Although not a new idea, the concept of connected green roofs that emerge from the ground on to structure is a persist, compelling idea, essentially blending building and site and maximizing green space, habitat, and square footage through layering of uses. A trio of projects show the variations on that theme. First, via Designboom, the new Google Campus in Sunnyvale, designed by BIG with landscape architects Olin, offers “two sibling ‘hillsides’ that rise from the landscape to form zigzagging, terraced roofscapes.”
Another, via Architect, “The International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected 3XN to design its new headquarters after a multi-stage, international architectural competition. The project is located on a 24,000sm site on the banks of Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland.” To respect the location in a park, ” 3XN’s design is intended to respect both the château’s legacy and park setting and make as soft a transition as possible from park to building.”
And from a while back, via Curbed NY, the tilted plane of the Statue of Liberty Museum by FXFOWLE provides some vegetated stepped seating as well as some geometric planes touching down, burying the structure under a grassy meadow. From the article, the designers: “… wanted to create a building that responded to the existing landscape on the island… conceived as an extension of the park… the goal was to engage with the park’s formal, axial plan and respond to its spectacular setting. The building’s angular forms and spaces are shaped by its views and the irregularity of the water’s edge, celebrating liberty.”
HEADER: Green Roof/GreenWall Bus Stop – University of Seville (via EurekAlert!)