what would we call this -- Urban Forest Infill??

brings to mind some ideas of urban greenways that develop out of abandoned structures or lots. would love to see this sort of thing spring up in the real.

I like your post. Is this green roof really practical?

You could have at least linked FreakAngels there.
6 pages a week webcomic from Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield.

http://www.freakangels.com/?p=26

Doh! Didn't realized I hadn't linked. Thanks for the catch.

Further, let me say that Freakangels is really worth reading...

Is a green roof practical?

Yes and no. The problem is that all that water and biomass is *heavy*, and weighs more than the average roof is designed to safely carry.

So, it's feasible if you start designing buildings with that intention (simplistically, it could be viewed as adding another floor rather than a roof.)

But, kids, don't just go doing this at home...you will not be popular when you come though the ceiling of the main bedroom!

...Thinking about it, I would have our friend put his water tanks on the floor below (or the ceiling cavity), and pump it back up again (via solar power, naturally)

This looks a lot like the rooftops I see here in Taiwan. It´s quite normal to squeeze considerably sizable gardens into small balconies or rooftop porches here. In fact, we have one at our house.

I love walking around town and seeing a palm trees, vegetables, and vines jutting from the roof of an otherwise unremarkable building.

mmmmmmm very "Steampunk's Guide to the Apocalypse".

Love!

Alex,

I knew you were cool before, but this post raises it to a whole new level.

Looks nice, but the wind would tear that roof right off, and/or blow a pot off the edge onto some innocent passerby. Looks like the apocalypse has already happened so legal liability wouldn't be a problem though.

Well, now let's not get to carried away in the practicalities here. I think that the concept itself is the important thing, that, and the perspective shift it supplies us with. Cool idea, I'd love to see this in practice (although it might not be practical or safe). *starts dreaming*