History Of Green Roofs In Germany

31 these technologies sometimes referred to as green infrastructure or low impact development include such innovations as green roofs green facades and permeable pavements.

History of green roofs in germany. Terraced green roofs like stairs were developed in the 1960s. Green roofs were developed in germany in the 1960s to try and reduce the problems associated with runoff from impermeable roofs. In the 1970s during the oil crisis west germany began exploring lightweight adaptations of sod roofs due to a growing concern for the environment and an interest in energy conservation. These include water pollution sewers nearing their capacity and localised flooding.

Container gardens on roofs where plants are maintained in pots are not generally considered to be true green roofs although. Back to this century germany was first to recognize and begin officially studying the benefits of green roof technology. We thought the rest of you would enjoy taking a peek back in history too. From the late 1970s to the mid 1980s the modern green roof was developed in germany differing from historic vegetation on structure efforts and rooftop gardens in that extensive green roofs perform a wide variety of functions efficiently and reliably in a very thin profile.

Modern green roof technology began in the early seventies in germany when the first green roof systems were developed and marketed on a large scale. 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. This is a relatively new phenomenon and was developed in germany in the 1960s and has spread to many countries since then. Unlike former green roofs this first approach offered reliable technology that provided sophisticated irrigation and protection against root ingress for rooftop gardens.

In the 1970s when the oil crisis was at its height germany was one of the first countries to investigate the use of green roofs for energy conservation and by the middle of the noughties there were an estimated 13 million square metres of roofing in the country covered with greenery. In 1989 1 million square meters of roofs. Modern green roofs are made of a system of layers placed over the roof to support soil medium and vegetation. Mineral wool usage is an important part of green roof history.

In the early 1970 s germany was the epicenter of a revitalization of roof top gardening. A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium planted over a waterproofing membrane it may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. By the 1980s german green roof markets had begun growing at a remarkable pace. Here at green roof technology we are proud to house the largest green roofs archives in the united states.

Over the past 40 years northern europe and germany in particular has been a hotbed for the innovation and application of green technologies to enhance the urban environment.