Green roofs : a visual study

Abstract

The rooftop has always been an important architectural element in any building or project. It is a different space than the rest of the building - it is a 'room' with no vertical limits. Throughout history one can see that it has been used in many ways, for entertainment, for resting and protection amongst others. But most recently it has been taken up as storage space for AC units and solar panels, which make most city or town roofscapes messy and unsightly. In today's world, technology and design are now part of everyday life, but what needs to be taken in more detail is the sustainability issues behind every decision taken and how-and-where improvements could be made. When It comes to roof design, green roofs present an ideal merger of all the above, presenting a combined package of good design elements and forward-looking environmental technology. This dissertation focuses on the the aesthetic part of green roof design and how such technologies could help to improve the site and its surroundings. At the same time it does not discount the technical significance of such systems. The emphasis is on Malta with a number of case studies which were carried out to evaluate the aesthetic importance of green roofs whilst taking into consideration views and opinions of Maltese developers, architects and clients on the issue of green roofs. These also show the direction which such technologies are taking in Malta. All in all, the aim of this dissertation is to give the reader a degree of awareness on the topic of green roofs and their aesthetic and technical potential. Although it gives a fair amount of information related to this subject matter, it is not exhaustive, and hence a number of recommendations for further studies were made.