In an era of environmental urgency, where cities are increasingly hotter and natural weather events more unpredictable, it’s imperative to find new ways to cool our urban environments and improve biodiversity through methods that are commercially feasible and accessible for everyone.
A new rooftop garden in Melbourne, Australia, is doing just that. Designed by Hassell in collaboration with Super Bloom and the University of Melbourne’s Green Infrastructure Research Group, Green Our Rooftop is a $2.5 million research project completed by the Victorian (State) Government as a joint initiative between the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Department of Transport and Planning, and the City of Melbourne.
Located on top of 1 Treasury Place, a state heritage-listed Victorian government office building, the Green Our Roof project proves the feasibility of retrofitting biodiverse green roofs onto existing buildings, challenging the misconceptions about cost and complexity by showcasing green roofs as an affordable, scalable solution for urban resilience. It serves as blueprint for future projects and aims to encourage landlords and developers to do their bit to make urban environments cooler, greener, more resilient and more sustainable.
Reinforcing the vital role of biodiversity in city-making, the project pushes the boundaries of a simple workplace feature by enhancing habitat opportunities for pollinators and birdlife through diverse plant species, contributing to Melbourne’s broader ecological network.
The project also redefines the purpose of conventional gardens by shifting the focus from human interaction to ecological and educational outcomes. Inaccessible to the general public, the space remains undisturbed in a controlled environment, an intentional strategy designed for the purposes of research.
“We think of rooftops as just flat surfaces — but they’re incredible multitaskers. If designed with climate change in mind, they can help to cool cities, clean the air by filtering pollutants and capturing airborne particles, and help stop floods by absorbing rainwater and reducing runoff. A green rooftop is like an ecosystem in the sky supporting diverse plant life, including native and drought-resistant varieties, and providing food and shelter for birds and insects.”
Hassell Principal and Head of Design Ben Duckworth
Given the building’s location in the heart of Melbourne surrounded by significant government and heritage sites — while inaccessible to the general public — it was critical that the rooftop complemented the architectural and historical context, providing visual benefit to onlookers from the surrounding buildings.
A thoughtfully curated selection of plants, chosen for their diverse colours and textures, ensures the rooftop’s visual harmony with its surroundings. Seasonal variation of native species, alongside a selection of exotics, was key to the design, with plants that would bloom at different times throughout the year offering a dynamic and evolving garden.
As part of the ongoing assessment and data collection framework, different planting mixes, green roof systems, installation methods and maintenance inputs will be tested with the objective to shape Green Roofing legislation in Victoria through ongoing data insights.
The advocacy project provides a unique opportunity to compare and evaluate green roof strategies, helping building owners plan their own greening projects with greater ease, lower costs and more success.
Rooftop Garden – 1 Treasury Place
Design Team: Hassell in collaboration with Super Bloom and the University of Melbourne’s Green Infrastructure Research Group, Green Our Rooftop.
Inititative Partners: Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Department of Transport and Planning, and the City of Melbourne.
Photography: David Hannah
Be the first to comment