Green Roof History Timeline

History of green roofing.

Green roof history timeline.

The most famous green roofs were the hanging gardens of babylon. Later green roofs spread across portions of northern europe primarily in germany in rural and agricultural applications. Because our history with green roofs began way back in the mid 1970 s in stuttgart germany we have had the privilege to collect government and trade publications for almost four decades. They were built over arched stone beams and waterproofed with layers of reeds and thick tar.

Turf covered roofs also have been used in areas throughout the middle east for centuries. Wal mart target the gap and the ford motor company have planted green roofs on some of their buildings. The origins of green roofs began thousands of years ago. Reinhard bornkamm a researcher at berlin s free university publishes his work on green roofs.

A famous historic green roof is the hanging gardens of babylon one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The history of green roofing goes back thousands of years and is beginning to take off with a vengeance as we look at new and innovative ways to make the world around us more sustainable. Using vegetation on roofs dates back to the earliest known structures where plants such as moss grass and bark gave a primitive form of insulation to keep the house cool in the summer months and warm in the winter. Reinhard bornkamm is a researcher at berlin s free university who is internationally known to be the father of modern green roofs.

The styrofoam base of this government sponsored green roof remained functional until it was replaced in 1990. This 33 500 square foot green roof was built atop a kohl s retailer in chicago ill in 2005. These early shelters provided protection from the elements good insulation during the winter months and a cool location in the summer. They were considered as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world were constructed around 500 b c.

Green roofs began to gain attention and popularity throughout europe. One of the seven wonders of the world the hanging gardens of babylon are perhaps the first example of draping our buildings in flora to make them more appealing. Landscape architects gerda gollwitzer and werner wirsing publish roof areas inhabited viable and covered by vegetation an early treatise on modern green roofs. History the earliest green roofs can be traced to the hanging gardens of babylon of the seventh and eighth centuries.

Corporate america has helped bring the green roof trend to the united states. One of the seven wonders of the world the hanging gardens of babylon are perhaps the first example of draping our buildings in flora to make them more appealing. Here at green roof technology we are proud to house the largest green roofs archives in the united states. He published his work on green roofs in germany and marked the beginning of increased further green technology research.