Green roofs are popular for their environmental and aesthetic benefits, and in Italy they’re often used to help buildings blend into hilly surroundings. During my travels in Italy last summer, I decided to seek out the region’s top green roof facilities. My passion for green roof design goes beyond the inherent beauty associated with biomass on the rooftop; the introduction of green roofs to city landscapes can bring about many social and environmental benefits. In fact, green roofs are one example of how easy it is to introduce regenerative architecture and a natural environment back into the city landscape. While in Italy, I found prime examples of green roofs in the North, Central and Southern regions.
Salewa Headquarters in South Tyrol
Community Center in Sora, Italy
If you go 118 km south of Rome, you can reach a refurbished corten steel and travertine community center tucked the hills of Sora, Italy. Floor to ceiling windows fill the interior with natural daylight and provide views of the rocky hillside. A green roof tops the zigzagging building to integrate the architecture into the landscape. The center is two stories high and provides excellent acoustics for public speaking and music concerts. The restoration was led by Italian architects Mario Morganti, Gianfranco Cautilli and engineered by Renato Morganti.
Il Vulcano Buono in Nola, Italy
Andrew Spiering
Fantastic! They are all awesome and especially love Il Vulcano Buono mimicking Vesuvius… so cool. Looks like an epic trip, Davis!