Green roofs, often called living roofs, are either wholly or partially covered with vegetation planted over a waterproofing membrane. They serve several purposes, such as absorbing rainwater, providing insulation, and lowering air temperature. There are several advantages of environmental and financial matters that come with having a green roof.
There are many inspiring projects featuring buildings with green roofs, and we have selected a few that might raise your interest in the matter.
01. OUTrial House In Poland By Robert Konieczny KWK Promes.
The first project that caught our eye is this contemporary residence in Ksiazenice, Poland. It’s called the OUTrial house and was a project by Katowice-based studio KWK Promes. The house was constructed in 2007, and the whole residence ended up measuring 1,937 square feet. Before starting the project, this place was a splendid clearing surrounded by forest. The location is terrific.
The main idea behind this project was to create a contemporary residence with a design that would allow the client to enjoy the surrounding panoramas and the beautiful environment fully. The client also wanted the house to become a part of the landscape and connect with the surrounding environment. The architect tried to achieve that by opting for a green roof. As for the structure and layout of the house, the client’s request for a recording studio and conservatory played an important role.
An atrium was created that has become a part of both the indoor and outdoor areas. It’s a quiet space, partially independent from the rest of the building but only accessible through the house’s interior.
02. Meera Sky Garden House In Singapore By Guz Architects
The Meera House is another imposing residence that could easily be considered a dream home. It’s located on the island of Sentosa adjacent to Singapore and was designed and built by Guz Architects. Situated on a new housing estate, the residence is surrounded by several other buildings. The structures are built closely together, forming a unique and inspiring community.
Since the plots are not significant and the houses are built close to the sides of the neighboring properties, the architects decided to consider this aspect when designing the Meera House. Their strategy was to create a solid wall on each side of the property to provide privacy when possible. Another important detail that should be mentioned is that a green roof covers each level.
This way, the upper spaces can access the green terrace and provide splendid views. The main idea was to allow each roof garden to provide a base for the story above. This way, a layered structure was created. Each level is delimitated from the rest. The result is the feeling that you’re sitting in a single-story design with a beautiful garden outside.
03. Stone House In Vietnam By Vo Trong Nghia Architects.
Located in Dong Trieu, Quang Ninh Province, Vietnam, this residence impresses with its unusual design and shape. The house was a project developed by the Vietnamese architectural firm Vo Trong Nghia and has been recently completed. However, the design of the structure makes it seem a lot older. This dramatic building stands out in a quiet residential area with its torus-shaped structure.
But it’s not just the shape that makes this house unique. The Stone House, as it was very well named, features a rising green roof and walls built of dark blue stone. These carefully thought design details allow the house to integrate into the natural landscape seamlessly. Moreover, the green roof makes it seem like a natural part of the environment.
Internally, the rooms have been organized around an oval courtyard. All the areas in the house are interconnected, and the circulation continues to the green roof. The roof is a garden that connects all the rooms. It’s also an element that establishes a solid indoor-outdoor connection. The vast oval wall has been built using cubic stone and plays a vital role in filtering all the natural light that enters the property. It also gives the house a somewhat primitive look, even though it’s a modern residence.
04. Meadow House In Canada By Ian MacDonald Architect.
The House in Caledon was a unique project developed by Toronto-based studio Ian MacDonald Architect. The residence is in the Regional Municipality of Peel in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada. It sits on a 90-acre property defined by beautiful panoramic views. The house was designed for a family of four, and the circumstances were quite interesting.
The agricultural property featured an existing barn and a stone farmhouse, providing an unusual setting for the new building. Despite the solid rural atmosphere and environment, the architects tried to incorporate everything into a modern design. The barn and farmhouse have been left intact and separated from the newly built house.
When designing this residence, several aspects have been taken into consideration. For example, the landscape and agricultural history had to be respected and made a part of the concept. So to integrate the house into the surroundings better, it has been partially hidden underground and covered with a green roof. This way, it doesn’t stand out as much, and the focus shifts toward the landscape and all the historical beauty surrounding the house. The roof features the same type of vegetation as the meadow, and this way, it easily connects with the landscape.
05. 2 Bar House In California By Feldman Architecture.
Located in Menlo Park, a city in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, the 2 Bar House is a modern residence with an exciting design. It’s not the actual shape or appearance of the house that impresses the most but the techniques and concepts used when designing it. The house was a project by San Francisco-based studio Feldman Architecture, completed in September 2010.
It’s a two-story contemporary home that measures 2,120 square feet and is built with a cost-conscious design. The architects also tried to incorporate green materials and technologies into the design to create the perfect home for the clients and their two young children. Initially, the site was occupied by a different structure. But that was an old house with an inefficient design that didn’t respond to the client’s needs.
It was replaced with a new and modern structure that features an open design that perfectly responds to the indoor/outdoor lifestyle of the clients. It’s called the 2 Bar House because of its internal structure. There’s a bedroom bar placed perpendicularly above a living bar, so two separate areas or volumes are created. The lower level has sliding doors that can be opened to let in natural light, and it also has a green roof with a deck.
06. North Bay Residence In USA By Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Architects.
The North Bay Residence is a contemporary home completed in 2009 and measures 2,800 square feet. The house is located on San Juan Island, Washington state, USA, and has fantastic views. It sits on a beautiful but somewhat restricted site that overlooks Griffin Bay and provides spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.
Finding the right spot to build the house was a challenge. Three majestic trees already occupied the perfect place for the home. They were beautiful, so chopping them down was not something the clients were willing to do without exploring other options. The architects that designed the house came up with a solution. They considered the trees an essential part of the site’s and the house’s history and charm, so they decided to preserve them.
For the roof, the architects chose a green version with drought-resistant plants. They managed to squeeze the house into the available free space. But there was another problem that needed their attention. Since the house was now close to the road, visual and acoustic privacy needed to be established. A stone wall was built, becoming the barrier between the public and private areas.
07. Malbaie V “Le Phare” In Canada By MU Architecture.
The Malbaie V “Le Phare” project was developed by Malbaie V “Le Phare” project. It resulted in the construction of a stunning contemporary home in the region of Cap-à-l’Aigle in central Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada. Completed in November 2010, the house measures 2,400 square feet. It’s a stunning two-story residence with a simple but dynamic design.
The house is structured in several geometrical volumes that interfere with one another. The house appears to rise from the ground, allowing it to establish a strong connection with the outdoors. Another element contributing to this is the green roof and natural materials that will enable the residents to blend in and become a part of the landscape.
The ground level is a continuous open plan that contains the main living areas and public spaces. It also integrates four bedrooms and two full bathrooms that were arranged linearly. The residence is covered with a green roof as an insulating layer. The exterior and interior portions are covered in wood panels, and strong contrasts are created between the materials used. Nevertheless, these materials also help the residents harmoniously integrate into the surroundings.
08. Villa Ronde On The Japanese Coast By Ciel Rouge.
Villa Ronde is a unique structure for several reasons. It was designed and built by the Franco-Japanese architectural firm Ciel Rouge, and it’s a luxury residence on the Japanese coast. It has a stunning and unique design, including a private museum, a guest house, and a resort. But first, let’s learn a little general information about it.
As its name suggests, Villa Ronde is a round structure, and it’s organized around a central courtyard. Its design is not purely decorative as it also helps protect the building from strong winds by deflecting them. Also, it’s a detail that helps with the natural ventilation on the interior. The rooms can be closed for privacy or form a continuous area around the patio. The central concept behind the design of this impressive structure was to create an organic space.
The building is hidden behind coastal vegetation. It has the same color as the rock, and its green roof further camouflages it by helping it seamlessly integrate into the landscape. The windows are oval and create focal points, while the rest of the space is private. Inside all the rooms are connected, making a large gallery.
09. Black Beauty Mariposa In Costa Rica By Kalia.
The Black Beauty Mariposa Villa is a vacation in the Black Beauty Village of Ostional, where it also got its name. The village is located in the province of Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The house measures a total of 4,424 square feet and features three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms. It’s a magnificent contemporary structure, and it was designed and built by Kalia.
The location of this vacation home is fantastic. It offers views of both the Pacific Ocean and the beautiful mountains, and the combination is breathtaking. In terms of architecture, it’s a simple structure with minimalist details and has a design based on functionality. The interior reveals a luxurious eco-design. The house can be rented all year round.
The house has two levels, and it’s structured into volumes. It’s entirely covered with a beautiful green roof. The property also has a splendid exterior garden, and a glass bridge-like structure separates the living and entertainment areas from the private spaces. The bedrooms all share amazing panoramic views. The primary bedroom can be accessed through a corridor above the family room and the guest suites.
10. Nature Preserve House In USA By John McLeod Architect.
The McLeod residence is a fascinating structure. It’s located in Middlebury, Vermont, and was built in 2008. Designed and built by John McLeod Architect, the home has a neutral exterior that allows it to blend in. But even though it’s a modern structure, it looks like it has been there for a long time. That’s because it integrates perfectly into the landscape and the surrounding area.
When designing the house, several aspects have been taken into consideration. They include the sun, the climate, the topography, and also the community. Everything had to be in sync, and the results had to be well-balanced. The architects then created this 1500-square-foot building. It’s a somewhat modest structure built on a piece of land surrounded by trees and vegetation.
It’s situated at the edge of a natural preserve. The single-story house faces the road, and the scale of the neighborhood also dictated its design and dimensions. One portion of the structure reaches three stories: the private volume. The residence features a sloped roof that’s covered in vegetation. This further allows it to seamlessly integrate into the landscape and become a part of the surroundings.
11. Villa Bio In Spain By Enric Ruiz Geli.
Located in Barcelona, Spain, Villa Bio is a contemporary residence architect Enric Ruiz-Geli designed. The architect worked with interior designer Manel Soler Caralps, and landscape designer Joan Madorell and the collaboration resulted in the creation of a beautiful structure that was completed in 2005.
The goal was to create a residence that would become a natural part of the site and replicate the organic lines of the surrounding landscape. The house sits on a platform made of concrete that’s shaped like a C. To make the house blend in better, it was covered with natural vegetation. The green roof also had other advantages, such as better insulation and the opportunity to create a beautiful terrace with fantastic views.
The materials used for this project mainly include stone and glass. The combination is simple and contrasting, resulting in a striking design. The green roof further adds drama. Its shape and design contribute to this image as well. The whole project is unusual. The lines seem to follow organic forms, and there appears to be an overall continuous design that focuses on integrating the building into a natural environment that doesn’t exist in that area.
12. Container Guest House In San Antonio, USA, By Poteet Architects.
Luxury, imposing houses aren’t the only ones that can benefit from a green roof. Even a small and simple shipping container house can use some of its benefits. It’s the case with this lovely shipping container guest house from San Antonio.
The client approached Texas architect Jim Poteet about a project that involved the transformation of a shipping container into a playhouse and guest house. Even though the architect had never worked with a container before, the project was a spectacular success and a tremendous challenge. The house that was created is made from a standard 40-foot shipping container and measures 320 square feet. It’s small but the perfect addition to the client’s backyard.
The container is painted blue and has been equipped with heating and air-conditioning systems. But since the insulation was still a problem, the architect decided to add a green roof. The roof is filled with plants that help regulate the temperature, giving the house a more organic appearance and allowing it to integrate into the backyard area. It was a spectacular transformation, resulting in a perfectly functional guest house and playhouse.
13. House at León, Spain, By Alarcón + Asociados.
House at Leon is a contemporary residence that looks stunning and has been built on a low budget with minimal effort. It’s located in Leon, Spain, and it was designed and constructed by Alarcón + Asociados / Alberto Alarcón along with collaborators Sara Rojo, Carlos Tomás, Clara García, and Heloise. Completed in 2009, the house covers an area of 310 square meters.
The design of the house and the structure were inspired by traditional Chinese architecture. It consists of three different volumes that are all linked together. This allows them to function as separate spaces while still being connected. But the final skyline doesn’t delimitate the volumes, so the visual structure doesn’t necessarily represent the internal structure. The resulting building has a contemporary design with a simple yet unusual layout and form.
But that’s not the only exciting thing about this project. The residence is also a low-energy building. Its interior is warm during the winter and cools in the summer, so the insulation is excellent. The design helps with that, but a great advantage also comes from the green roof used for the entire house. This is a perfect example of a project made on a budget with beautiful results.
14. Villa Am See In The Swiss Alps By Unger & Treina AG.
Most contemporary residences have simple designs that focus more on functionality. But it’s also common for architects and clients to want something unique. It’s the case of this unusual residence located high above Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. It impresses with its design and layout and, to make things even better, it benefits from stunning views of the Swiss Alps.
The house is a massive structure and features striking architecture from several points of view. It was designed by Ungertreina and had a sculptural structure with a dynamic design. The house consists of three volumes, and it isn’t easy to see them as a whole when they are all so different from the others. It’s not just the appearance but the actual positioning and design. Each volume has a different layout.
Besides the panoramic views of the lake and the mountains, the top areas benefit from the beauty of the exposed green roof. But even though they are unique, they still have elements in common. For example, all three volumes have thick glass walls, each focusing on a different section of the panorama. On the ground level, a massive steel garage door leads to a corridor and then to the three concrete boxes stacked one on top of the other. The gallery has a dramatic décor as the exposed concrete walls and the lighting create the impression of a tunnel.
15. House S In Germany By Roger Christ.
We continue the expose with a project that, unlike the ones presented so far, doesn’t have to do with a contemporary house built from scratch. The house we’re talking about was initially built in the 60s. This remodeling project was recently completed in Wiesbaden, a city in the southwest of Germany.
It’s a single-level bungalow that architect Wilfried Hilger originally built. It has been recently remodeled as part of a project developed by German studioCHIRST.CHRIST. It was transformed into a two-story contemporary house with a stunning green roof. The roof area was envisioned as a building space that could be used to create other independent structures. It’s an exciting idea that responds to our constant need for expansion despite the lack of land.
House S was remodeled for a family of four that also wanted to renovate the space. The architects that worked on this project tried to maintain the building’s original charm while making severe changes. To keep the existing bungalow intact, they added three box-like structures on the flat roof. A glass corridor interconnects them. The green roof provides a lovely base for the contemporary home.
16. Black Beauty Luna Villa In Costa Rica By Kalia.
The Black Beauty Village in Ostional also has several other beautiful residences that can be admired. Another stylish contemporary home in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, is the Black Beauty Luna Villa. This is a 4,618-square-foot building with three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms.
The house has been designed and built by Kalia, and it features lovely views of the Pacific Ocean and the beautiful mountains in the distance. It’s situated on a slightly sloped site with expansive views that reveal the stunning panoramic views of the forest, ocean, and mountains. Like the other one located in the same area we’ve presented, the villa can be booked all year round.
The entrance is visible once you enter the exterior courtyard. Terraces, ponds, and waterfalls dominate it. The entry then reveals a vast entertaining area that contains the kitchen, the dining room, and the living spaces. The main living and lounge areas also open onto the exterior dining area and the poolside spaces. The primary suite features a luxurious décor, and the guest rooms above share the same characteristics. In addition, the green roof only adds more charm to the villa.
17. House On The Hill In Madrid By PYF Arquitectura.
Located in the beautiful city of Madrid, this contemporary residence impresses with its openness and organic simplicity. The house was designed and built by architect Miguel Barahona in collaboration with PYF Arquitectura. It’s a single-family home that occupies an area of 4,000 square feet. Completed in 2010, the house features a beautiful green roof and an impressive U-shaped swimming pool.
The house is situated on the highest point of the plot, allowing it to offer spectacular views of the valley and the mountain in the distance. The property also includes its beautiful natural garden decorated with rocks and oaks. The actual design of the house is nicely balanced, allowing it to seem very light and open. It has floor-to-ceiling windows and a simple internal structure with large open spaces.
The house has been organized around three courtyards. Two are pretty small, while the larger one contains the indoor pool and the adjacent lounge areas. The living area and the main bedroom offer views of the pool that extends into the garden. The living room is surrounded by water on three sides. The slanted roof is covered with drought-resistance plants and almost disappears into the landscape.
18. Fish House In Singapore By Guz Architects.
The Fish House is a luxury home that can be found in Singapore. It was designed and built by Guz Architects and had a contemporary look. Given that Singapore is a region with a hot and humid climate, certain design elements were a must. For example, natural ventilation was a detail that architects had to consider when designing the house. The large windows and the green roof were also elements introduced into the design for similar purposes.
The house has a surface of 5,800 square feet. It has an impressive contemporary design with luxury details, and, in addition, it also offers beautiful views of the ocean. As for the interior, it’s divided into several areas. The basement includes a spectacular media room, while the rest accommodates everything else. The idea behind this house’s design was to develop some organic relationship between the house and the surrounding nature.
The swimming pool partially connects the house to the landscape. It creates a visual connection with the sea. The media room has a U-shaped window that offers views into the pool and provides diffuse natural light. It’s an exciting and eye-catching feature. The curved roofs were designed to symbolize the waves. They are partially covered with solar panels; the rest is a green roof.
19. Mill Valley Cabins In USA By Feldman Architecture.
We now shift our attention towards something a little different. Let’s look at this beautiful property in Mill Valley, California. Here there is a lovely home perched on a hill. But it’s not the real home that we’re interested in. What caught our attention are the two cabins situated on the same property.
With a simple and alluring look, the cabins were built as accessories for the existing home. They were designed and constructed by Feldman Architecture. The cabins are accessories that complement the house and add structural strength to the property. The clients envisioned these cabins as a couple of tranquil and private spaces. One serves as an artist studio, while the other is a yoga space/guest cabin.
The two cabins are placed between trees. Their location is strategic from several points of view. For example, they each capture unique and different views that can be admired through the large windows. The roofs of the cabins are covered with green plants. This way, they provide lovely views of a small garden when seen from above, from the main house. Also, the clients and the designers agreed that it would also be an element that would allow the cabins to integrate more easily into the hillside.
20. Kerchum Residence In Canada By Frits de Vries Architect.
For now, the last property we included here is a beautiful contemporary home found in Vancouver, Canada. Frits de Vries designed and built the residence and named the West 21st House. It has a total surface of 3070 square feet and sits on a 42 feet wide lot. The location is beautiful as it offers views of Pacific Spirit Park and the distant city center.
The residence has an overall simple and flexible design. The main idea behind the project was to create a space that would allow versatility and that would be able to adapt to everyday changes and modifications. The client also had another request. He wanted the house also to feature a solid indoor-outdoor connection. To make that happen, the architects designed outdoor patios and gardens at all levels of the house. In addition, the green roof further helps the house establish a closer connection to nature.
The house also uses passive solar energy and features high-efficiency windows, solar water heating systems, and other measures designed to keep energy consumption to a minimum while also allowing a luxurious living experience. The green roof also helps regulate the temperature and absorb rainwater. The appliances and fixtures were also carefully selected; for the interior, recycled materials were used for the flooring.
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