Green Roof Systems – 3 Of the Best in Europe

Green roof systems are becoming increasingly popular throughout the world, with millions being spent to have them installed on modern buildings. Green roofs look great and they provide many benefits for the environment. In this blog, we will be talking about some of our favourite green roofs in Europe, as well as why they are perfect for commercial buildings. 

University of Warsaw, Poland 

Sitting pretty in Warsaw, Poland’s capital is the University of Warsaw. This university is unlike many others, with a huge green roof covering the top of the building’s library. The city which has had a violent history has now left that turmoil behind and is repositioning itself as a vibrant modern city. This is evident with the creation of this green roof, which is less a green roof and more a public urban park.

The roof is lined with walkways. Trees and bridges link the gardens on the roof together. The roof is open to the public and gives a good view of some of the communist era architecture that remains around the city to this day. 

Basel University Hospital, Switzerland 

The green roof on top of the university hospital in Basel was installed in 2003 in the interest of patient health. It covers roughly 32,000 square feet but is inaccessible to the public. It is located in the city centre, overlooking the Rhine. The roof contains areas of gravel to attract birds, as well as areas of sedum, herbs and moss designed to mimic the conditions of the river bank.

The depth of the substrate layers varies all over the roof, with the depths varying for the various different micro habitats used on the roof. These micro habitats are very effective at attracting wildlife and in 2015 there was over 100 different beetle species found on the roof.

Beaugrenelle Shopping Centre, France 

High above the bustling streets of Paris is the green roof atop the Beaugrenelle shopping centre. The green roof was installed in 2013 and was part of a $585 million renovation. The 75,000 square foot green roof was designed as a meadow and includes nesting boxes, beehives and even a small community garden. The aim of this green roof was to provide a home for wildlife as well as limit the extreme temperatures inside and around the building. 

It is the largest green roof in Paris and it has a 40cm thick substrate layer which encourages the growth of a range of different plants. A variety of insects and birds frequent the roof and they are encouraged to nest and breed there. 

Why Choose a Green Roof? 

Green roofs are a great choice for almost any kind of building, including commercial buildings. Green roofs are great for insulating buildings, keeping in your property’s warmth in the winter and evaporating heat in the summer. You won’t have to worry about watering the plants as, when it rains, they will act as a sponge absorbing the rainwater. Green roofs are eco-friendly and are a great way to help protect the planet. 

Interested in having a green roof installed on your commercial building? We can help, call us on 01603 418818 or email us on enquiries@roofsuk.co.uk.

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