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June 2023
With the statistics that architectural activities are directly responsible for 50% of energy consumption, and indirectly – for approximately 60%, it is sensible that mitigation of the issue with nature-based solutions is a key tool in achieving improved environmental performance within the field of architecture.
It is however important to understand that measures which are fundamental to sustainable architecture such as the adequate use of vegetation also serve to create an indispensable visual impression, whilst inadequate use can even lead to an environmentally negative impact. Part of national planning policy from November 2023, Biodiversity Net Gain will ensure this tool is applied properly.
Roof gardens and green walls represent a balanced collusion between natural and built landscapes: they benefit sustainability, energy savings, public wellbeing, and the city roof-scape. Over the course of a few years, the team at Node have been promoting and influencing change through active implementation of these measures in our proposals – from designing a green rooftop as ‘the main elevation’, blending a house within the landscape context, to podium landscapes with delicately integrated planting and places for people. The majority of such projects are undergoing planning stage, while some have been approved already. It is an inspiring job, to support nature’s eco-system services, in collaboration with our fellow architecture and engineering practices. With such work comes a great responsibility, and we are open to every opportunity to explore the best practice examples and develop our expertise.
Last Friday, the 16th of June, the LI London and the University of Greenwich’s Department of Architecture and Landscape welcomed landscape architects to come, see and talk about the wonderful work that university staff and students have been undertaking in developing the numerous [and various in types] rooftop landscapes of their building on 10 Stockwell Street.
The highly sensitive location of the building – on the edge of the Greenwich Maritime World Heritage Site and the residential gardens along the eastern boundary of the site, resulted in the building’s massing stepping down as three cascading levels on which roof gardens were arranged. The role of the building’s roof terraces is rather comprehensive: it is an environmental laboratory for students as well as academics from across the world.
Special thanks to Prof. Benz Kotzen and Robert Holden for sharing their experiences of the building’s design and implementation stages, and of daily maintenance and management of green roofs and living walls. It’s worth mentioning that the building is open to the public, and the architecture and landscape architecture students’ work is being displayed at the Greenwich summer exhibition until the 2nd of July – find the time to visit!
