Growing Gardens In Mid-Air: Bozzuto Landscaping Co.

One of the hottest trends in urban design is rooftop landscaping. From lush, green gardens to elegantly appointed resident amenities, the efforts of resourceful planners and landscapers are turning ordinary rooftops into sanctuaries.

Bozzuto Landscaping Co., a company active throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, has experienced a significant increase in requests for this style of landscaping from its clients. Branch Manager Chris Greene estimates that in his territory of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, more than half of new installations and renovations have utilized rooftop landscaping.

With the appeal of urban living on the rise, people who have been accustomed to suburban landscapes may find themselves missing trees and gardens, even as they enjoy the convenience of city life.

“Rooftop landscaping incorporates nature into the urban environment and gives it the feel of a community in the suburbs. It’s the best of both worlds,” Greene said.

Furthermore, he continued, “This style of landscaping not only creates a tranquil living environment, it also offers a number of other benefits, including a reduction in air pollution.” Rooftop landscaping may also cut energy costs by as much as 10-20% and prolong the life of the roof covering by shielding it from UV rays and temperature fluctuations. By absorbing and processing building heat as well as carbon dioxide emissions, rooftop landscaping helps offset the “urban island” effect, in which heat generated by concrete and other reflective urban materials can cause air temperatures to be up to 10 degrees hotter than in rural areas. Landscaped rooftops’ vegetation also retains storm water and prevents polluted runoff from being channeled into lakes and other natural resources.

“Environmental responsibility – recycling, reducing air pollution, making use of all materials and space – is becoming increasingly important,” Greene said. “By introducing more landscaped environments in urban settings, we’re able to provide both environmental and aesthetic benefits. The environmental benefits and aesthetics go hand in hand.”

The advantages of rooftop landscaping are well known in Europe, where 10 percent of flat roofs in Germany and 12 percent in Switzerland are already “green.” Rooftop landscapers in these countries are backed by both legislative mandates and financial incentives. However, as more North American landscapers embrace this trend without widespread governmental support, they can face both logistical and financial obstacles. The support capabilities of the roof structure must be considered, along with the total weight of the fully-grown plant life, containers, and moisture that will be retained. Adequate irrigation to prevent the flooding of interior structures is also essential. Plant materials must be able to thrive in shallow soil and in the often-harsh microclimate of exposed rooftops, where UV rays and wind can be unforgiving.

Rooftop landscaping also poses some unusual challenges. Large trees and plants must be delivered by crane and large amounts of soil deposited by specialized blower trucks. Crews often work without the typical installation equipment found on other project sites. Costs can be steep, if not prohibitive.

Despite such hurdles, Bozzuto Landscaping has provided rooftop gardens and courtyards for many projects in the Mid-Atlantic region. Some of their more dramatic projects required the use of 3600 yards of soil, sophisticated irrigation systems, exterior lighting, and site furnishings. The result: lush courtyard settings that enhance the recreational amenities available to residents.

Bozzuto Landscaping Co. is currently engaged in the installation of a rooftop garden at Spinnaker Bay, a waterfront property consisting of 32 luxury condominiums and 316 apartment residences currently under construction in Baltimore, Md. The centerpiece of the revitalized Inner Harbor East community, Spinnaker Bay plans to incorporate rooftop landscaping into its rooftop swimming pool area and dramatic fountain. White flowering trees, including magnolias and Snowdrift Crabapple, as well as colorful yellow perennials such as Happy Returns daylilies and Coreopsis Moonbeams, complement the rich blues, reds, and purples of the harbor and its sunsets. Karl Forester and Fountain grasses add lushness and a feeling of sanctuary.

Bozzuto Landscaping also used this technique to beautify and bring life to the pool, hot tub, and artificial putting green located atop a new luxury apartment community in Arlington, Va., and the pool and children’s play area on the roof of a new residential community in Bethesda, Md. The company also completed a richly landscaped courtyard garden on the roof of an apartment community in Washington, D.C.

Greene projects that urban landscape architects and developers will continue to integrate it with new construction and that older buildings, too, will benefit from this lofty landscaping approach through an increase in container gardens.

A more modest project than full-scale rooftop landscaping, container gardening enables older buildings or unfavorable roof structures to enjoy some of the benefits of a “green” roof. Bozzuto Landscaping has helped several properties achieve this, including a number of communities in Washington, D.C. Potted plants and trees, wood benches, and trellises allowed them to add beauty and interest to the rooftops while circumventing weight limitations and preserving portability of the landscaping to comply with property owners’ requirements.

Greene said of urban dwellers, “Everybody wants a garden, something nice to look at besides brick and concrete. This is a way to do that.”

The author is corporate communications coordinator, Bozzuto Landscaping, Greenbelt, Md., and can be reached at 301/623-3647

Headquartered in Greenbelt, Md., The Bozzuto Group is a full-service real estate company active in development, management, construction, homebuilding, landscaping, and mortgage services. The firm, its principals and subsidiaries have been recognized with numerous industry honors, including the national Pillars of the Industry awards for Multifamily Development Firm of the Year (2003), Multifamily Builder of the Year (1998) and Property Management Company of the Year (2000); and regional recognition as Builder of the Year and Environmental Developer of the Year, and Environmental Builder of the Year. For more information, please visit the company’s Web site at www.bozzuto.com.