Greener in the city with flat roofs

Continuous roofing, or flat roofs are much more common in urban areas than one might think.

They complete many multi-family buildings, extensive low buildings used as garages or for commercial and industrial functions.
They conclude more contemporary residential buildings or we observe them in those Italian locations historically characterized by past Arab influences.

Without going into the solutions defined for the tertiary sector and concentrating on the residential sector, we can make a few considerations and observe how these spaces are often deprived of a use function, as well as being abandoned, dirty and unpleasant. Many times, they are also concluded by bituminous waterproofing that creates large dark surfaces, which attract heat and contribute to local overheating.

The overhaul of these sometimes very large spaces can yield truly interesting solutions, both in terms of function, aesthetics and microclimate; let's look at the main ones. If we look at the functional aspects, the green roof:

• achieves a kind of “green compensation”: every building leads to the subtraction of natural land, an operation that should be limited and that has led to specific regulatory guidelines in terms of reducing soil consumption. The moment a green roof is created, what has been taken away is, in some way, reintroduced;

• Especially in some valuable contexts, the so-called “green roof” has an aesthetic mitigation function: it is suggested and sometimes rewarded by those more far-sighted local administrations, since it helps to improve the aesthetic appearance of spaces such as garages and underground car parks and to reduce their visual impact;

• Today, more than ever, in this post-pandemic era, we have all realised the importance of having a private outdoor space: an outlet outside for our children to play and enjoy the good weather.

• The flat roof of our homes provides us with an extra functional green space, which is of course adequately protected and fitted with parapets that comply with standards; the roof can serve a productive function: the urban vegetable garden, a beautiful and practical solution for self-producing zero-mile fruit and vegetables; it is fun and educational, as it teaches our children how to grow plants and flowers.

The green flat roofing represents a truly environmentally friendly intervention, as it ties in with the themes of energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources.
Here, in summary, are some arguments in favour of flat green roofing:

• manages rainwater on the roof by reducing its velocity and allowing a more controlled runoff that does not undermine gutters and downpipes

• stores rainwater and returns some of it to the atmosphere, making a significant contribution especially during the driest times of the year

• produces thermal mitigation, cooperating in winter insulation and cooling in summer

• contributes in terms of energy improvement and as such is linked to the issue of tax deductions

• can become home to photovoltaic systems, strongly incentivised by current environmental and fiscal policies

• filters fine dust and particles

• absorbs sound waves and reduces electrosmog

• represents a new living environment for vegetation and small (but valuable) animal communities in the city

• increases the value of the property

The flat roof connects our building to the surrounding landscape, enhancing it perceptually and creating a piece of the urban green system. It is not just an element of beautification but a further step towards long-term resource management and environmental and ecological protection. 
BMI Academy has been offering seminars for designers and raising awareness among students of Construction, Environment and Territory Institutes on these innovative roof types for some time now; and as it did recently through specific webinars, it will continue to emphasise their functionality.