On the inside, Garden House is an attractive modern home that provides warmth and style, but its real appeal is on the roof. The Garden House roof is neither tiled, slatted, nor shingled -- rather, it's covered with a series of gardens stacked atop one another, like the steppes of a rice paddy.
Designed by Hayhurst and Co. for Whitaker Malem, a costume designer who has worked on projects including the Harry Potter series, Garden House was not built from scratch. Since Malem's home is in an inner city area of London with a dense architectural population, the home had to be retrofitted to accommodate its unique design. As such, the roof has an unusual, four-sided shape that allows for safe climbing and gardening without interfering with the surrounding units.
Green Gardening Roofs
The Roof on the 'Garden House' is Made of Tiers of Gardening Rows
Trend Themes
1. Vertical Gardening - As urban areas become denser, the trend towards vertical gardening on rooftops and walls provides an innovative solution to urban farming and sustainable living.
2. Green Roofing - As more homeowners and city planners prioritize eco-friendly architecture, green roofing is becoming a popular trend for its ability to improve air quality, reduce energy costs, and mitigate stormwater runoff.
3. Retrofitting - As individuals and businesses seek to maximize the functionality and sustainability of existing structures, retrofitting buildings with eco-conscious features such as green roofs is an emerging trend in architecture and construction.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - By incorporating green roofs and vertical gardening into building designs, architects and designers have an opportunity to create eco-friendly structures that align with sustainable living trends.
2. Urban Farming - The concept of vertical gardening and green roofing presents an opportunity for urban farmers to grow fresh produce in densely populated areas where space is at a premium.
3. Construction - Incorporating green roofs and retrofitting buildings with eco-conscious features provides a new area of focus for construction companies looking to stay ahead in the industry and meet the growing demand for sustainable building practices.