All over the world, "green" roofs have taken root quite a long time ago - several decades ago. Leading architects are willing to use green roofs and stylobates in their projects, and the municipal authorities of cities welcome new green oases. Examples of well-known projects such as the famous High Line Park in New York developed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Renzo Piano Californian Academy of Sciences, Norman Foster's Allen & Overy headquarters and others confidently demonstrate the viability of green systems on the rooftops of metropolitan areas.
In Russia, exploited roofs are also becoming more and more popular. In addition to private projects - country houses and penthouses, where the owners arrange green gardens and swimming pools on their roofs - a city order has also appeared. In particular, according to Kommersant, in 2014 in the Arbat area it is planned to plant greenery on about twenty roofs. In this regard, the editorial staff of Archi.ru turned to Alexey Veinsky, an expert on exploited roofs and roof gardening, General Director of Tsinko RUS, with a request to tell us about the latest trends in the field of greening roofs and the prospects for the development of this direction in our country.
Archi.ru:
What's new happened in roof gardening in 2013?
Alexey Veinsky:
- At the green congress in May, the world-renowned company ZinCo spoke about scientific research in the field of green roof systems, carried out in conjunction with the University of Sheffield. For four years, work was carried out at two test sites, in Stuttgart and Sheffield. The result is the largest study of roof waterproofing and drainage to date, as well as improvements to soil substrates and plant species to be planted. Also at the congress, ZinCo presented the NatureLine system based on plant organic matter and two innovative programs in the field of improvement and environmental efficiency of modern urban spaces.
And, of course, in 2013, in the old and the new world, objects with landscaping according to the ZinCo system were put into operation. In Russia, Tsinko RUS has completed projects with a total area of more than 100 thousand square meters. meters, in the current stage is another 20 thousand square meters. meters. ZinCo RUS also received the European Technical Approval (ETA) for ZinCo green roofs.
How do you assess the initiative of the Moscow city authorities to green the roofs of buildings located in the city center? In particular, we are talking about the Arbat area
- Considering the pace of development of urban planning in Moscow and the implementation of the President's program to increase the population, the issue of reconstruction of residential buildings and an increase in construction volumes is very relevant and inevitable today. The ecological component is extremely important here. The competent approach of the head of the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection Anton Kulbachevsky to the solution of these issues, as a resident of this city, makes me very happy. Roof gardening is not only the ideal protection of the waterproofing coating from external factors, but also an additional source of oxygen. And the removal of emotional stress when visualizing such objects will not leave indifferent any resident of the city.
It is clear that the implementation of such ideas is not an easy task. The production process in this case is the most important part. After all, we are not talking about a plot of land, but about a roof. And each roof is individual. A competent approach is also required on the part of the architects who have implemented their projects, and the calculation of an increase in the load on the roofing system during landscaping, and, most importantly, the correct use of funds allocated for roof greening. Today in the Russian market there are various companies that provide roof greening services, but not all of them can give guarantees for the work performed. Operated roofs with greenery are a complex system in which each element performs its own specific function. It is impossible to separate these elements. Therefore, ZinCo RUS guarantees the use of the ZinCo system for its Customers. Cash investments will be justified only if the composition of the "pie" of the roof has passed, all tests and received certification, and the specialists involved in the implementation of the project have the highest qualifications. With proper landscaping of the roof, you can forget about its further repair.
Which roofs can be considered exploited and which are not?
- Roofs with damaged waterproofing are completely unsuitable for operation. The question of whether the roof will be in use or not is decided at the stage of developing the architectural design of the building. In the case of an exploited roof, additional loads on the floor slab are calculated in advance and all the features arising from this are taken into account. But in general, any roof can be greened. You just need to choose your own "pie" for each and take into account the permissible loads. It must be understood that landscaping can be very different: it can be a lawn, and a carpet of sedum, and trees. The specialists of the Tsinko RUS company take into account all possible options and develop an individual landscaping project for each individual case.
Greening the roof is a very costly business. Are investors ready to pay for green roofing?
- If the ecological situation in megalopolises was objectively at a height, then perhaps we would not have to think about greening roofs. But today the real situation is such that humanity is in a desperate situation. I don't think anyone wants to wear a gas mask due to the extremely polluted air. In addition, roof greening provides economic benefits:
- protection of roof waterproofing, no need for its repair;
- the opportunity to open a cafe or restaurant on flat exploited roofs, creating an aesthetic "green" design, which will also provide additional income;
- indisputable attractiveness of residential buildings and office centers with flowering terraces, green balconies and the possibility of access to the own cherry orchard located on the roof;
- the view from the window of a residential building to the flowering roof of a neighboring public building will also increase the cost of housing.
- How else, in addition to landscaping, can you use an exploited roof?
- There are a lot of options: football field, playgrounds, places for business negotiations with terraced superstructures, a vegetable garden for own needs, production greenhouses - in a word, you can make any customer's fantasies come true. Company "Tsinko RUS" for a decade of work has already implemented almost all of the above options in different cities of Russia from St. Petersburg to the Urals. The only condition is to correctly calculate the loads.
Tell us about the projects of the company "Tsinko RUS"implemented in Moscow and in the Moscow region. Which of them would you highlight?
- First of all, I would like to focus on corporate green roof project Sberbank University (architect Erik van Egeraat).
The project is unique in its architectural, constructive and engineering solutions, which provide the personnel with comfortable conditions for work, study and recreation.
All buildings of the university are a complex of high environmental and energy efficiency, in which architectural and planning solutions, a high level of thermal protection of enclosing structures and energy-saving engineering systems are functionally connected. On a significant part of the coverings, an exploitable roof with green spaces is provided, which significantly reduces heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. Thanks to the green roof, the complex fits perfectly into the landscape and is in harmony with the picturesque relief along the Istra River.
For this project, Tsinko RUS specialists recommended a standard roofing cake for extensive landscaping.
The roof gardening system involves the creation of a multi-layer roofing "pie", consisting of components for various purposes, in a complex to compensate plants for the loss of their natural environment and guarantee the stable existence of the vegetation cover on the "green" roof. Into the roofing "pie" buildings of the corporate university of Sberbank includes the following layers:
• Anti-root layer - Anti-root film WSF 40, laying is done directly on the waterproofing layer, ensuring its protection against root germination;
• Protective moisture-accumulating layer - Moisture-accumulating and protective mat SSM 45 - protects the waterproofing from possible mechanical damage and acts as an accumulator of additional moisture;
• Drainage storage layer - Floradrain FD 25/40 - accumulates the optimal amount of moisture necessary to ensure the life of plants and regulates the outflow of water;
• Filter layer - System filter TG - provides water filtration, preventing the penetration of fine particles of the substrate into the drainage-accumulating element and thus protecting it from silting;
• Roof gardening substrate, in which the plants are planted.
The composition of the substrate was developed by ZinCo and is its know-how. ZinCo Roof Gardening Substrate contains the nutrients necessary for plants, does not cake, does not compact for a long time, is water and air permeable, and provides plants with a favorable habitat.
• Vegetation cover "Green" roof, including a wide variety of plants from unpretentious sedums to lawns, ornamental and fruit shrubs and trees.
Another interesting project implemented by "Tsinko RUS" is extensive landscaping of a roof with a slope in Pestovo … A private house with several pitched roofs is located in the Mytishchi district of the Moscow region, in the village of Rumyantsevo. Landscaping area is about 1000 sq. m.
Two roofs of a house in Pestovo face the south, which provides them with the greatest amount of sunlight, the other two roofs face north, receiving only grazing rays. For this reason, the southern and northern roofs are slightly different from each other. They are extensively landscaped, for which several types of sedums have been used - false, acrid and white. For example, by using a false sedum with purple leaves, an imitation of a wave was created. Landscaping is done in a free style, as the house is surrounded by natural spaces. After a couple of years, the plants will grow, and the roofs will practically merge with the surrounding landscape. Since the roof slope is not great, it turned out to be quite sufficient to lay the following elements of the roofing "pie":
• Floradrain FD 25, • System filter SF
• Substrate according to ZingCo technology.
Beyond private orders the company "Tsinko RUS" is actively involved in the implementation of large urban projects. So, in 2012 we made landscaping of the object "Hypercube. Skolkovo Innovation Center " (architect Boris Bernasconi). The narrow galleries flanking the building on seven floors are covered with sedums, resistant to drought and freezing, rapidly growing and undemanding to maintain. Besides, they can grow in only a 6-centimeter layer of the substrate. This is a very good indicator allowing to green almost any roof.
After the installation of the ZinCo system, the direct planting of plants began. Sedums are spaced 15–20 cm apart. In just a couple of years, they form a uniform green carpet that requires little or no maintenance. Since the landscaping is located under the roof and media facade, where natural precipitation only partially gets, and in some places it does not get at all, automatic irrigation was provided. Sedums growing outdoors do not need additional watering. The galleries provide for a wide enough dump necessary for the passage of workers and maintenance of the media facade. The lattice flooring at the exits from the building is placed on adjustable supports - elephites.
The composition of the roofing "pie" in this project:
• anti-root film WSF 40, • moisture-accumulating and protective mat SSM 45, • Floradrain FD 25, • System filter TG, • Substrate according to Zinko technology.
Tsinko RUS is always happy to offer architects and customers its services in implementing the ideas of creating a green roof. Tsinko RUS
• Active participation in the design process in the system customer - designer - contractor
• Optimal selection of a technical system and drawing up a dendrological plan for a given object
• Use of zoned planting material
• Use of the latest building technologies and materials.
• Quality management system GOST R ISO 9001-2008 (ISO 9001: 2008)
• Providing warranty obligations
