The Dream

Following on with the notion of green roofs on houses, I want to let you in on a little dream of mine. It is a combination of all things I love and am passionate about; the environment, good fresh produce, my home and cooking – and having all of this to share with family and friends.

Stemming from my love of the High Line and the Eagle Street Rooftop farm in Brooklyn (and all things rooftop gardens) my dream is to one day own a kitchen garden café that boasts a green roof that from which I can grow as much produce as I can to then cook with in the kitchen.

The menu will be completely seasonal, varying day to day with a major focus on fresh produce. For the produce and other products that I am unable to grow I aim to source it very sustainably, within a close proximity reducing carbon footprints as much as possible.

I had this philosophy in mind when penning my design for the achievable gardens display in the Melbourne International Flower and Garden show. Everything was completely edible! (except for the decking, 2000l water tank - that cleverly had a planter box on top that was stocked up with vegetable seedlings).

Like my garden design above, I want my café to be a place of relaxation and serenity - a meeting place for people to talk and eat and to enjoy each other’s company. I want my consumers to feel as if they are at a friend’s home – comfortable with their surroundings.

And for a special treat, I will have special days with my Nonna in the kitchen cooking stuffed artichokes (cuori di carciofo) that we’ve picked from her garden, or better yet, from my rooftop garden

! 

A home with a lush green roof

Whilst most of us see modern green roofs are a relatively new phenomenon. However, green roofs have been around for centuries. The modern trend started when green roofs were developed in Germany in the 1960s. A number of European Countries have very active associations promoting green roofs for houses, including Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Sweden, the UK, and Greece. Many subsidise the costs of installing green roofs as it is seen as a great way to manage storm water runoff.

Whilst it’s not technically a house as such, one of the most successful green roofs (and one of the very first) in Australia is Parliament House in Canberra. The original reason for the design for the green roof was to preserve the shape of the hill on which it was built. What a great way to promote green roofs. Now lets roll out an initiate for houses to follow suit.

The Japanese government has introduced policies requiring green roofs to be installed on 20 per cent of all flat surfaces. Perhaps in Australia there is just a general lack of understanding about how to do green roofs well in this country, compared to overseas. But none the less, we have more to gain by using them. 

Subjective

I have discovered that Melbourne has had a few other green roofs established in the last 6 years. Some of the successful, some of them not.  

One of the best known of the ‘debatables’ would be the Council House 2 (CH2) building situated on the corner of Little Collins and Swanston Street. CH2 is one of Melbourne’s environmentally friendly buildings awarded a 6 Green Star Rating. It is an inspiring building. And given the strong environmental focus of the building the green roof garden had great expectations. But many, including I, do not believe it really stood up to this.

(http://www.landfood.unimelb.edu.au/green/greenroof-08-09.html)

Basically, it lacks greenery with very basic and minimal horticulture (again, in my own opinion)

(image source http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/Environment/CH2/aboutch2/Pages/RoofLandscape.aspx)

I guess for a me a green roof, is just that. It is green. And lush, and inviting. Yes it is subjective, but I just feel the CH2 is in parts baron with a focus more on art and hard landscape, rather than the plants and greenery.

Another rooftop I think is rather a hit is the Origin Energy Rooftop Garden. Situated at 271 Collins Street, this Ian Baker design encompasses many sustainable principles and delivers this in with a functionality component. It is decked out with seating areas, a bbq area and plenty of greenery. It is inviting. With features like like this, I think they are on a winner;  

• 10-metre diameter area of timber decking surrounded with bench seating
• Lattice screens that create a wall of greenery
• Breakout areas in the form of sunken and stepped decks;
• A barbecue and entertaining area with two 3,000 litre rainwater tanks for efficient plant watering; allergy-free native and drought tolerant plants

(image source http://melbourneopenhouse.org/cms-buildings/origin-energy-roof-garden.phps)