Look at some of biggest cities around the world and you’ll see green roofs becoming more and more popular. In this post, we wanted to share some inspirations of some amazing green roofs right here in Australia.

Edge Towers Yarra Melbourne

According to a report by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, titled ‘Living Wall and Green Roof Plants of Australia’, green roofs in the built environment offer significant bottom line benefits.

Designed by landscape architects Edaw Gillespies Melbourne this green roof provides residents in the high-rise apartments with an aesthetically pleasing outlook, as well as delivers the recognised physical and climatic benefits associated with green roofs.

Victorian Desalination Project Green Roof

Rooftop gardens also lessen energy demands and attendant CO2 emissions - they help improve a building’s insulation, reduce cooling and some winter heating costs, as well as lower the electromagnetic radiation from other buildings, which increases solar panel production.

Blending in with the surrounding landscape, the roofs store and clean rain water, while providing acoustic and thermal insulating properties for the buildings they sit on.

Lena Karmel Lodge Canberra

Green roofs help to lower urban air temperature and alleviate urban heat island effects, which occur when generate heat is absorbed by the building, pavements and vehicles in cities.

“The roof garden is a counter-balance to the busy city life and transport interchange below,” says architect Trevor Hamilton.

High Rise Meadow Sydney

Green roofs improve the wellbeing and productivity of citizens.

“People like them; it adds to the green open space not available at ground level. They are healthier, happier and take less sick days simply because they are looking out at a green roof,” Senior Lecturer in Urban Horticulture, John Rayner says.

Westbury Green Roof

But a green roof doesn’t mean merely putting some grass and planting some shrubs on desolate roofs, choosing the right plants so the green roof can flourish is essential. Some plants perform better than others in certain climates and areas. Product selection also plays a big part in ensuring the green roof remains low maintenance but long-lasting, while weight loading issues must be considered from the very beginning.

“We aimed for a relaxed suburban backyard feel that was well-serviced for entertainment, but had virtually zero maintenance requirements,” said Mark Harper, principal of Atlantis Design.