Book Description
This book introduces a revolutionary new concept to gardeners. Planting on roofs and walls began in Europe, but it is now becoming popular all over the world. Green roofs and walls reduce pollution and run-off, and also help insulate and reduce the maintenance needs of buildings. Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls discusses the practical techniques required to make planting on roofs and walls a reality. It describes how roofs may be modified to bear the weight of vegetation, considers the different options for drainage layers and growing media, and lists the plants suitable for different climates and environments. This informative book will encourage gardeners everywhere to consider the enormous benefits to be gained from planting on their roofs and walls.
Customer Reviews:
A serious attempt on a difficult subject.......2007-06-06
I am a big advocate on using plants to create green walls and roofs. They can reduce the urban "heat island" effect and create usable green open spaces. I found this book's discussions on Intensive Green Roof, Extensive Green Roof, , Ecoroof, Brown Roof, etc interesting. This book is a serious attempt on a difficult subject. The color photos inside the book are helpful also.
There are still technical difficulties in using green walls and roofs: water proofing, how to handle the structural weight of large trees, how to integrate large plants with building structure, etc. All these technical discussions are needed, and they could be the subject of another book.
Gang Chen, author of Planting Design Illustrated
Good for Beginners, but..........2007-01-11
Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls is an excellent book for any landscape architect who has not yet designed and detailed either. For myself, the most helpful bit of information was the data collected and presented from various green roofs.
The living wall section on the other hand was thin. There was no mention of the living wall system Patrick Blanc developed which is much more interesting than putting up a wire trellis and planting vines next to it. The other comment i would have is that almost all of the examples are from Europe. We have fabulous examples in the US with more relevant plant materials and weather conditions.
Finally I would say that the authors didn't seem interested in exploring native plant materials and instead focused on a few cookie cutter plants commonly planted all over the northern hemisphere. Not unlike McDonalds.
Nice examples of successful Green Roofs.......2006-11-10
This book is great for those who may have trouble visualizing the possibilities of what you can do with a green roof. There are many examples of what you can grow, and what types of vegetation are suitable. The book is however not very technical about the architectural detailing considerations involved. Some sections and detail drawings would make this book much more valuable as a design resource.
Organic Architecture with Plants .......2004-09-28
Greenroof professionals and enthusiasts alike will be delighted with the easy reading and scope of content offered in "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" by Nigel Dunnett and Noël Kingsbury. Very well organized, the book's forte and major value is as an essential resource - especially in terms of plant description, characteristics and specification. It's also a great bargain in that the book is filled with color photos, drawings, charts and reference material. This indispensable hard cover reference guide contains a truly massive collection of appropriate plant information, and perhaps most importantly, extensive plant directories are provided for both greenroofs and façade greening.
Organic Architecture with Plants
Greenroofs, living walls, and various other bio-engineering techniques are introduced and the authors cite the associated benefits and reasons why we should be integrating these measures of organic architecture into our built environments. The authors refer to current international research and technology; background and history are touched on; and benefits and applications of these "ecotechnologies" are discussed at length. Yet, a "How-To Build" book this is not; basic principles are set out and tools for further research are provided.
Benefits at a Range of Scales
The section "Why Build Green Roofs?" explores hard evidence and the various benefits operating at a range of scales from amenity and aesthetic values to economic and environmental aspects. Increased roof life, insulation and energy efficiency, green building assessment and public relations, biodiversity and wildlife value, water management, air pollution, and fire prevention and risks are discussed with supporting evidence.
Although previously well known, the biodiversity and wildlife value of greenroofs is expanded upon here, including the new British models of "brown" or "rubble" greenroofs - those which recreate the thin, infertile landscapes of disturbed brownfield sites. Spontaneous colonization is presented as an important natural occurrence.
A Vast Array of Planting Opportunities
The authors rightly note that "The majority of guides to green roofs and roof greening concentrate on the technical and construction aspects but have relatively little to say about planting opportunities - mainly because most authors are not plant specialists." Well, Noël - a well known writer of plants and gardens, and Nigel - a senior lecturer in the Department of Landscape at the University of Sheffield, most certainly are plant experts, and an entire 47-page chapter is devoted to the wide range of planting opportunities for extensive greenroofs, beyond the ubiquitous albeit hugely successful use of Sedum species.
Prevailing site conditions will always dictate the plant selection, so designers need to know what plant species will not only survive but thrive in extreme local conditions. Desirable physical attributes of plants and how they may be established and managed are presented. Considerations of monocultures, single plant combinations and mixtures, and plant communities are useful as planting design tools. The form and physiology of suitable greenroof plants are nicely covered from a botanical as well as functional and aesthetic perspective. Issues of viewing considerations are pondered and design solutions are offered relating to the roof function and visual criteria. "Methods of vegetation establishment" is particularly detailed and thus extremely valuable. The authors point out, however, that current research is insufficient to show how long each species will live and how each species will interact over the years atop roofs.
The very important aspect of different growing medium properties and functions is addressed in-depth, and comments are provided about particular types of materials, substrate depths, and accompanying vegetative possibilities. Maintenance issues and requirements are briefly noted, touching on feeding, plant protection, drainage, and weeding.
Considerations of Natives and Introduced Species
The unexploited opportunities of testing and using native vegetation are explored, in terms of increasing biodiversity and aesthetic benefits. Regionally native plants should be tested for many reasons, including ecological restoration. Non-native plant species with invasive tendencies can be a problem, therefore careful selection is critical to maintain healthy ecosystems. Yet many introduced species are appropriate, and there are many circumstances where non-natives offer considerable local wildlife value.
Certain natural plant communities and their soil types are explained and presented as an argument for further study as suitable models for successful roof plantings. Trialing of appropriate local plant communities is therefore recommended and encouraged so as ultimately to be able to introduce more natives into the greenroof matrix of plant species.
"The natural habitats of potential roof-greening plants" explores the potential to discover and trial the world's flora found in similar harsh habitats. Mountain, high latitude, coastal, limestone, sclerophyllous woody vegetation, semi-desert environments, and species whose plants are exposed to climatic extremes are regions with potential for testing of new roof greening plants.
The Task Has Just Begun
Philosophy and advice to greenroof plant enthusiasts can be summed up with these reflections by the authors: "With roof greening becoming an important part of the new built environment, it is increasingly important that more attention is paid to sourcing new plant material from habitats in the wild where conditions approximate those on rooftops and other problem urban situations...The task of selecting suitable plant species for roof greening has arguably just begun, and it offers potentially enormous rewards."
They are quick to point out that the globalization of our knowledge base and the ready availability of certain aggressive species can threaten entire ecosystems, and care must be provided to the selection of greenroof environments (just as at ground level) so as to avoid invasive and potentially destructive non-natives or introduced species.
Façade Greening and Living Wall Structures and Surfaces are the final two chapters of the book, offering both visual and ecological climbers, clingers, ramblers and scramblers. New support structures, materials, technologies and details provide practical and interesting information for this older yet equally fascinating design element of green architecture. The authors examine how the design of façade greening can equally disguise unattractive features while at the same time enhance existing surfaces. In either case, education and care are necessary to promote vigorous growth that is supported by a variety of vertical and/or horizontal structures.
At the end of the book, 49 pages are devoted to the Roof-Greening and Façade-Greening Plant Directories, listed by botanical names, common names, cultivars and related species. The horticultural and cultural aspects are presented with definitions and listings of many specific plant characteristics.
A minor grumbling on my part about the book is the absence of identifying greenroof project photo captions for the geographic locations and the building application types. It would be beneficial to know not only where each is located, but also whether the project is commercial, industrial, residential, etc.
A Dovetailing of Living Plants, the Building, and Its Human Users
Whereas Ted Osmundson's excellent 1999 "Roof Gardens: History, Design, and Construction" is considered the bible for the intensive greenroof crowd, Nigel Dunnett and Noel Kingsbury's "Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" is simply a must have for extensive and intensive greenroofers worldwide.
"Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls" is a comprehensive argument for integrating nature and architecture, and I highly recommend it. It's obvious that Kingsbury and Dunnett are first and foremost dedicated, ecologically minded plantspeople; here, then, is a very important work for those of us in the greenroof industry. ~ Linda S. Velazquez, Publisher Greenroofs.com
Book Description
In just a few years, green roofs have gone from a horticultural curiosity to a booming growth industry — primarily because the environmental benefits of extensively planted roofs are now beyond dispute, whether for industrial or governmental complexes or for private homes in urban or suburban settings. Despite the high level of interest in green roofs, until now there has been no reliable reference devoted exclusively to the various species of drought-tolerant plants that are suitable for use on extensive green roofs. Green Roof Plants fills that void. The book contains photographs and cultural information for more than 200 species and cultivars of plants, including valuable data on moisture needs, heat tolerance, hardiness, bloom color, foliage characteristics, and height. Concise, accurate, and easy to use, this book is destined to become an indispensable practical reference guide, not just for architects, landscape designers, engineers, and environmentalists, but also for environmentally conscious home gardeners.
Customer Reviews:
Decent Resource for Planting a Vegetated Roof.......2007-05-17
Once you commit to the vegetated roof concept, you are very soon confronted with what will work up there. This book is a great point of departure!
Great job Ed and Lucy.......2007-03-30
This book is the most comprehensive green roof plant resource available; a must-have for anyone specifying, designing, or constructing green roofs.
Great book for green roof plants!.......2007-03-22
While I knew from the title of the book that this is a source of information for green roof plants, I still expected to find information on installation techniques, either very specifically or at least with a list of companies or other sources cited where I could find installation techniques. Only a couple of companies are cited, but with no Sources section in the back of the book -- only nurseries. Many subjects directly connected to planting and building a green roof are only generally touched on with broad explanations. The plant selection pages are great, with lots of color photos and good description.
excellant publication.......2007-03-09
great book, a vital tool needed to develop a new way of thinking about contruction.
A basic overview of green roof plants.......2007-01-15
The book gives a basic introduction to Vegetated roofs and then provides the best comprehensive and well organized list of potential roof plants I've seen so far. Its going to be an excellent reference book when we begin to experiment with different plant varieties atop our manhattan apartment building.
Book Description
A lavishly illustrated study of gardens built on the roofs of buildings. The first comprehensive hook in English about roof gardens, this survey includes a history of roof gardens, which date back to the hanging gardens of Nebuchadnezzar; summarizes contemporary design principles; details the techniques used in constructing durable and safe gardens; and gives guidelines for the selection of plants, planting procedures, and maintenance Sixty major projects from around the world are shown in color making the hook an important resource for designers and planners.
Customer Reviews:
Greener on Top.......2007-05-13
I bought this book thinking in learn everything about green roofs, and realy, this is the bible. The book have history informations, projects, practical construction information, project details, informations about benefits and possible problems. But there isnt specific scientific or data informations. It is a very complete introduction book in using green in the roofs, but i needed more...
green roofs .......2007-01-05
This book could be written only by someone who has a large experience
and an enhusiastic approach not only to landscape architecture, but also to all elements needed to complete such project, as the roof garden. Roof gardens do not only mean "plants on the roof", they are result of many other 'bits and pieces'. For those who want to find a reason why and how to build or design an roof garden, and have a studious approach to what they intend do, this book is to be recomended by all means.
Greenroofs.com Recommends the Standard of Roof Garden Design.......2001-12-08
Greenroofs.com inaugurates our new Recommended Readings column with this highly informative reference standard for roof garden aficionados and design professionals alike. While Roof Gardens is clearly focused on the more traditional concept and practice of creating aesthetically pleasing garden space on flat roofs, Mr. Osmundson does address greenroof technology and the industry's advances in the field. In particular, the German market is credited for testing and developing highly effective yet lightweight greenroof components and systems, and case studies are presented.
The veteran landscape architect shares his practical expertise of roof garden design, research and travel, and the richly illustrated hardcover book is full of photos, plans and construction details of sixty projects in North America, Europe, Australia and Japan. Roof Gardens also offers a historical perspective and advice on site considerations, design elements, maintenance, and appendices of useful data and sources of supply and information.
Rooftop landscape architecture promises to greatly beautify our environment by greening our buildings. We highly recommend this easy to understand, invaluable reference for anyone interested learning about in-depth roof garden design and construction, from homeowner to city planner.
Book Description
This lavishly illustrated book is ideal for anyone designing a roof terrace or balcony from scratch or for those looking for new and exciting ideas to transform an existing rooftop space into a fabulous outdoor room.
Average customer rating:
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Roof Gardens
Philippe Cols
Manufacturer: Tectum
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ASIN: 9076886148 |
Book Description
Roof gardens are enjoying a revival. Landscape architects are now being followed by architects, project developers and owners of roof terraces in discovering the advantages of plants on the roof.
Book Description
The smallest space can be turned into a mini garden: windowsills, balconies, even stairs and front doorsteps. With plant suggestions, design ideas and step-by-step projects, No Garden? No Problem! can bring style, color and beauty in to your home making sensational garden spaces you never thought existed.
Customer Reviews:
Now that is creativ.......2007-03-10
This is really creative book. I love it and I bought it even though I do not have a garden. I simply love to look at it and imagine that maybe some day, if I will ever have a garden, a balcony or even a patch of grass, this is how it will look.
Book Description
Practical Planting Designs and Inspirational Ideas for Gardens in the Sky, With Over 200 Beautiful Color Photographs.
Book Description
How to design an extra "room" on your roof, balcony, or other confined space
How to create a lush, colorful oasis of plants
Complete practical information on building the framework, and maintaining your above-ground garden
Illustrated with inspirational full-color photographs from all over the world
Customer Reviews:
For large roofs mainly.......2006-02-23
Interesting, but mainly specialized to larger roof garden. Therefore less suitable for a relatively smaal balcony
Gorgeous, contained gardens - and more.......2000-05-14
This beautiful book is helpful in answering some design conundrums which comparable books do not tackle nearly as elegantly. (How to grow a lot of plants in a small space without creating a traffic jam -- for example.) There are photos of thrilling small garden spaces which - refreshingly - can actually be replicated fairly easily. It's a great book to drool over, but also a true reference; a good combination.
a pretty good book for general information........1999-11-10
the pictures in this book are amazing, although for the project i was working on, i found it lacking where it covered roofotp gardening. it seemed to be too general to give very accurate information for what i needed.
Book Description
Erecting solid, sturdy rooms requires a skilled hand in framing. This comprehensive guide offers easy-to-follow steps for framing a room and a trouble-shooting section to help avoid common mistakes.
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