If you know of Vancouver Landscape Architect, Cornelia Hahn Oberlander, you may know she has designed many of Vancouver’s green roofs, including the Law Courts on Robson Street and Library Square. Cornelia has also designed the latest and most spectacular green roof Vancouver, and possibly North America, has ever seen. This spectacular and undulating green roof inspired by the petals of a flower, fits perfectly on top of the new Van Dusen Botanical Gardens visitor center. The team at Houston Landscapes was honored to be involved in this challenging project that saw the delicate installation of growing medium and plant material on convex, concave and even near vertical applications. The plant list was made up of only 12 carefully selected varieties including the tough Carex pansa (Slough Sedge) to the attractive and edible Erythronium grandiflorum (Yellow Glacier Lily). The entire area was also hydro-seeded (a sticky mix of fescue’s and ryegrass) to assist with soil retention, all of which are now growing beautifully. Unfortunately the public are not allowed on the roof, for obvious reasons, but it can be appreciated from a distance, or for a time lapse video visit http://www.youtube.com/user/houstonlandscapes#p/a/u/0/4bHZ9ss2IY0
In Vancouver the advantages of green roofs is beginning to increase in popularity even in the residential market, some lured by energy cost savings and others to the uniqueness, visual appeal and prestige. We have installed numerous roofs on houses and garages using a colorful, low growing, low-maintenance sedum mix (members of the succulent family). Maintenance is still required for green roof’s including regular inspections to ensure foreign weed species, either blown in by seed or bought in by birds, are removed by hand before they establish and jeopardize the roofing membrane. Typical system includes: a root barrier, drain mat, sometimes a water retention fleece and edging made up of gravel and aluminium restraints. 2 basic systems exist, a fit in place tray style system, where plants are established off site, and like the Van Dusen roof, a custom system where everything is assembled and grown in-situ.
A temporary irrigation system is required for the first year for establishment, as well small amounts of programmed fertilizing. Compared to any other landscape installation green roofs are easy to care for and a very rewarding venture, they become their own self-supporting micro-climate and a definite step in the right direction to a greener planet. If you have a project that requires professional installation of a green roof, large or small, please contact Houston Landscapes on 604 734 0907 or www.houstonlandscapes.ca
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