Green Roof History Timeline

The history of green roofs.

Green roof history timeline.

The history of green roofs in the uk. Because our history with green roofs began way back in the mid 1970 s in stuttgart germany we have had the privilege to collect government and trade publications for almost four decades. Things are now beginning to change and the pace of development is increasing especially in our cluttered cities where a splash of greenery is welcomed by urban dwellers. These early shelters provided protection from the elements good insulation during the winter months and a cool location in the summer.

The modern green roof is defined as a roof that is partially or completely covered in vegetation living in a growing medium over a waterproof membrane. Extensive green roofs are lightweight adaptations of sod roofs like those found in scandinavia during the viking and middle ages. Are protected as a unesco world heritage site in l anse aux meadows newfoundland and commemorate the earliest known european settlement in north america. They were considered as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world were constructed around 500 b c.

Not as popular as in the rest of europe the uk was a late comer to embracing the idea of green roofs. Green roofs began to gain attention and popularity throughout europe. Contemporary green roofing technology began during the mid twentieth century in germany when gerda gollwitzer and werner wirsing published roof areas inhabited viable and covered by vegetation the book investigated the different components of living roofs including root repelling agents waterproofing membranes drainage and the weights of different soils and plants to find a viable. They were built over arched stone beams and waterproofed with layers of reeds and thick tar.

We thought the rest of you would enjoy taking a. It was made of a styrofoam. One of the seven wonders of the world the hanging gardens of babylon are perhaps the first example of draping our buildings in flora to make them more. He published his work on green roofs in germany and marked the beginning of increased further green technology research.

Here at green roof technology we are proud to house the largest green roofs archives in the united states. Landscape architects gerda gollwitzer and werner wirsing publish roof areas inhabited viable and covered by vegetation an early treatise on modern green roofs. In fact reconstructions of norse sod houses dating from 1000 a d. Mainz germany the landscape research development construction society which has established widely followed green roof standards is founded.

The origins of green roofs began thousands of years ago. The most famous green roofs were the hanging gardens of babylon. In ancient times green roofs consisted of cave like structures or sod roofs covered with earth and plants commonly used for agriculture dwelling and ceremonial purposes.