Green roofs of TsinCo RUS are represented by Alexey Veinsky, General Director of the Russian division of Tsinko RUS of the global company ZinCo.
Archi.ru:
Alexey Mikhailovich, tell us how you, having been dealing with roofing systems for 15 years, decided in 2003-2005. still devote yourself to green roofs?
A. V.:
In 2001, the idea arose to create a project for a natural roof - and this is everything that is somehow connected with nature and ecology. Green roofs are also natural roofing materials. But it turned out that green roofs are a rather complex product that required in-depth study. Since 2003, we began to study the global practice of green roofing production. In Russia, then practically no one dealt with this topic, only occasionally such projects arose from private architects and designers. But on an industrial scale, this was not the case. The greatest interest in us was aroused by the products of the leader in roof gardening - the ZinCo company in Germany. For five years, we have studied this issue using scientific and practical methods, investigated the possibilities of using green roofs in the Russian climate. In 2007, after our experience was recognized as positive, a branch of a German concern was opened in Russia, of which I am the head.
Since 2008, we have provided a ten-year guarantee for the production of green roofs … In Russia, at first, we were faced with distrust, because there was no good practice due to the fact that people took up the production of green roofs without first studying this process. The result was negative. Now we have implemented about 50 green roof projects, and all of them are working successfully. We give a ten-year guarantee for the result of our work. But there is one point: a green roof should not be built by several companies at once. If you take on a green operated roof, then its construction - from the base with hydro and thermal insulation, the “pie” of landscaping to maintenance in operation - should be trusted by one company. We give a guarantee for the whole "pie", it is impossible for one company to do the waterproofing, the landscape by another, the maintenance by a third, because then, if suddenly something happens to the roof, it will be impossible to find the last one.
We also constantly encounter a lack of understanding among builders and investors that a properly designed roof should not be built using low-quality materials. Otherwise, the result can also be disastrous. In order to make the right green roof, you need to work with a company that carries out the entire range of work - from design to roof maintenance.
Green roofs are the topic that I develop and spend most of my time on. In addition, I work in universities with students, architects and designers, talking about ways to properly arrange green roofs.
Archi.ru:
Alexey Mikhailovich, you mentioned that you are giving a ten-year guarantee. That is, you can carry out the entire cycle of construction and installation work, including waterproofing the roof, making a "pie" and the subsequent planting of plants. It's right?
A. V.
Yes, we have production approvals for all construction work and we design and manufacture from general construction work to landscaping. We give a guarantee for the result, that is, we do not only sell materials, we make whole roofs.
Archi.ru:
Did the introduction of ZinCo technologies in Russia require any additional research? As you know, you have developed a special roofing substrate, and today it is one of the main components for proper plant growth.
A. V.
The fact is that all the materials that are used in the system are produced in Germany, because materials with such technical characteristics, unfortunately, cannot be produced in Russia today. Opening your own production, despite the fact that the market is still underdeveloped, is irrational. Therefore, we bring all materials from Germany. As for the plant substrate, it is produced in Russia in accordance with Russian climatic standards. Plants are grown in the regions where the roof will be built. The substrate is created on the basis of those components that are used in Russia.
Archi.ru:
That is, if you make roofs in St. Petersburg or in the Sverdlovsk region, do you even take planting material from manufacturers in this region? To what extent is this process adapted to Russia?
A. V.:
We use regionalized plants grown where they will be used. Plants are selected depending on the number of storeys of the building and wind loads. This is also an important point. And this is the only way we can give a guarantee for the result.
Archi.ru:
The first roof you implemented - how long has it been around?
A. V.:
The first roof made using the ZinCo system is an underground garage for Gazprom on Nametkina Street. This project was implemented in 2001. And literally in 2008, excavations were carried out there due to damage to the heating system. The "pie" of the roof was opened. We were present and saw that the whole “pie” was in perfect condition.
Archi.ru:
A properly made roof is also good in that it protects the waterproofing and prevents it from aging and deteriorating?
A. V.:
Yes. In fact, we can talk about the benefits of a green roof for a long time. Because it's not just a pretty green color. The green roof is multifunctional. It fully protects the waterproofing during the entire life of the roof, a big plus is heat saving, not to mention the fact that it is good air filtration and sound protection. There is a huge research base in the world to study the benefits, economy and feasibility of using green roofs. In many countries, such a moment is legally enshrined that if a developer has taken a certain amount of greenery from nature, then he is obliged to restore it with the help of a green roof. At the same time, green roofs make up about 30% of the total green building.
Archi.ru:
Over the ten-year history of promoting green roofs in Russia, what objects do you remember the most?
A. V.:
The most interesting object was in Yekaterinburg - an elite residential complex, in the courtyard of which a large fitness center was built, which made the courtyard disappear. We have restored the courtyard on the roof of the fitness center, organized about 14 different playgrounds - playgrounds, a tennis court, a garden. It turned out to be a very good object, it exists wonderfully and is the pride of the city and the region. They even bring excursions there.
In St. Petersburg, we took part in the Diadem project, where all terraces and roofs are landscaped. Now we are working on a project for the Sberbank University, which also has a large area of greenery. We are engaged in both design and installation work … We also participate in landscaping many projects of the Skolkovo innovation center. In general, we have many projects - about 250. Not all of them can be brought to the end, some are frozen at the stage of relations with builders and customers, but we struggle, we try, and all the objects that we implement are in the future under our control. We inspect them twice a year, visit the facilities, communicate with clients, and if necessary, we help in operation.
Archi.ru:
Alexey Mikhailovich, you said correctly, that Europe and America have their own urban greening programs. Copenhagen, for example, has adopted a program that requires one in five rooftops in the city to be green. Do you think this is possible, at least on a smaller scale, in our metropolitan areas with the aim of partially greening the center?
A. V.:
Several years ago, we conducted a study examining all flat roofs in Moscow, and found that about 20 million square meters of greenery can be planted in the capital. m of flat roofs without changing their structure and design. There are options for easy and economical landscaping that do not require operating costs. This would help to some extent rebuild the “lungs” of the city. What is the problem here? Probably in the legislation. It is necessary to legislate this, to pass it through the State Duma and the Federation Council. At the same time, there are certain obstacles, for example, the maintenance services of the city are not interested in fully protecting the waterproofing, because funds are allocated annually for its repair.
Archi.ru:
If the city has a desire to develop a greening program, are you ready to present your developments and participate in this?
A. V.:
Yes, at the end of the conversation I want to say that we are ready to share our experience, our best practices, constructive information and participate in the greening program for Moscow and other cities in any price category and for any purpose.
In May 2013, the next International Congress "GREEN ROOF" will be held in Hamburg. The organizers are IGRA International Green Roof Association and DDV German Roof Gardener Association. The Title Sponsor of the Congress is the international company ZinCo.
Experts will give lectures on modern green building certification systems and on the environmental side of using roof greening. Renowned architectural companies will share their experience in designing buildings with green roofs and facades. We invite you
Interviewed by Elena Sycheva
Decryption - Alla Pavlikova
