Roofs are often overlooked but in fact are important and valuable real estate. They can do so much more than just hold the HVAC systems; they can provide relaxing environments (parks), entertainment (bars and restaurants), tourist attractions (viewpoints), help save the planet (harnessing solar power and produce fresh organic fruits and veggies), and of course save the building owner cold hard cash (reduced electric, heating and cooling bills).
In fact, France sees the importance of utilizing roof space. They just passed a new law that requires the roofs of new commercial buildings be covered (at least partially) in either solar panels or vegetation. Aesthetics, environmental, and economic reasons all top the list. The impact is substantial: according to a Spanish study conducted by Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Università Politecnica delle Marche foliage can reduce the heat absorbed by the building by 60%. They can also lower the “heat island” effect in urban areas.
This rooftop park sits on top of a large mall in Seoul, Korea. It’s larger than three soccer fields combined and has four themes. That’s making good use of potentially wasted space!
Between 1998 and 2005 every new Carrabba’s constructed had a lush rooftop garden to drive home their “Italian Villa” theme. The gardens graced the roofs of over 100 Carrabba’s in that time. The roofs were all low maintenance and plantings were selected on appropriate climate temperatures (including the extreme cold of Boston and the extreme heat of Texas). All roofs were fitted with drip irrigation and minimal trimming to allow for a free-flow garden feel.
The world’s highest tennis court sits on top of the fourth highest hotel in the world (1,053 feet). It is normally a helipad, but in 2005 it was temporarily converted for a tennis match; this memorable image will stick with you! What’s next, a hockey ring on top of third tallest hotels in the world?!
American University (Washington, D.C.) boast several rooftop gardens on campus. They reduce energy use in buildings and catch and reserve rainwater.
The Brooklyn Grange is a pioneer and leader in the urban rooftop farming movement. They grow and sell over 120,000 pounds of organically-cultivated produce per year. In 2010 the group set out to show the world a fiscally sustainable model for urban agriculture. Today the farms sprawl a total of more than two acres of rooftop spanning between the Brooklyn and Queens boroughs on New York City.
Vertigo and Moon Bar is an al fresco dining experience set on the 61st floor of a hotel in Bangkok. This is using a rooftop as a good avenue to make some extra revenue and lifelong memories.
