Class Reflections, November 27, 2008

Who knew that roof gardens or green roofs could have so many different types to learn about. Green roofs have environmental as well as economic benefits. The environmental benefits include stormwater management, reduced air pollution, and a reduction in the urban heat island effect. The economic benefits include increased roof life, cooling, insulation and energy efficiency, green building assessment and public relations. I have known about green roofs but i’ve never known the typologies behind them and i was glad to learn something about them, because in todays world everything is about being green and green design. I really like how all the guest lectures have shown us the many possibilities and concepts behind different design techniques.

Anna Everett

Data Collections, November 27, 2008

I found this great site that has a large article about green roofs as urban ecosystems. It’s a long article but very informative, it gives everything from the history of green roofs to types of vegetation to landscape properties. It also has some great pictures to go along with what it’s talking about.

http://www.aibs.org/bioscience-press-releases/resources/11-07.pdf

Anna Everett

Class Reflections, November 27, 2008

Green roofs have always interested me as i think it is important to not let our land go to waste. By having a green roof the otherwise wasted roof top space will always be in use, by plants and animals as well as by people, if it is intensive. The space creates fresh air in a highly populated area with is important as places like L.A will never see the sky properly due to smog.

Chantel Kuharski

Data Collections, October 9, 2008

http://www.archlighting.com/industry-news.asp?sectionID=1326&articleID=454466

It is amazing to see all the different lighting products and design on the market today, and there are tons of examples on Architectural lighting online.

Chantel Kuharski

Class Reflections, October 9, 2008

Today Dr Shauna Mallory Hill lectured on architectural lighting. I found it most interesting when she spoke of where we live in the world and how developed our world is can change where are eyes are placed on our bodies and if they have moved over time. In Canada the snow gets so bright in the winter that most of us are more likly to wear sunglasses in the winter then the summer. This can also have a effect on how our bodies have shifted over time too protect us from the sun and wind. But our eyes have to adapt to many kinds of light, natural and artifical, natural of course is better for us and our environment but in some cases stores, industry, and schools for example do not use this light.  As we try to protect our environment we must design better buildings that take use of natural light.

Chantel Kuharski

Data Collections, November 27, 2008

http://www.cagbc.org/leed/what/index.php

This is the Canada Green Building Council site.  It has lots of interesting and useful information on green building and LEED (The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).  I have found this site useful in my previous projects and will continue to use its information for future ones.

-Desiree McKay

Class Reflections, November 27, 2008

I think that roof top gardens should be considered in more depth in Winnipeg but I also believe that we need to have other green space on the ground.  Do we really want to live in a city where all of our green space is on our roofs and not on the ground?  Green roofs have many great benefits and I think we need to incorporate them into our designs. We, as future designers, need to start considering green building in a huge way.  Some benefits of green roofs include:

Amenity and Aesthetic: recreational space, public and private, high quality in high density.

Environmental: biodiversity and wildlife value, stormwater management, air pollution, urban heat island effect.

Economic: increased roof life, cooling, insulation and energy efficiency, green building assessment and public relations.

We need to stop taking up spaces with parking lots and building over all of our green space.  Parking lots can easily be built underground leaving room for parks etc creating a healthier, happier Winnipeg.

-Desiree McKay

Data Collections, November 27, 2008

This link provides information on roof gardens as well as many good links to other sites on green roofs and gardens.

http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.roof-gardens.com/images/roof-garden.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.roof-gardens.com/&h=280&w=280&sz=36&tbnid=cSAmYUfAxX8J::&tbnh=114&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Droof%2Bgarden&hl=en&usg=__Xb22OLw-6AIES69LgoPoa7MtkR4=&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=5&ct=image&cd=1

Sika Sarnafil green roof information video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvJQ4LDz-D0

Class Reflections, November 27, 2008

This presentation by Jae really opened my mind to the world of designing. We do not design for ourselves or the everyone, we design for the customer. Which means less of your own ideas and wants will actually make it into the final product. This is challenging since nobody wants to give up what they believe in and conform to the ways of others. I remember one of the designers said that at the EQ3 outing. He said that your ideas are always gonna get flipped around to accomodate the client. This really makes me think about architecture and what will really come of it. Will I be able to conform, give up my ideals. Or will I only be truly happy if I am aloud to express my full self. I guess I’ll only figure that out after I’ve graduated and been thrown into the design world.

One aspect of the lecture by the German lady realy interested me. I always that green roofs were green roofs but there are different kinds of vegetative roofs. We have “green roofs”, “roof gardens”, and “green roof hybrids”. Depending on what your financial situation is and on what your intentions are with the space, the choice of green roof typology will vary from structure to structure. I personaly prefer the roof garden. Roof gardens are more costly but can grow large apple trees which I would love to have.

-Marc Tessier

Data Collections, October 2, 2008

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/02/prefab-friday-jenesys-wings-prefab-home/

Much like EQ3′ s designers Carsten Jensen is a Canadian designer, but he puts environmental concerns at a greater presentence in his designs.

Chantel Kuharski