Living Roofs are a Gateway to More Holistic Green Cities
Sourced from S Magazine
Strolling through Toronto in the summer, it’s common to see emerald and olive-green foliage and wisps of prairie grasses peeking out from the tops of condo towers and university buildings. But back in 1997, when Steven Peck first encountered the idea of a green roof at a conference, it was a revelation. After hearing about them from Dr. Brad Bass of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Peck would go on to make green roofs his life’s work. And increasingly, industry, government, and city residents are sharing his enthusiasm for the subject.
“Traditionally plants in cities, it’s all been about aesthetics,” said Peck, founder and president of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, the North American green roof and wall industry association. “The thing that’s starting to change is that we’re moving beyond aesthetic as a primary benefit and more of landscape as providing important ecosystem services, cooling our cities, providing biodiversity etc. Green roofs are just part of that whole shift that’s taking place.”
Strolling through Toronto in the summer, it’s common to see emerald and olive-green foliage and wisps of prairie grasses peeking out from the tops of condo towers and university buildings. But back in 1997, when Steven Peck first encountered the idea of a green roof at a conference, it was a revelation. After hearing about them from Dr. Brad Bass of Environment and Climate Change Canada, Peck would go on to make green roofs his life’s work. And increasingly, industry, government, and city residents are sharing his enthusiasm for the subject.
“Traditionally plants in cities, it’s all been about aesthetics,” said Peck, founder and president of Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, the North American green roof and wall industry association. “The thing that’s starting to change is that we’re moving beyond aesthetic as a primary benefit and more of landscape as providing important ecosystem services, cooling our cities, providing biodiversity etc. Green roofs are just part of that whole shift that’s taking place.”
From the Living Architecture Monitor
