rooftop gardening in basil, switzerland

Basil, Switzerland by SAL

Gardens and architecture go hand-in-hand. Whether the garden is outside or inside, there is a strong connection between the artificial and natural landscape. In particular, rooftop gardens are one of my most favorite architectural concepts.

A rooftop garden not only improves the psyche, but it also improves the environment. Rather than losing runoff water to the streets and sewers, the rainwater is captured within the soil on the roof.

Heat gain in an urban environment is also reduced by a rooftop garden because solar rays are absorbed rather than reflected. Even more, the roof's insulation factor is about as high as it can be with a rooftop garden, saving a great deal of mechanical heating and cooling energy and associated costs.

Basil, Switzerland by SAL

All of these green building savings and the rooftop garden is still gorgeous. Europeans have an intimate understanding of the flower and farmers markets that frequent many, if not all, of the city centers of each community throughout Europe. With a sophisticated and centuries-old understanding of how the garden fits into the city, it is no wonder that Europeans first developed the rooftop garden.