Archinect - News

NASA explores potential for green roofs to lower temperatures in cities

2022-05-30T09:02:00-04:00

Research undertaken by NASA has found that rooftop gardens can offer substantial temperature reductions in cities during summer months. In a study published in the journal Sustainable Cities and Society, the group used satellite imagery to measure temperatures at three rooftop gardens in Chicago compared to before the roof gardens were installed.

The research sought to understand ways of mitigating the “urban heat island” in cities, where the heat absorption and retention of materials such as concrete and asphalt can cause temperatures to be ten degrees higher in cites than in surrounding areas.

Related on Archinect: 10 green rooftop spaces we liked this week

“As cities grow and develop, they need to make good decisions about their infrastructure, because these decisions often last for 30 or 50 years or longer,” said Christian Braneon, a climate scientist and civil engineer at Columbia University and co-author of the study. “In the context of more frequent heatwaves and more extreme...

Living wall systems can reduce heat lost from existing buildings by 31% say researchers

2021-12-08T12:03:00-05:00

Researchers at the University of Plymouth in the UK have published a study which found that overlaying living walls on existing buildings can improve thermal performance by 31%.

The findings arose from a live experiment on a campus building, where researchers added a living wall system to an uninsulated external masonry cavity wall. The cavity masonry wall has been one of the most common forms of construction across the UK, Europe, North America, and Asia since the 1920s, with cavity systems accounting for 70% of UK dwellings. In addition, 30% of the UK’s building stock does not have cavity insulation.

Related on Archinect: A case for nature: Architect and regenerative design strategist Amanda Sturgeon pushes for rewilding cities. Image: SFMOMA's Living Wall - San Francisco, CA. Design by David Brenner. Architect: Snohetta (2016). Photo © Garry Belinsky

The Plymouth study is not the first to investigate the impact of living wall systems on such properties. One previous study cite...

Designing living walls and green roofs could be your next future-proof career move

2021-08-11T13:13:00-04:00

Exploring alternative options for building sustainability has become a critical part of the architectural design process. With climate change efforts increasing, living walls and green roofs are one of the many ways architects, landscape architects, and design professionals transform new and existing buildings.

Last week, we highlighted an opportunity to work as an Interior Architect for a Las Vegas Theatre company. This week we're profiling the North Carolina-based firm Living Roofs Inc. and their search for a Project Designer. This job position is ideal for someone looking for part-time work and passionate about horticulture and green infrastructure.

Living Roof team working on green roof that sits on top of Publix grocery story at the Smokey Hollow development in downtown Raleigh. Plant Materials Used: Native Perennials and Grasses. Image courtesy of Living Roofs Inc. via Instagram

The firm shares that their ideal candidate will help with "various drafting, graphic production, a...