The potential of promoting biodiversity the cities is one of the main advantages of green roofs. These ones may be designed as connection points between green infrastructures and their habitats inside cities. Although the traditional roofs can provide a habitat for common species, green roofs can be specially designed to be the habitat of rare species. A curious example is the reappearance of the bird “black redstart” in London, thanks to programs to promote biodiverse green roofs in the city.

Forum da Maia Green roof approach was developed having in consideration an analysis of the space. Due to the building characteristics and the educational purpose of the project, a simple and naturalistic design was chosen with a focus on promoting biodiversity, that maximizes the vegetation zones and allows the sporadic visit of visitors in a non-invasive way. The concept for the green roof of Forum da Maia is mainly materialized in the terrain modelling and the composition of the vegetation, mostly indigenous and with species that are especially effective in promoting biodiversity.

The curves of the main path, naturalized with stabilized gravel, the naturalistic character of the plantations and the chosen species deliberately contrast with the rigid and formal character of the building. The large vegetation surrounding the building and present in all areas of the roof completes the composition serving as a green framing.

Regarding vegetation, this proposal prioritizes native species highly adapted to the climate of the region and promoters of biodiversity, such as Verbena bonariensis, Thymus serpyllum and Corynephorus canescens. The two main strata of vegetation vary between lower species, with about 20 cm and intermediate species, with about 1 meter height. Its textures, cuts and flowering provide a pleasant visual composition, which has sensorial interest throughout the year: greener and exuberant in spring/summer and more brownish and golden in autumn/winter.

Besides all the typical benefits of green roofs, it is intended that the green roof serves as an object of environmental education for different audiences and of contemplation/ occasional use for workers and visitors. This living roof is intended to work as a living laboratory and, for this, thermal and humidity sensors were installed along the different layers that comprise it, as well as a weather station that are interconnected and will be monitored by ITeCons technicians. The project also uses a green roof system of ecological design and 100% portuguese production, based on expanded cork agglomerates waste. This system is the result of a 3-year research project ("Green Urban Living - GUL") between Neoturf, Amorim, ANQIP and ITeCons, funded by the European community.

 

Fórum da Maia Fórum da Maia | Technical Sheet

Landscape architecture: Neoturf Project and Construction

Owner: Maia City Council

 

Green Urban Living Project (GUL) | Technical Sheet

Promoter: Amorim Isolamentos, S.A.

Co-promoter(s): Neoturf; ANQIP; ITeCons