When walking through Plymouth I noticed this bike shed outside of the University which had a green roof, planted within it were succulents and other small plants. I actually managed to speak to someone at the University about them and they explained how they improve oxygen levels in the area, they also told me that the metal work was refurbished which lowers its carbon footprint. I also think the aesthetic of the shed is really nice, the dark tones of the metal they have used gives it a modern and sleek feel. The plants themselves have a strong ecological impact giving homes to insects and in turn a source of food for the native birds.
I think it’s really exciting to see changes like this being made by such a big establishment and I hope that more developments like this can be made. I plan to research more into green roofs as I’d like to consider this as a potential roofing material. The idea of a green roof really resonates with me as it combines both aesthetics and biodiversity.
Taking the time to sketch the building allowed me to grasp a greater understanding of the structure and made me consider things, like how deep the roof would have to be to accommodate the plants, also whether you’d need a drainage system such as guttering as the soil would absorb water, this is something I’ll have to look into further.
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