More ‘green roof’ buildings seen sprouting in Phl

MANILA, Philippines - The country is emerging as a potential market for landscaped roof gardens, according to a Singapore-based green roof development consultancy company, Verditecture.

“We see the Philippines as the next up and coming market to embrace green roofs and sky gardens as a next trend in architecture,” said Verditecture managing director Ho Wan Weng during SM Supermalls’ fifth annual Green Retail Agenda held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Verditecture was responsible for the design and implementation of the Sky Garden in SM City North Edsa and SM Aura Premier in Taguig City.

Described as “nature on superstructure”, a roof garden is a building rooftop covered with vegetation, first introduced by SM Prime Holdings Inc. in the Philippines through its 400-meter Sky Garden atop a portion of SM City North Edsa.

“Roof gardens originated from Germany way back in the 1970s,” Weng said. “Asia, by and large, is still very much in the infant stage.” However, his home country, Singapore, is already aiming for an increase in skyrise greenery, with an additional 150 hectares, or 80 percent of the country’s rooftops, by 2030.

A roof garden has economic benefits, according to Weng. “It saves us a lot of energy. It is the first and foremost important point why we implement it.”

Weng said that a roof garden can prevent flooding by absorbing rain water, in addition to being an effective way of addressing climate change and reducing global warming. Moreover, roof gardens are known to dampen the heat island effect, or warm regions usually caused by urbanization.

Weng added that the structure also saves on cost of the building, with a roof garden’s life cycle lasting 40 to 50 years.  “As we have learned in Singapore, roof gardens enhance the value of the property by as much as 10 to 20 percent and that’s been verified by the market,” he said.

“It enhances the quality of life. People are always drawn to nature,” said Weng, adding that the value of green roofs go beyond quantitative benefits. “We tend to calm down, we think more rationally, and we appreciate life more.”

Weng said his group is open to working with the local government to develop the green roofing industry locally. “It is a proven technology; I would love to share it.”