Facebook’s new campus has a huge green roof.
It’s 9-acres, plus there’s a half-mile walking loop and over 400 trees.
The building, which Facebook announced in August 2012, was designed by renowned architect Frank Gehry’s firm, Gehry Partners.
green roof
Why Sedum green roofs often struggle to survive…
Good article here by Lee Evans, Director of Organic Roofs, on why so many Sedum green roofs struggle.
Struggling Sedum green roof
Unfortunately the many Sedum green roofs in Brighton are struggling too – for example those on Council buildings such as Whitehawk Children’s Centre and library, private buildings like the Smart House on Ditchling Road and the American Express HQ in Kemptown, and schools like Downs Junior.
The good news is that any struggling green roof can often be given a whole new lease of life by adding additional substrate, and establishing some more suitable plants.
Better still to get it right first time!
DIY green roof workshop a success!
This weekend’s DIY Green Roof workshop was a real success!
Happy green roofers with their green roofed bird boxes
We had participants from Brighton & Hove and further afield across the country…and a keen Spanish green roofer who travelled over from Córdoba!
We discussed the fine points of projects on sheds, house extensions and even a Dutch barge.
Everyone put their learning into practice by building their own green roofs and installing them on a bird box they also put together.
The second day was a tour of some green roofs and green walls.
Lee Evans, course tutor, talking participants through the benefits and technical aspects of green roofing at Organic Roofs HQ
Lee Evans, course tutor, demonstrating how to build the bird box to the course participants.
Course participants DIY-ing their bird boxes
James Farrell, course tutor, talking participants through a container green roof at Organic Roofs HQ
James Farrell, course tutor, talking participants through a container green roof at Organic Roofs HQ
Finished bird box with a green roof
Happy course participant with their green roofed bird box
Getting ready for DIY green roofs
Lee and I spent a few hours yesterday making the bird boxes and green roof kits that our lovely participants will put together on Saturday. No, I’m not about to drill through my hand…
It’s not too late to book!
Visit Brighton Permaculture Trust.
Channel 5’s ‘Cowboy Builders’ talks green roofs
Lee Evans from Organic Roofs was featured in a recent episode of Cowboy Builders.
Lee Evans of Organic Roofs talks to Dan Lobb of Channel 5’s Cowboy Builders
With film of the Velo Cafe and the refurbished green roof at Infinity Foods, Lee talked about the many benefits of green roofs, compared with your average roof.
Lee has blogged about it here, and you can view the episode here. The green roof section starts 32 minutes in.
Not too late to book your DIY Green Roof course!
It’s not too late to book your place on this year’s DIY green roof course!
- learn about how to build green roofs
- understand the history of global green roofing, and the benefits of the modern habitat-based approach
- put the principles into practice – build your own green roofed bird box to take home
- visit inspirational green roofs and green walls in Brighton & Hove
- get expert advice on your project
- enjoy the surroundings of Organic Roof’s new workshop, right on the banks of Shoreham harbour
- have fun, learn new skills and make new friends!
You never know, you might be so inspired that you jack your job in after the course – and become a professional green roofer. That’s exactly what previous course participant Lee Evans did!
To book your place, visit https://brightonpermaculture.org.uk/courses/ecobuild/greenroofs
Happy green roofer with the green roofed bird box we built on the Building Green DIY weekend
Eastbrook Primary Academy, Southwick, has a living roof
A nice living roof on the extension to Eastbrook primary. Solar hot water, roof lights and what looks like a Sedum green roof with a decent amount of substrate for the plants to thrive in.
I hope it’s used as a teaching resource for the kids.
Eastbrook Primary Academy, Southwick – a living roof
A visit to Organic Roofs
I visited Building Green partner Organic Roofs‘ workshop and green roof demonstration centre in Shoreham recently.
Lee Evans with the green roof research station at Organic Roofs HQ, Shoreham
Organic Roofs head honcho Lee Evans showed me around the site, which has an amazing view of the harbour.
We will be holding the next green roof DIY workshop there on 24/25 October – book here. It’s a great venue for it.
On the site are two green roofs created on shipping containers, a nursery for green roof plants, and a new research station that will be measuring the performance of different substrates and plant systems. There’s also a ‘waste office’ which takes after the award winning Waste House in Brighton.
Organic Roofs won a number of awards recently, including NRFC Green Roof of the Year, Brighton & Hove’s Best Environmental Industry Company, as well as being finalists in 2 other categories at the #BAHBAs – Fastest Growing Company and Best Place to Work.
Container green roof at Organic Roofs HQ, Shoreham
Plant nursery, Organic Roofs HQ, Shoreham
Organic Roofs HQ, Shoreham
Come and learn how to build your own green roof
3 weeks left to book a place on the original Green Roof DIY course.
Book by visiting the Brighton Permaculture Trust website.
shed green roof on allotment in Brighton
Running over the weekend of 24-25 October, this year we’ll be hosted on the Saturday at the Organic Roofs office and workshop in Shoreham. There are real green roofs to see close up, and plenty of materials to get your hands on…and an amazing view of the harbour to boot! Or is that ‘to boat’.
Book by visiting the Brighton Permaculture Trust website.
Shoreham cement works aka Hobbiton
Green roofs Lord of the Rings style at Shoreham cement works.
The ‘eco resort’ by ZEDFactory is part of plans for the regeneration of the cement works. Looks exciting – we’ll see!
Brighton & Hove Building Green 