I like these images, from the FreakAngels series.

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.

Posted by: acl on June 8, 2008 7:34 PM

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

Posted by: sikantis on June 8, 2008 7:47 PM

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

Posted by: amplifier on June 8, 2008 9:01 PM

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

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

Posted by: Alex Steffen on June 8, 2008 9:19 PM

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)

Posted by: Tony Fisk on June 9, 2008 3:55 PM

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.

Posted by: Robert on June 10, 2008 12:13 AM

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

Love!

Posted by: Terra Verde on June 10, 2008 10:10 AM

Alex,

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

Posted by: Geoffrey Mantel on June 11, 2008 10:12 AM

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.

Posted by: Aquaponic Dave on June 11, 2008 12:47 PM

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*

Posted by: FM on June 15, 2008 7:54 AM

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