Above building roof garden

To help prevent or reduce the level of the rate of global warming, increase the green open space with a garden on the roof of the house, storey buildings, hotels and offices is one effective way. Although the condition of most urban area of fill-storey building, the designers (architects, and landscape architects) to create a green open space to add plants that have been taken over when the building was built.

By making the park above the roof, storey buildings can still have a green open space, because there is space efficiency. Park above the roof (roof garden) is as an alternative reforestation to improve the quality of a large city environmental health. Currently, only a few five-star hotel in central Jakarta which has a garden on the roof (roof garden).

Making the park above the roof (roof garden) is not cheap and need structure and specific roof construction. Even for optimal results, the construction of the roof to the garden was designed from the beginning, before the building was built. However, this investment can come back in a few years later, because the cost of electricity for air conditioning is reduced, and increases the economic value of the building.

A private hospital in Singapore managed to reduce electricity consumption by 50 percent, after a garden above the roof (roof garden). Although the roof garden was just a tomato plant, which is placed in the pot to cover the entire roof. Another advantage, the hospital did not have to buy tomatoes again.

In addition to the shade, the park above the roof (roof garden) can also be used to absorb toxic gases. Eg bamboo or palm can absorb formaldehyde gas and gasoline. While plant daffodils, in addition to absorbing formaldehyde gas and gasoline, as well as alcohol and acetone to absorb the resulting paint and so on. Vines also serve to absorb the gas acetate, ammonia, and other gases. Because of this function, widely used vines to the garden on the roof (roof garden) in foreign countries such as Singapore and Japan.

How to Build Roof Above Park

Before making a rooftop garden, first consider the construction of the building roof. Is it designed to support medium load of soil and planting trees will be planted on it or not. Because the park above the roof (roof garden) should be supported roof structures and strong construction.

The existence of the park above the roof (roof garden) will lead to increased load. Piles of soil and plants will increase the dead load, wind load, and the additional burden of water on the roof of the building. The building must have a drainage system that works well.

If the type of shrubs to be planted, he will take the roof load increased by about 650 kg/m2. Plus live load according to activity on the roof garden. For example, 400 kg / m 2 for sports, 500 kg/m2 for the party and dance, as well as 250 kg / m 2 for restaurants.

To plant a large tree, the location of the floor plate to the structural columns that supported the concrete plates do not collapse. In addition, retaining walls need to be made the ground because the tree requires a sufficient thickness of soil, or make a hole in the roof of the building, under a tree.
Construction of a roof leak-prone, and should be equipped with drainage channels. Drainage layer such as gravel, sand, and pumice stone should be added to the water easily flows into the drain hole. Filter made of geo-textiles or fibers to function under the water to keep the grain land but not to clog the drain.

To prevent damage to water-resistant coating (water proof layer), barrier layers must be added to the plant roots do not damage the waterproof coating and the concrete underneath.

Because the roof above the plants exposed to direct sunlight and the wind faster, watering should be done regularly. Spraying water that it needs to be done manually or automatically.

For the planting media, the formula should be light but have the ability to provide nutrients and moisture. For example, by mixing sand with a layer of wood shavings added pine bark and manure. The depth of planting medium for the grass requires 20 to 30 centimeters, as well as cover crops. Meanwhile, shrubs and small trees require 60-105 inches deep. Large trees to a depth of almost 2 meters.