Did you know that by 2050, it is estimated that almost 70 percent of the world’s booming population will be living in cities?
In addition to the challenges of climate change, an exponential urban sprawl might accelerate issues like pollution or extreme weather vulnerability. However, does living in a dense urban centre has to mean a disconnection from nature? According to many city planning scholars, biophilic urban design for the sustainability and wellbeing of cities in a middle way.
With this in mind, the excellent
have written a tremendous article highlighting the positives associated with green roofs and how they are taking over the world.“Natural and biophilic elements need to be central in everything and anything we design and build, from schools and hospitals to neighbourhoods and urban blocks, to street systems and larger urban and regional-scale design and planning,” writes Dr Timothy Beatley, a sustainable city researcher, in his book, Biophilic Urban Design and Planning.
While there are countless opportunities to incorporate biophilic principles to urban design for higher life quality in cities, there’s one easy win: Green Roofs.
Can Planted Roofs Help?
The appetite for a greener urban life is accelerating. By 2025, the global green roof market will exceed USD 21 billion. Market researchers attribute this strong growth to a myriad of benefits that planted roofs offer to both a building’s residents and surrounding communities.
As climate change might impose harsher weather patterns everywhere, green roofs can protect buildings from heavy rain or extreme heat. They also slash the energy bills, noise levels, and can store rainwater for daily use.
Furthermore, green roofs reduce the greenhouse effect and air pollution in cities. They support a natural habitat of birds, bees, butterflies, and insects to boost urban biodiversity.
There’s overwhelming evidence that access to green spaces provides invaluable physical and mental health outcomes.
Given the simplicity and ingenuity of the green roofs in the face of global urban challenges, this simple solution is poised to keep blossoming in all cities.
For more on this excellent article, please visit – https://blog.dormakaba.com/how-green-roofs-are-taking-over-the-world/