Topic 3 Semi-Intensive Green Roofs
According to the German Landscape Research, Development and Construction Society (2018) «Green Roof Guidelines – Guidelines for the planning, construction and maintenance of green roofs»
- Semi-intensive greening is usually designed with ground cover plants, grasses, perennials and shrubs. The variety of uses and design is limited in comparison to an intensive green roof.
- The plants used make lower demands on the layer structure as well as on the supply of water and nutrients.
- The production cost is lower than for intensive green roofs.
- Maintenance measures are required to a reduced extent.
- Depending on the greening aims, some invasive vegetation, e.g., ground cover plants, herbaceous plants and moss can be tolerated.
- Green roof guidelines
GENO Haus in Stuttgart, Germany.
In 1969, the German government sponsored a green roof on the building. Thanks to the foam base, it has lasted quite a long time and was only renovated and improved in 1990.
Germany is the leader in Europe in terms of the intensity of “greening” roofs, with 10% of German roofs covered with grass.
The green roofs extend to the Stuttgart skyline, where municipal regulations have required the flat roofs of all new buildings to be green since 1989.