Image: www.toronto.ca/greentorontoawards
A green roof is a system where a vegetated area becomes part of a building's roof. Green Roofs hold the potential to green Toronto by increasing energy efficiency, improving air and water quality, as well as beautifying the city by providing natural green spaces in built-up areas. Green or living walls are both functional and beautiful, acting as a biofilter and improving the aesthetics of any room.
These award-winning projects provide ground for gardening, food production, provide passive recreational spaces for densely-populated neighbourhoods and create energy savings.
Fairmont Royal York
The Fairmont Royal York’s executive chef, David Garcelon, brings fresh flavours to new heights with a rooftop herb garden. The herbs contribute to the hotel’s formal commitment to using, wherever possible, sustainable, locally sourced and organically grown products as part of its everyday food-service operations. The garden is a natural extension of the hotel’s environmental program and is used as part of the chef apprenticeship-training program.
Urbanspace Property Group
Urbanspace Property Group has been undertaking innovative green projects at the two heritage buildings it owns and operates: 401 Richmond Street West and 215 Spadina Avenue. Each roof provides a unique green oasis in the midst of a highly urbanized area in downtown Toronto that offers sanctuary to city-dwellers and space for creative rejuvenation. Tenants who work in the buildings use the roof gardens as common spaces.
Gardens in the Sky at Ellis Park
The roof gardens of an Ellis Park house were designed by Gardens in the Sky to be beautiful and practical, as well as ecologically sustainable. Every possible area was used to maximize the planted areas, and the roofs provide a transition from built form to the building’s natural surroundings. The green roofs also control and moderate solar heat gain and minimize energy loss.
Photos: Left: Fairmont Royal York, upper right: Gardens in the Sky at Ellis Park, lower right: Urbanspace Property Group.
Sponsored by: Stantec Consulting & Stantec Architecture.
Judges
Ian Hamilton, Ryerson University
Monica Kuhn, Architect
Peter Love, Ontario Power Authority
Angelo Poto, Toronto Water
Dathe Wong, Stantec Consulting & Stantec Architecture
Read about the other winning categories:
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/OurWorld/toronto-green-community/
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/Energy/green-toronto-energy/
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/OurWorld/green-toronto-environmental/
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/HomeGarden/green-toronto-design/
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/HealthNutrition/green-toronto-health/
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/Business/green-toronto-leadership/
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/Business/green-toronto-market/
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/OurWorld/green-toronto-water/
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/Family/green-toronto-youth/
http://www.greenlivingonline.com/Business/green-toronto-hunter/
Green Living Network
