Photo: Susanna Redekop Carrot Green Roof’s New Water Feature

This river was initially conceived in aims to add a calming water element to the beautiful vegetation on the roof and cover the large black pipes running across the roof.  But it was in detecting a continual water source that was cooling the air conditioning unit than just leaking across the roof into the drainage system that a truly unique design was born.

The first stage of the design is complete which includes the river structure itself. It is now fully running with water and even hosts a beautiful array of river rocks.

The next stage is to build a reservoir that will catch the water that has cooled the air unit and will be subverted by solar pumps to irrigate the vertical garden that will act as a visual barrier to the very large air conditioning unit itself, as well as act as a much needed sound barrier.

In the spring we plan to create a vertical garden that will have beans and tomatoes climbing all over it.  We will then experiment with the solar pumps and irrigation tubes to see how far reaching we can irrigate the surrounding gardens. The excess water will then be subverted into the grey water system of the building – a good example of form following function.

By: Kimberly