As LiveRoof® celebrates its 17th year we have done so with a year-long theme: Why do a Green Roof? Specifically, we have focused on the benefits of green roofs. We hope you enjoy this series
Featured Project
The Nataros Residence project in Northern Vancouver Island is a very unique project. The homeowner wanted something unique and representative of himself and the local ecology, and enlisted Dean Villaceran of LiveRoof® Grower NATS Nursery, to help design his unique green roof. NATS curated a custom Sedum blend with coastal appropriate native Sedum varieties Sedum divergens and Sedum oreganum in each mix. They included Alliums, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Gaultheria shallon and Fragaria chiloensis & vesca in the mixes, all species native to the local area. These were then grouped into 4 colour blends/groups to represent the 4 elements and the grounded/spiritual nature of the client. The mixes were separated with LiveRoof® RoofStone™ pavers laid out in a pattern to represent the ocean. The home overlooks woods and water and provides habitat and food for a variety of bird life.
Nataros Project
Vision
Dean Villaceran was the visionary behind this project. His motivation for design came from his relationship with the customer, local ecology and history as well as site photos and building plans. “I designed and planned out the project using information the client provided about himself and his passions/interests.” “With the client’s love of nature, we used the green roof to create a space where he could meditate as well as enjoy stunning sunsets over the ocean and hills in the background.” Dean Villaceran.
Additional Benefits
In addition to meeting the client’s vision, this project embodies the green roof benefits as described below:
Energy Conservation/Savings – The roof slopes to the south and insulates/buffers against solar heat gain through the roof structure and into the open concept living space below.
Biodiversity – There are 23 Sedum varieties & 11 native accents with bloom times from spring through fall, supporting local pollinators and birdlife.
Membrane Longevity – The LiveRoof® is expected to extend the lifespan of the membrane by 50+ years. This alone will more than pay for the green roof.
Stormwater Management – The soil absorbs and slows down the heavy rains of the area and direct any flow from the roof into a rock and gravel infiltration channel. This channel also collects the runoff from the site, slowing it down and allowing it to infiltrate, reducing silting of local waterways and reducing any erosion on the site.
Featured Grower
Dean Villaceran
NATS Nursery has been a successful LiveRoof® network member for over 15 years. They specialize in native plants and focus their LiveRoof® projects that complement the natural ecology. According to NATS sales manager, Dean Villaceran, NATS has over 300 species from which to select plants for LiveRoof® projects. This ensures that NATS has beautiful and ecologically appropriate plant material for every site. Dean Villaceran joined the NATS team in May of 2022 and earned his GRP (Green Roof Professional) certification during his first year on the job.
About this Piece
This is the sixth in the series: Why do a Green Roof? We hope you enjoy the series throughout this year. I’m Jodi Griffin, Business Development Manager for LiveRoof® Global. I can be reached via email at jodi@liveroof.com.
For more information about NATS Nursery- Click HERE
17 years ago, LiveRoof, LLC. (liveroof.com) developed the LiveRoof® Hybrid Green Roof System: the only green roof solution installed with fully mature plants thriving in a healthy, connected ecosystem from day one of installation. LiveRoof’s natural function and natural beauty offer exceptional performance, require very low maintenance and have a predictable cost. LiveRoof® projects often become signature elements on commercial, public, university and school buildings all over the US and Canada.
