against waterlogging via the efficient drainage board layer. The shallow drainage build-up required also reduces the height of the steps onto the terrace and the associated cost of stone flags. The completed installation encompasses a 20mm Roofdrain drainage & reservoir board to support a secondary smaller sedum roof area, as well as Deckdrain layers installed for structural drainage to the surfaces around the patio slab and retaining wall areas.ABG provided a full green roof project design, installation and maintenance service for the project.

The challenge was to incorporate a green roof finish both flat and curved to the roof areas. The roof pitch being as steep as 45 degrees in places, a pitch not conducive with a green roof system. ABG used their expertise in green roof and slope stabilisation to make the curved green roof possible. The system incorporated a series of anchor points, reinforcement geogrid (Trigrid), and geocellular technology (Erosaweb) to retain growing medium on each roof. The Green Roof system incorporates a SMART rain sensor and automated irrigation pipe system with each finger haveving its own dedicated mains operated tank

Despite the challenges posed by completing construction and opening during the first lockdown, the new Skelton Lake Motorway Services project opened in March 2020 as planned, providing essential services to hauliers and key workers travelling during the start of the pandemic. The project incorporates an extensive green roof build-up to minimise the visual and physical impacts of the development on the surrounding country park and to enhance the biodiversity of the project.The wildflower green roof design provides multiple environmental benefits; including provision of a new habitat for local insect and bird life, helping to lower the site’s carbon emissions by absorbing heat emitted from the building into the cooler roof surface - reducing the air conditioning demand in the summer months. The green roof build-up also provides a level of insulation against heat loss in winter. 

New school construction with biosolar wildflower roof system. Selection of sedum and native wildflower species pre-planted into M-Tray modular green roof trays for fast and easy access to and installation on single ply roof membrane. Client increased thermal insulation, reduced rainwater run-off, achieved energy savings, protected the waterproofing membrane and attracted wildlife to the roof space.The wildflower / PV roof system will feature in students' learning projects in the future.

In the Peak District National Park with views of Cressbrook Dale and the Monsal trail, a thermal bridging solution developed by Owens Corning FOAMGLAS® is helping to deliver high levels of thermal performance for a new, modern home with a minimal space heating demand.The Quarry is a mostly single storey, green-roofed dwelling set on the site of a former shallow stone quarry. Working with John Pardey Architects (JPA), client Will Griffiths secured permission for a modern design faced with traditional materials to ensure a development that sits comfortably within the landscape.

A good example of the before and after effects of laying a sedum roof garden and accompanying deck and paved area onto a small domestic roof terrace. All these products are designed to sit on top of the waterproof membrane (in this case single ply) there was no issue of damage to the roof. The support pads lifted the decking off the roof, eliminating the risk of the timber piercing the membrane, and drainage was maintained through the roof surface since the green roof system has a cavity beneath its own reservoir and drainage layer to allow water run-off.

The Green Roofs Consultancy report looked to the provision of Green Bio diverse roof to address the need to encourage additional species. The ABG Green Bio diverse Roof System includes a mixture of plug planted sedum, cuttings and seeded annual and perennial wildflowers. ABG Roofdrain was used as a reservoir and drainage base layer to optimise water retention and prevent ponding. Special provisions were made to create hibernicula for local endangered species. The roof will benefit the building by providing additional insulation and reducing noise pollution.The roofs substrate filters out dust and pollutants helping improve the environment nearby

Silverlakes eco village in Dorset is a new build venture where the client wanted to achieve maximum sustainability.The houses, boat houses, garages and also communal areas such as the leisure centre required green roofs and M-Tray® was chosen due to its ease of transport and installation, and its square modular nature. Pre-grown, healthy sedum plants inside the plastic trays were laid onto the flat roofs across the village, providing an attractive dressing and improving storm water attenuation, thermal insulation and a magnet for wildlife.

The client contacted us in urgent need of a green roof solution before a project handover. Green roof was part of the planning application. Pre-grown panels with patented design were delivered on pallets and lifted to the roof via forklift. The ingenious connecting system means each module clicks to its neighbour tightly and securely so once installed, the sedum has a seamless appearance. The plants are a mixture of sedum species ideal for the UK climate. They are well rooted into Wallbarn's bespoke substrate and fully mature. 250 sqm of green roof was installed in 1 day.

When developing new buildings, it is always important to consider the environmental impact. Responsible sourcing of materials is high on every priority list, along with reducing waste to landfill. But what about the local impact, such as the effects on local wildlife? A living roof/green roof system, such as the one installed by the Premier Contractor at Seaford Head Golf Club, is a very clear example of the steps that can be taken towards reducing this impact and providing an alternative space for wildlife to inhabit. A warm roof system was installed onto a structural plywood deck, after which a vapour barrier and insulation boards were mechanically fastened to provide both thermal efficiency and air leakage control. After the underlying installation had been suitably restrained in accordance with a site-specific wind uplift calculation, the roof membrane was mechanically fastened to complete the waterproofing system. Our PVC roof membranes have been tested and can be utilised without the need for additional root prevention barriers (test standard EN 13948), and because PVC is extremely lightweight, they are the perfect choice for these applications, reducing pressure on the underlying structure. In conjunction with our Living Roof/Green Roof specialists, a site-specific living roof system was supplied and installed over the completed waterproofing.Waterproofing System:DANOSA Single Ply 1.5mm - AnthraciteConstruction Type:New BuildWarm RoofSector:LeisureApprox. Size:900m2Warranty Period:20 Years

The Protec System was used to waterproof the domed green roof areas of this striking, sustainable house development which was featured on Chanel 4’s Grand Designs. With an ambitious vision and a tight budget, Robert and Milla Gaukroger set about transforming a dated 1980’s house overlooking Lake Windermere into a state-of-the-art, eco-conscious home. Since the house lay in beautiful hillside surroundings, in order to blend into this setting, the domed roofs of the house were to be covered with a wildflower meadow mix to provide a green roof construction.The SolutionThe Protec System was chosen as a waterproofing membrane for the roofs as it is ideally suited for green roof applications. Lightweight, flexible and highly durable, the system can easily accommodate structural expansion movements and is tough enough to resist root penetration. The Protec system was applied to over 350m2 of domed roof to provide a long-lasting waterproofing membrane.The key reasons why Eastleigh chose Protec are the same reasons that has seen it become one of the fastest growing cold-applied liquid roofing systems in both the new build and refurbishment markets. Combined with the timber cladding to the verticals of the building, the finished aesthetics of the development blended seamlessly with the surrounding areas.A warm roof build-up that can be made waterproof at multiple stages:For larger projects the Protec system can be made temporarily waterproof at two stages prior to the application of the full waterproofing system. The first stage is upon installation of the sealed, aluminium-faced vapour barrier.The second phase follows the reinforcing of the foil-faced insulation board joints with Protec resin and taping mat. This enables a much more controlled approach to the installation with a greatly reduced chance of rain causing disruption and damage during the works.Highly flexible membrane:Regardless of the size of the roof, Protec forms a homegenous membrane, without a single joint or seam and without the need for any expansion joints.RapidCure technology for quick installation:The application of Protec as a liquid, through to the curing process where a solid, tough membrane that can be walked over, takes only 30 – 60 minutes. This enables large sections of the roof to be fully completed in a short space of time.Installing the Roofing SystemsThe Protec System provided waterproofing to all flat roof areas as well as the extensive parapet wall sections. The roof areas were made up of two designs: the Protec Warm Roof System (approx 7,500m2) and Protec applied to concrete as part of an inverted roof design (approx 1,000m2).The roof installation was carried out with a planned, phased approach that was synchronised to the wider construction schedule. For the warm roof areas, the first stage was to fill the troughs of the structural metal roof deck with acoustic insulation infills that will dampen external noise within the leisure centre. Next, the crowns of the deck were primed ready to receive the self-adhesive vapour barrier.The use of a high-performance aluminium vapour barrier not only eliminates the risk of condensation within the roof, but also provides temporary waterproofing protection, which is extremely useful on larger works such as this.The Polyroof RES Insulation boards, which comprised of a two layer system totalling 170mm to achieve a U-Value of 0.14 W/m2K, were bonded using high-performance PU adhesive to the vapour barrier. Following the wind uplift calculations it was determined that mechanical fixings were not required for this application – making for an extremely rapid installation. As you can probably imagine, fixing through 170mm of insulation into the crowns of the metal deck can be a tricky and time-consuming task.A key advantage of using a tongue and groove insulation system is that the finished surface of the roof is smooth and level without any unsightly board steps that can also lead to standing water issues. The insulation board joints were sealed using Protec resin with Polymat Taping Mat 450 which, in addition to providing additional strength to the joints, also creates a temporarily waterproof layer.For the inverted roof sections, Protec was applied directly to the primed concrete/screed surface. The membrane was inspected by Polyroof Technical Services, signed off and then covered with inverted roof components. An interesting fact when using Protec in inverted roof situations is its incredible durability performance – as tested by the BBA, Protec “can provide an effective barrier to the transmission of liquid water and water vapour for the design life of the roof in which it is incorporated”.Monitoring and CompletionThroughout the duration of the contract, Polyroof Technical Services carried out regular site visits that were reported back to Interserve as part of Polyroof’s free-of-charge contract monitoring service. This enabled the client to keep up-to-date with the progress of the roof installation in detail and also provided peace of mind that the original specification was being closely followed and implemented.Polyroof worked closely with the Roofline Group during the installation, enabling the challenges were identified and solved in an efficient and coordinated manner – saving the client time and money.

A new car park has been constructed near the Hornschuchpromenade in Fürth and covered with an extensive green roof system. The car park has capacity for 380 cars and has been designed by The Max Bögl Group (MBG) with ease of construction, cost efficiency, visual impact and low maintenance in mind. In collaboration with contractors Isobautec, they selected MobiRoof green roof system from Mobilane as the most suitable option to cover the 1300 square metre roof expanse.

Mayfair, London Our modular green roof solution, the M-Tray®, has transformed what was previously a fairly unsightly bitumen rooftop at a Mayfair hotel into a beautiful green space for guests to enjoy. Conversion of the 13sqm space was awarded to Wallbarn after we successfully completed the hotel group’s first green roof project at the Radisson Heathrow. Being so easy to transport our M-Trays®were selected as the fastest and most efficient way of converting the unused space into a lush, green and aesthetically-pleasing space. The installation only took half a day with minimal disturbance to guests.

Our client was a major nursery stock grower in British Columbia with a very large sedum green roof project in Vancouver. The architect was concerned about future-proofing the green roof and wanted to ensure that, if ever they had issues with their waterproofing seal or any other aspect of the structure, the green roof could be taken up without too much disruption. It was decided that a modular solution would be the best route. M-Tray® was included in a worldwide competition to find the most suitable modular design and was judged as the best product available.

Green innovation was at the forefront of designs for a stunning, award-winning family home created at Manaton, in the heart of secluded Dartmoor. Rhepanol hg was selected for the three distinctive green roofs that help to shape the character of the large, four bedroom Devon property, which incorporates a raft of measures to minimise its environmental impact.

This project involved a high-rise office being refurbished. Being in the Central London and nearing completion meant a busy site. Ultra fast and mess-free installation was essential. M-Tray®’s were delivered to site on pallets and quickly unloaded. The M-Tray®’s stackable design meant it was easy to transport through the (finished) building and elevator. The individual trays were then carried up the final flight of stairs to the rooftop. As the trays simply clip together they are quick and easy to install. In just 4 hours a the roof space was transformed into a green roof.

Green roofing forms a key part of roof design as part of a model for sustainable living in 21st century London. Barking Riverside is a joint venture project between Bellway Homes and the Homes & Community Agency. It is an element of the Mayor of London’s plan to build 10,800 new homes, retail, transport links and new town facilities in the Barking region of East London.

The new generation of M-Tray® modules were used on this office building in Poklington, Yorkshire. This project was in the heart of the Vale of Yorkshire, within and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and planning sensitivities dictated a green roof was needed on the office building. The clients wanted the existing farm buildings, which had been converted into offices and storage space, to blend into the hillside with the structures having the very lowest impact on the surrounding countryside.The timber framed building meant a low weight solution was required so the 100mm deep pre-grown modules were ideal.

Architect: Scenario Architecture. This beautiful Victorian villa received an innovative green-roofed extension full of natural light thanks to IDSystems installed bifold doors, gable end glazing, rooflights, window and door. The challenge for Scenario Architecture was to design an extension that was filled full of natural light, took into account the changing floor levels of the property. Under the pitched roof, the gable end glazing has been designed to perfectly match the profiles of the SUNFLEX SF75 bifold doors, whilst the inclusion of a single access door allows the extension to angle away to create a larger kitchen/dining area.

Stow House is a boutique bed and breakfast set in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. They had the Topseal waterproofing roofing system installed and a sedum roof to finish the new extension.

FDT harnessed the most modern roofing materials and advanced 21st century technological know-how to help preserve one of Europe’s most remarkable ancient monuments, 5,000-year-old Skara Brae. The designated World Heritage Site, a fascinating commune of small interlinked stone dwellings, is one of the most-visited tourist attractions on the historic Orkney islands and offers up to 60,000 visitors a year an unparalleled taste of life in Neolithic Orkney.

The Koster TPO Single Ply membrane was selected to waterproof the flat roof on this new build development. The design called for a warm roof system installed over a timber deck followed by a sedum blanket (on protection membrane).Koster TPO 2mm Fleeceback membrane was used as it is highly resistant against mechanical damage, fully weldable so no weaknesses and it will not contaminate any of the planting such as a PVC membrane would.The Slate Grey RAL 7015 colour was selected to compliment the Zinc cladding.

Blue-green roof solution on a London dwellingCHALLENGE8a Belmont Street comprises two unique semi-detached dwellings, which have been constructed in Chalk Farm, London by a private developer Maygrove Projects in collaboration with Martin Evans Architects. The total roof area covers only 55.03m² but features an unusual roof design; it is divided into five sections comprising two glazed roofs and three blue roof areas. For this warm roof construction, an alternative durable waterproofing was sought, suitable for blue roof application. SOLUTION Approved Roofing Contractor Gribben Solar Roofing provided an alternative blue roof solution to the original design proposed by the project architects, fully complying with their needs. Together with partner and single ply manufacturer RENOLIT they proposed a waterproofing solution for the blue roof in the form of a fully bonded RENOLIT ALKORPLAN L35A77 membrane, to be combined with the RENOLIT ALKORPLAN Green roof system. So, actually, a blue-green roof!

A sense of community, abundant greenery and lake views on the roof terrace for all residentsThe housing fair is held annually in Finland. In 2021, it will be held in a scenic location in Lohja, Southern Finland. An interesting partnership quarter will also be put up in the fair area, where a sense of community has especially been taken into account in the planning. A block of 34 modern and energy-efficient apartments. The principal designer of the site is the architect Sasu Alasentie from UKI Arkkitehdit.”The idea behind the whole quarter is a sense of community. The flats in the building do not have their own saunas, but instead a communal use sauna will be constructed on the roof terrace. You can see the wonderful lake scenery from the roof and by utilising the roof terrace we wanted to ensure views of the lake to all residents. The yard areas of the quarter are fairly compact, but the roof terrace creates more greenery and communal outside areas for all the residents to use. We also hope that this will increase the residents’ team spirit and sense of community,” says Sasu Alasentie about the basis of the planning. ”On the roof terrace, we will also build an individual planting box for each resident, where they can cultivate herbs, flowers or whatever plants they want. A small summer kitchen corner and dining area will also be built there, as well as hanging chairs for lounging around. All in all, the area will hopefully become a communal, green oasis to spend time in, for all the residents,” says Sasu Alasentie. ”When we were choosing materials for the terrace, it was important to us that they would be in keeping with the building’s ecological nature and energy efficiency. Together with the contractor, we decided on the UPM ProFi Piazza composite for the terrace material. What appealed to us about it was particularly its durability and that it was easy to look after. Naturally also the fact that it’s made of recycled material, which fits well with the environmentally-friendly ideology of the whole building. I believe that in future projects, environmental friendliness and materials made from recycled materials will become even more popular,” says Sasu Alasentie.  

The design in this project was to have a Green Roof and warm roof system The aim was to place standard green roofs which retains water but allows most of the rainfall to run into buried SuDS tanks. Following consultation with ABG the design was changed to the ABG Blueroof system. The primary advantage of the system is that utilising the roof construction for water storage reduced the need for underground attenuation tanks. The simplicity of the design allowed for attenuation capacity and green roof installation at the same time saving the client time and money.

Museum of London - Visionary RoofSynopsisThe Museum of London opened in 1976 on the historic London Wall and is a few minutes’ walk from St Paul’s Cathedral. A visionary approach to roofing had been adopted on a building that, will not only green as much of the exposed roofs as possible, but also provide a strong research aspect for future green roof projects. As with many buildings, the original roofs needed to be upgraded or replaced, at the same time as being brought up to date using environmental and sustainable solutions.Through the recommendation of waterproofing and green roof manufacturer Bauder Ltd, the Museum invited Dusty Gedge, one of the UK’s leading independent green roof consultants, to work directly with them to design 3500m² of varying habitats that encompassed the museum’s sustainable vision. and help in the provision of environments that would attract a range of wildlife, as well as being able to help the city adapt to climate change.Bauder Building BoardProject:Visionary roof, Muesum of LondonLocation:LondonProject type:RefurbishmentRoof size:9512m²Specifier:Museum of LondonRoofing contractor:Russell Trew LtdThe specificationAn independent consultant had previously carried out an energy model on the Museum of London buildings. When the museum inputted the green roof specification, it showed a potential energy saving of 10% per year, as well as a reduction on the future replacement costs of the heating and cooling plant. Some of the green roofs were funded through Drain London, a partnership project led by the Greater London Authority and funded by Defra. The project aims to better understand surface water flood risk across London, with a view to promote interventions (such as green roofs) to reduce surface water flooding. The museum has used the Bauder green roof system and worked closely with Dan Costen of Bauder and the roofing contractor Russell Trew Ltd, to deliver the various green roof spaces.These include:The refurbishment of the lower garden in the central courtyard with hard landscapingThe installation of Bauder’s new wildflower blanket to the upper garden in the central courtyard (funded through Drain London)Plug planting the roofs of the recently completed garden and terrace rooms that provide high quality corporate hire (matching the colour scheme chosen for the rotunda garden refurbishment and integrated with the new rainwater harvesting system funded by Renaissance London)An integrated sustainable urban drainage system (SuDS)Plug planting in other individual small roof areas including outside the boardroom and committee roomsTwo different planting schemes on an area of the main museum roof where the Drain London Project aims to carry out water attenuation researchThe resultRetrofitting green roofs will help to realise the Mayor of London’s ambition, to increase green cover in central London by 5% by 2030. The Museum of London is one of the largest retrofit green roof projects in the City and is certainly to be commended for allowing its roofs to be used for research purposes. Not only will it provide a benchmark for best practice, but it also demonstrates that retrofitting green roofs onto existing buildings is both environmentally and economically viable and is the way forward in helping London adapt to climate change.System installedBauderflex Green 1 BauderPLANT E 42A torch applied SBS elastomeric bitumen capping sheet. This product features chemically treated bitumen to deliver superior root resistance which has been tested and approved by the FLL2 BauderTEC Sprint DUOA self-adhesive elastomeric bitumen underlayer with DUO lap technology. This product has a glass fleece reinforcement feature for stability and strength.3 BauderPIR FA-TEFlatboard insulation boards containing rigid polyisocyanurate (PIR).4 BauderTEC KSD FBSA self-adhesive SBS elastomeric bitumen air & vapour control layer, with a mica finish.XF 301 Sedum System1 BauderGREEN XF 301Sedum vegetation blanket instantly providing at least 90% coverage on an extensive green roof. Integrated water retention and filter layer.2 BauderGREEN AL 4040mm high perforated edge/drainage trim frames and retains the Bauder XF 301 sedum system.3 BauderGREEN SDFMulti-functional drainage and filtration layer which prevents the roots of sedum plants from becoming waterlogged.4 BauderPLANT ETorch-on root-resistant capping sheet green.AdvocacyGavin McCourt MRICS, Project Manager for The Museum of London said:“In producing the business case for installing green roofs, reference was made to the extensive published documents on the benefits of green roofs. In this case as the museum building had already been energy modelled by outside consultants, it was decided to input the green roof specification into the model. The results showed a potential energy saving of 10% per year, as well as a reduction in future replacement costs for heating and cooling plant. These factors, combined with the longer life cycle replacement of green roofs compared with normal felt roofing systems, enabled me to produce a robust business case for green roofs. With increasing energy prices the economic benefits of installing green roofs can only become more viable”Dusty Gedge added:“One of the major issues that London faces is flash floods during the summer, when sudden rainfall levels overwhelm the current drainage network. With the support of Drain London we will be researching the rainwater run-off for different green roofs. This will help us validate the kind of roofs and depth of substrates that will negate the costly effects that the sudden rainfall has on the infrastructure of the City.”

The roof project in Bermondsey consisted of an accessible green roof for residents on the first floor and a green and brown roof at the next level. Natural Aggregate, 6mm Barley Beach. London

A green roof system was selected for this project as the client required a roof that would complement and accommodate the step in levels to follow timber decking lines to the 55m² roof terrace areas. IKO Single Ply’s Spectraplan SM120 light grey single ply waterproofing system was overlaid to the existing roof and newly built sun rooms, ready to receive a green roof system.