IDI Green Urbanism (training course) - 2020_Study for a Green Roof in Shanghai

Shanghai, one of the largest Chinese cities in term of inhabitants, has the highest urbanization level as of 2007 (80%) in all China: likewise, a higher and higher urbanization rate has also meant an increase in term of green spaces for the city over the last two decades. Multifunctionality is one of the key factors that make Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI), such as green roofs, that attractive and relevant nowadays, that is, its ability to perform several functions (economic, social, environmental...) and provide several benefits on the same spatial area. As a start, green surfaces help controlling rainfall effluence and floor risk through their characteristic of permeable surfaces: i.e. UGI can alleviate climate change impact, enhance biodiversity and improve the overall atmosphere of the urban landscape. The following project imagines a rooftop garden for a new building in the heart of Shanghai, considering local landscape and flora as the starting point of the design.