Green Roof Fellowship

Sidonie on the News

2008-05-22T02:27:00.000-07:00

Green Roofs and Walls for Brisbane

2007-05-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

Green Roofs and Green Walls for Brisbane
Sidonie Carpenter , is Vice President of Green Roofs for Healthy Australian Cities.
She is the key speaker at Green Roofs and Green Walls for Brisbane, a presentation over 1.5 hours at the Griffith University EcoCentre, from 6pm to 7.30pm on Monday, June 18 .
The lecture will be preceded by a free sausage sizzle from 5.30pm
Sidonie has returned to Australia following a two month fellowship study visit to North
America to collect latest information on green roofs and wall developments that are a sensible response to climate change. and relevant to Australia’s nascent green roof industry.
Sidonie’s study fellowship was awarded by the Melbourne based International Specialised
Skills Institute, funded by the Pratt Foundation, and supported by Brisbane Architect, Geoffrey
Pie, Landscape Logic, Multiplex Australia, Mirvac Australia, The Plant Specialists and landscape architect Richard Jones.
She runs her own Brisbane based business, Sidonie Carpenter Landscape Design and Horticulture. Sidonie studied for an arts degree at the University of Queensland
(majoring in architecture and town planning). She also holds a graduate diploma in
landscape architecture from Queensland University of Technology, and a Certificate of Urban Horticulture, she is a member of the Australian Institute of Landscape Design and Managers.

BOOK YOUR PLACE WITH:
Geoff Wilson, President, Green
Roofs for Healthy Australian Cities,
32 David Road, Holland Park 4121,
Phones: 07 3411 4524 or 0412
622 779. Email:
Geoff@nettworx.info
Website:
www.greenroofs.wordpress.com

Brisbane

2007-05-20T23:35:00.000-07:00

I have now been home for 2 weeks. The response to my fellowship and Green Roofs in Australia has been wonderful.

Brisbane City Council has been very supportive and understand the enormous environmental value and benefits of green roofs not only for the environment but also the economy on both the public and private level.

San Francisco

2007-05-20T23:02:00.000-07:00

A quick visit to San Francisco on my way home.

Here I had the chance to meet a Landscape Architect that I met at the conference. He is working on a project in Arizona where water, like Australia is a big issue. He was very interested to hear about Australia and the water control issues that are now a part of our everyday.

To tell them that the use of a hose or irrigation in Brisbane is now banned created some amazement. I think water is an issue that the whole world is finally realising needs some serious understanding and management.

San Fransisco, like most cities in the US has a number of green roofs. The GAP Corporation installed a green roof to qualify for their LEED rating. One of the biggest benefits was its sound proofing qualities, the GAP headquarters is right under the flight path.

Union Square in the heart of the city is a green plaza built on top of a car park.

In the heart of one of the country's largest urban parks, the California Academy of Sciences is building a new LEED Platinum Green Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Its 10 hectare, undulating green roof will sit 10.5meters in the air planted with a variety of wildflowers and other native species. Rana Creek Living Architecture has worked with Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Chong and Partners Architecture, SWA Group, ARUP Engineering, and the Academy to design a living roof that will cover 15,000 sqm of roof with four steeply sloped domes replicating the surrounding rolling hills. Two of the domes are almost 60 degree slopes.

The roof will be planted with over five plant species native to San Francisco, and approximately 1.7 million plants will blanket the living roof. The three-year research period during which Rana Creek Living Architecture designed, built and monitored a series of living roof mock ups, informed this diverse assemblage of indigenous plants, as well as the soil retention and drainage techniques ultimately chosen for the project. The California Academy of Sciences is unique amongst natural history museums in its dedication to combining research and education under one roof.

Minneapolis - Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Conference

2007-05-09T23:30:00.000-07:00

The next 4 days were spent attending the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities Conference. This included completing 2 design courses. 101 - An introduction to Green Roof Design and 201 -covering the design and installation of Green Roofs.

A great social event hosted by the City of Minneapolis to welcome the conference delegates was held on the green roof of the local Brits Pub. A bowling green and outdoor eating area was built over a garage to provide extra space and make the most of expensive city real estate.

Minneapolis - Green Roof for Healthy Cities Conference

Design 201 Design and Implementation. An 8 hr course written and presented by Green Roofs for Healthy Citys covering the design and implementation elements of intensive and extensive green roofs. A very worth while and interesting course that Green Roofs for Healthy Australian Cities hopes to re write for Australian conditions and offer as an introductory course for a new and exciting industry with enormous potential for a large number of industries from engineering and architecture to the water proofing and nursery industries.

WGRIN - World Green Roof Infrastructure Network meeting
As the Australian delegate I attended the WGRIN meeting. This was very worth while as well as an excellent opportunity to meet other international members and extend the green roof international network. There were delegates representing Japan, NZ, France, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Canada, Mexico. In total 16 countries are affiliated.

The conference program was excellent and as always it was very difficult to decide which sessions to attend. Topic subjects ranged from stromwater control and management to how green roof s have been shown to reduce stress and increase productivity as well as a number of very interesting design based case studies.

A trade hall ran for the 2 days with a huge number of different manufacturing and systems suppliers/designers. The market in North America is well established and supported with a large number of different systems available. This was very interesting from the view point that at this stage, there are very few specific green roof systems available in Australia and it provided an insight into just how specific the installation can be and the industry opportunities available in Australia.

Design Course 101 – Introduction to Green Roof Design and Implementation
An 8 hour day written and presented by Green Roofs for Healthy Cities. A great introductory course providing a very good understanding for anyone who is interested in installing a green roof. From home owners to architects, landscape architects and people from the trades. Green Roofs for Healthy Australian Cities has proposed to offer an Australian adaptation of this course.

If Australia is to catch up with the progress in Green Roof technology and installation and begin to reap the huge environmental and social benefits we need to ensure there is an education program and an expected standard for the design and construction.

We have a lot to learn form our international green roof friends and are in a very positive position that will see us leap frog forward in terms of being able to learn from their mistakes. We may be 10 – 15 years behind in the industry but I believe that if the Government realizes and supports the industry and the implementation of green roofs that Australia will very quickly catch up as wells as being world leaders in specific areas such as water management and food production.

Australia needs to see research and development projects being implemented, creating conditions and specifications that will be specific to Australian weather patterns and vegetation species.

Minneapolis

2007-05-09T23:20:00.000-07:00

Arriving in Minneapolis late on Saturday afternoon, I set off down Nicolette Mall, the main street in downtown Minneapolis. A very small city center with every building being linked with aerial walkways due to the freezing winter temperatures. You can walk around the downtown area without stepping outside!

I checked out a few green roofs within walking distance of the city centre.

A roof garden has been built on top of a car park for the Cancer Survivors Park. It's a great example of how green roofs can be designed to enhance the urban landscape and provide much needed open space.

A green roof has recently been installed on the Minneapolis Public Library. Unfortunately, I couldn't get access but the building is amazing and the green roof generates a lot of public interest and education in the benefits.

Chicago - day 4

2007-05-09T23:08:00.000-07:00

I extended my stay in Chicago by an extra day, on waking the sun was streaming in my hotel window and Frank Gearys sound pavilion sat in its lush green park, shining like a chrysalis that Picasso may have designed!!

The opportunity to spend the day in 'sunny' Chicago was to good to turn down.

I set off early to try and get a seat on the Archicentre Architectural Boat Tour. It was the first weekend that were running them after the winter break so as I expected they were very heavily booked, plus a glitch in the booking system, so I missed out!! Another very good reason to return soon.

So with a quick bite to eat under my belt I set off with camera poised to capture as much as I could before my late afternoon flight to Minneapolis.

I had the pleasure of spending my day with Daniel Richards from The Plant Specialists, based in NY. It's amazing what 2 Landscape Architects can see and achieve in a day!!

We spent the a day looking at the amazing Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. The Robie House, built in 1909 and a word famous example of Lloyd Wrights ‘Prairie ‘ Style House and his own house and studio that he built as a 22 year old architect, at that stage working for Louis Sullivan. In conjunction to 9 other private residence and a church all located within a 5 block radius from his house and studio.

Finally, after 3 different attempts, I was given access to see the intensive sedum roof on the flag ship Apple Store on Michigan Ave, Chicago.
The green roof was a pay back in response to removing 2 trees from the front of the site during construction and now offers all those that attend any education courses a great view out across the monoculture green roof and glass skylight.

Another hour spent walking through Millennium Park in the late afternoon drizzle was fantastic. It changes the whole time depending on the weather and light. The gardens are strongly designed with strong visuals linking the city back to the gardens and the amazing Frank Geary Music stadium and the great lawn.

An enclosed perennial garden provides a very strong connection to the seasons with the plantings changing. At present they are just emerging from winter with big sweeps of tulips and other bulbs, and a mix of grasses and perennials that are all budding up.

Chicago

2007-04-26T19:55:00.000-07:00

Chicago has taken a huge step forward to market itself at Americas 'greenest city'. It has certainly put its money where its mouth is.

Apart from Millennium Park, which is one of Americas biggest green roofs, yes it was 8 years late and did have massive cost blow outs but now the people of Chicago are very proud of this fabulous facility.

The entire park is built over a car park on an old brown fields site. With the vision of Chicago's Mayor Daley the park is what it is today, attracting millions of visitors a year. The park is home to Frank Gehrys Pritzker Music Pavilion and British artist Anish Kapoor's "Cloud Gate". There are numerous other pieces of sculpture and different landscape elements through the park. The landscaping is superb and its hard to believe it's only 4 years old.

Chicago has implemented a large number of green roofs in a number of their public spaces. These are supported by information panels aimed at educating the general public.

A small, but well informed green roof has been installed onto of the Flamingo enclosure at the Lincoln Park Zoo. This is an extensive green roof and at this time of the year looks a little uninspiring, as does the extensive green roof on all of the horizontal roof areas at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Extensive green roofs cover the entire building with all small visible roof areas supporting green roofs accompanied by informative and interactive displays.

Private business's are also joining the green roof push. The Apple store has an extensive green roof, I am hoping to get access, they cancelled my visit due to meetings. One of the down town McDonald's also has a green roof. One of the biggest issues, especially with extensive green roofs, is that you can walk past every day of your life and have no idea that it's there as they are rarely visable from the street.

Toronto

2007-04-23T17:24:00.000-07:00

A meeting with Toronto Planning & Water Department to discuss their Green Roof Pilot Program and Green Roof Policys for development.

This was very interesting. To see what other countries are doing and how they are moving forward with addressing issues that affect us all in some way or another.

I then did a few site visits.

To the roof of Mountain Equipment Co Op with an extensive green roof that was installed 9 years ago in an attempt to manage water runoff. This has been very successful.

They have about 3,000 visitors a year!!! and its on the roof of a retail outlet.

I then visited a office building with a mix of extensive and intensive green roofs and a building owned by the same company where they have installed a green wall in the foyer.

A visit to Toronto Sheraton to see another green wall installed by Laurence from Phyto Universe in NYC. Much smaller than the one in NYC but still very effective.

Queens & Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

2007-04-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

With the growing understanding of the benefits of green roofs a number of NY Botanic gardens have made the commitment to install green roofs.

Queens is under construction and incorporates a full water management plan through the building and across the entire site.

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens have installed a new entry and ticket office under a green roof.

Silver Cup Studios - Long Island City NY

2007-04-23T16:59:00.001-07:00

The opportunity to visit the largest green roof installed in NY arose after visiting the Socrates Sculpture Park.

Silver Cup is a sound studio where the Sopranos, Sex in the City and many movies are filmed. I was very lucky to get access and a guided tour by the owner, who understandably is very proud of the green roof. His aim is to demonstrate to the government, public and most of all private business that green technologies are an economic benefit. The roof is highly visible from the Queensboro Bridge.

The garden was designed by Diana Balmori, a NY based landscape architect. 1,500 planters with 20 different plants were installed about 18 months ago.

Earth Pledge are using the roof to run some research and trial programs.

New York - Phyto Universe, Kips Bay, Lauder Residence, Frick Collection

2007-04-12T06:46:00.000-07:00

1 phone call and an hour later I am standing talking to Laurent, a guy from french Polynesian who designed, installed and maintains the Phyto Universe green walls (his wife is the manager of the spa - Phyto is a skin care range).

Laurent was so enthusiastic and willing to share his knowledge. He flew Patrick Blanc (of Museum fame in Paris) over to consult on his 1st project. He has since refined the design and system and now holds the US patent.

The wall is a triumph - a mass of tropical plants that have now been in place for just over a year. They are thriving, inside they have the lights on 16 hrs a day, the ones on the window side just at night time to illuminate the garden.

Water is just 3 mins a day broken into 1 min intervals, a nutrient solution is added to the irrigation system as needed.

He has just finished installing a job at the Sheraton in Toronto so I look forward to seeing that when I am there.

I then had the opportunity to visit the roof garden of Kips Bay House, a house that has been donated for a charity event. A different designer has completed each level. Competition for a spot is high as its one of NYC biggest charity events. All the big magazines and the NY Times spend a week there taking photos.

Daniel Richards and Plant Specialists won the roof top space so we climbed our way up 6 floors of amazing interior fit outs at every turn, over the guys carpeting the stairs, balustrades being painted and furniture derived to the roof- a peaceful oasis with views down the street to the MET.

I then went with Daniel to a site meeting at the Lauder Residence (as in Estee Lauder family) a roof top apartment in Park Ave...... another world.

I then popped around the corner to the Frick Collection - an amazing museum that was originally a private residence. An enormous internal atrium courtyard full of palms, lillies and orchids with a pond in the middle.

Each room was a feast for the eyes and that's not including the collection of art. The detailing of the panelling/cornices/floors/architraves/window frames etc was amazing. Each room was different from the massive ballroom to a tiny vestibule that housed an exquisite shell & coral collection.

The collection is very interesting, small yet eclectic. A Cezanne, Monet, Degas, Renoir (all ones that I have never seen, even in print as they do not loan any of the works) some beautiful religious works by Piero della Francesca and an amazing collection of Limoges china.

The gardens were amazing (unfortunately I could only view them through the gates) The garden facing central park has 3 very old huge Magnolia soulangiana all about to burst into flower. The rear courtyard garden designed by Russell Page in the 1970's is very simple with a pond in the middle, home to 2 resident ducks.

New York - Fordham Uni

2007-04-11T06:11:00.000-07:00

Walking near the Lincoln Centre and came across the roof garden at Fordham Uni.

Built 1 level up from the street above a car park it opens up to provide a peaceful retreat full of interesting sculpture and a magnificent Magnolia (in full bloom). The design is very simple, using a mix of extensive and intensive areas.

A great example of how easily left over roof space can be converted into not only usable space but a very valuable resource for such a big city.

New York - Phyto Universe

2007-04-11T06:04:00.000-07:00

Have had a very interesting time walking around NY.

There are roof top gardens peeking over the top of buildings up and down the island if one cares to look up!!! they must think I am mad, trying to walk along looking up at the sky. Mind you it seems that in NYC you can do what you like!

Walking up Lexington and 58th on the 3rd level of one of the buildings the entire facade (inside) is wrapped in plants, a massive indoor vertical garden. It is owner by a skin care company called Phyto and is their head office and training rooms. I am in the process of organising a visit.

LA - Getty Center Green Roof

2007-04-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

Off to LA via KL and Taipei- a very long trip but I just kept reminding myself that the ticket was very cheap!

The landscaping in LA is interesting in that the temps are very similar to Brisbane except they have little or no humidity.

The Getty Center is amazing, it cost $1 billion to build and took 10 years with the whole facade being clad in imported Italian Travertine, it sits high up above the chaos of LA shining like a beacon.

The gardens are amazing, I had seen numerous photos of it but it can never do it justice. It was great to see so many people wandering around, sitting, sleeping, doing yoga and just enjoying the peace and tranquility.

The roof top garden is planted with cactus and succulents into a volcanic rock that was very light.

The kids were fascinated by the method of construction, all the travertine blocks are laid with a shadow line gap between them.

William really got into the photography and made sure he didn't miss the best shots.

Research Nursery

2007-04-04T20:18:00.000-07:00

I was taken to a wholesale nursery in Singapore with Alan from Elmich. Very unusual to have a nursery in Singapore, land is so expensive so most of their plants are brought in from Malaysia.
They are running some test on vertical gardens. Their construction and also different plant species.

The Singaporean Government has been very supportive and has encouraged them to display the panels in public paces - along the hoarding of construction sites and as barriers in shopping centers.

They are currently in the process of construction a Hort Park that is to be run by the national parks. It will enable designers, nurseries, construction companies in the industry to display their products/work etc. There will be a number of green roofs and vertical gardens on display, its due for completion later this year.

Subaru have recently opened their 4x drive test drive track on the roof of their show room. It includes intensive garden areas, ponds, waterfalls and the driving track.

I was invited to attend a lecture presented by the head of World International Green Roof Assoc. he was in Singapore for another conference and presented a talk at very short notice to a packed room at the Botanic Gardens. I will be in contact with him at the conference and attending the World International Green Roof meeting as the representative of Green Roofs for Healthy Aust Cities, in Minneapolis so it was a good opportunity to meet him prior.

Botanic Gardens

2007-04-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

A day wandering around the Botanic Gardens is always a welcome retreat from the busy streets of Singapore. The gardens are wonderful with amazing old rainforest trees that soar into the sky giving the sky scrapers some competition.

The collection of orchids, ginger, frangipani and palms is very inspiring for anyone slightly interested in horticulture.

The orchid collection and breeding program is amazing with a new building that has just been opened showing the public into the labs and propagation rooms housing microscopes and 1,000's of beakers with tiny orchids being propagated.

As a part of the new buildings they have installed a green roof and a vertical garden. The vertical garden is very simple with ferns and birds nest ferns having been plug planted into a wall of coco peat and hessian held in place with bird netting. Because of the high rainfall there doesn't seem the need for irrigation. The green roof has been very successful with an interesting mix of plant species that should also be successful in Brisbane.

School of Art and Design - Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore

2007-04-04T19:58:00.000-07:00

From the spa we headed back to the Elmich office to look at the product and method of construction. Then off to the Singapore Polytechnic school of Art and Design. A new building completed last year with a fully integrated extensive green roof. An interesting building showing how green roofs can be used very successfully. The building has been awarded a 5 star green rating which they are very proud of.

Singapore Green Roofs

2007-04-04T19:46:00.000-07:00

Had a great day being shown around by the guys from Elmich ( a company that manufactures hard landscaping products ) and Nature, a Landscape Design Company. It was very interesting and very generous with their time, taking all day to drive me around to a number of different sites.

1st stop - The Aramsa Spas a 5 star day spa and organic cafe. They have retro fitted the roof of one of the buildings. A very simple installation that has now been in place for about 18mths and has been very successful. They are also doing some experimenting with vertical gardens with mixed success. Had a wonderful vegetarian organic lunch in the cafe. Amazing gardens and a really lovely feel to the whole place. The spa treatments look fantastic and should be on the top of the list of things to do when in Singapore.

Sidonie sets off for the ride of her life!!

2007-03-01T18:14:00.000-08:00

Sidonie was awarded a ISS Institute and Pratt Foundation fellowship to study the design and construction of Roof Top and Vertical Gardens.
On March the 23rd she leaves for Singapore, here she will meet with a company providing the infrastructure to retro fit Green Roofs and will look at some of the civic works, the Singaporean Government has just granted $70 million towards Green Roof installation, they can obviously see the benefits of Green Roofs.
She is then off to NY to work with Daniel Richards in his new capacity at The Plant Specialists and to make a number of site visits, then Chicago & Toronto to look at 2 of the fastest growth areas in Green Roof construction, then the Green Roof for Healthy Cities conference in Minneapolis and to complete 2 design courses.
Arriving home in Brisbane on the 7th May, I am sure overflowing with ideas, information and ready to change the way Australia looks at and thinks about its roof space.