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| Modular systems for roof gardens (rurban) | |
| The design of ecological roofs is increasingly important in the merging of urban and rural lifestyles (rural + urban = rurban). Planting roofs with groundcover plants is now considered as a new desirable building structure, despite its realtively high installation cost. see www.rural-urban.org The layers of an ecological roof, including the plants reduces atmospheric pollution by absorbing certain organic chemicals, metals such as lead and accumulating dust particles for example. The roofs help insulate building from high and low temperatures, thereby reducing energy consumption of heating and cooling systems. Acoustic pollution, a special problem in busy urban areas, is also reduced thanks to the aborption of noise by the layer of vegetation. The last but not least advantage is the positive aesthetic effect conferred by green roofs. Research at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, Spain, led by Francisco Javier Neila González, has devised a modular system for ecological roofs. Particular attention was given to the use of plant species indigenous to the Mediterranean area and Central Spain (Madrid) in particular. Plants such as Sedum praealtum and Aptenia cordifolia were found particularly good because of their speed of growth, density of vegetation and complete coverage. These plants have thick leaves and resist high and low temperatures, inluding a frost. The work intends to trial a range of different species in accordance with the geographic location and climate of the buildings concerned. The installation of green roofs, walls and gardens is now receiving particular attention at the planning stage for new buildings in various European countries, Germany in particolar. Some examples of such work in the City of London can be seen onwww.urbanroofgardens.com The basic parameters of the ecological roofs being studiesd in Madrid include several layers. The plants grow in a light substrate. This lies over a layer of porous concrete that acts as a sieve for excess water and to collect rainwater in an underlying water tank. An even irrigation of the plant-substrate layer is provided by capillary action from the water tank. The floor of the roof is waterproofed and further insulated with layers of polystyrene. AlphaGalileo E-mail: Francisco Javier Neila Gonzálezfjavier.neila@upm.es www.upm.es www.plataformasinc.es |
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