Located in Porto downtown, the EMPORIUM building project features 817 m2 of intensive green roofs in a refurbished residential building from 1948.
The garden is developed over the building’s garage, in a courtyard located in the center of the complex, with different levels of substrate depth between retaining walls, where creeping and decumbent species are planted and, occasionally, large trees. A main path passes through the middle of the garden, providing those who enter and leave the apartments a moment of proximity to nature, an experience that extends to the interior of the houses, from where you can also observe the exterior vegetation.
With 817m2 of green roofs (40cm – 800 cm of substrate) and large trees we can reduce pressure in urban drainage systems, enabling groundwater to be replenished. Emporium green roofs simulate a forest with variety of plants, especially large trees, holding some specific characteristics that attracts biodiversity, such as flowers and berries. Besides, vegetation roofs can function as steppingstones, creating links between larger habitat patches, like parks and gardens. In a city with the size of Porto 817m2 of green roofs will for sure have an impact in the urban environment. Another factor that contributes to biodiversity in this green roof is the presence of water as part of the design.
The green roofs located on the second floor are made up of large shrubs, visible from the lower floors and from inside the apartments. From the central courtyard, the presence of vegetation is striking from every point of view.
The selection of the vegetation took into account sun exposure, seasonality and low maintenance needs. The building contributes to the presence of vegetation in an area of the city dominated by construction, bringing the consequent benefits of the ecosystem services that green roofs, as a Nature based solution, brings.
Architecture offices involved in the design: Morais Soares Arquitectos
Location: Porto, Portugal
Design year: 2018
Year Completed:2020
