Roof Gardens: History and Modernity

The modern version of green roofs, created by the hands of landscape designers on special technologies, appeared relatively recently and only takes its first steps. But the idea of gardens on the roofs is not new. Let’s take a little trip back in time and see where the first green roofs appeared. And then admire the famous creations of our days, which are in different countries of the world.

The history of the gardens on the roofs

It is proved that the homeland of this type of gardens — Babylon. The first mention of them belong to 2113 BC, But no one knows the look of those gardens. Archaeologists were able to find out only that they were located on the roofs of ziggurats (multi-stage religious buildings) in one of the cities on the territory of present-day Iraq.

Grew up there, most likely, large trees, because their remains are preserved.

Another and perhaps the most striking example of roof gardens in Babylon is the Hanging gardens of Babylon. They refer to 600 BC According to legend, king Nebuchadnezzar wanted to make a luxury gift to his wife Amitis. Originally from the mussel, with its expanses and green hills, the young Queen suffocated in the sweltering sand of Babylon. Therefore, the ruler decided to build a multi-tiered Palace with lush vegetation on each of the tiers. How many of them were — no one knows. Historians say that at least four. Terraces generously covered with fertile land, which planted plants brought from the homeland of Amitis. For ordinary citizens, the building was a real miracle-one of the seven wonders of the world, which in 126 BC was destroyed by the Persians.

In antiquity, the tradition of decorating the roofs of their houses was continued by influential citizens of Ancient Greece and Rome. They prefer plants in pots. The roofs of the mausoleums were decorated with trees. A striking example is the mausoleum of Emperor Augustus with cypresses on the roof.

The Renaissance “transferred” green roofs to Italy. It was there that most gardens were built on the roof. For example, the garden at Villa Medici in Florence, Dating back to 1400. Or a Palace with hanging gardens on the island of Isolo Bella, built in the 18th century.

Two architects Angelo Crivelli and Francesco Castelli worked on the creation of the magnificent residence. They also designed a garden, which is divided into 10 terraces, located one above the other. To this day, the garden of cardinal Borromeo never ceases to delight guests with lush flowering from March to October.

Gardens on the roofs of Russia were in the 17th century. Metropolitan Jonah ordered to create a garden on the second floor of the Rostov Kremlin. But because of the high cost of the idea to the masses did not go. Single copies could be found in estates of wealthy boyars and in the Moscow Kremlin. 1623 – the time of creation of the Upper and Lower embankments of gardens. They were located on the vaults of the Reserve Palace and Tainitsky gate. They grew apples, currants, anise, sage, legumes and other crops. Between plantings you could walk along the paths or relax by the small ponds and fountains. Paul I approved the project of reconstruction of gardens: it was supposed to make them more picturesque, to plant more ornamental shrubs and trees. But these plans did not come true, and eventually the gardens were destroyed.

Only in the 19-20 centuries Russian architects began to work actively on houses with a green roof. One of the illustrative examples is a ten — storey house in Moscow, by those standards — a skyscraper. The flat roof was surrounded by parapets in the form of arches, along which were placed tubs with bushes and containers with flowers. In 1930, the garden opened a cafe, sports ground and areas for relaxation. And in 1977, Eldar Ryazanov, filmed on the roof of stills from the film “Office romance”.

In the history of green roofs many pages, and each in its own remarkable. And what do these objects of architecture and landscape design look like in our time? Let’s take a look!

8 modern buildings with roof gardens

1. City Hall in Chicago

2. The Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore

With palm grove, smoothly flowing into the pool.

3. Selfridges shopping centre in London

With a whole Venetian rooftop area along which you can swim and enjoy the garden and panoramic views.

4. The home of Moomin world in children’s Park Akebono in Japan

5. ACROS Fukuoka

Hall of international receptions in Japan. On its terraces planted about 35 thousand plants.

6. Center Washington Mutual in the United States

7. The roof garden at new Lanark (Scotland)

8. Business center “League Park” in Russia

These and many other buildings are a clear example of the fact that the idea is more relevant today than ever. After all, the architect Le Corbusier rightly noted that the roof gardens are one of the”starting points of modern architecture”.

Related posts:

Tiles for the Garden With Their Hands How to Heat the Boiler with Wood Proper Blind Area – Not a Trifle: Preparatory Excavation and Drainage Stylish Image For a Summer Terrace