Ten years have passed since the start of the construction of the green roof on top of the large River Rouge plant. "The 10.4-acre roof insulates the building, provides habitat for birds and insects, produces oxygen to offset the factory's emissions of carbon dioxide, and purifies rainwater." Instead of having a chemical-based rainwater or treatment plant," Ford says, "this system mimics nature. "
Phil Patton writes in the New York Times that it wasn't about being green, but about economic necessity:
Thanks in large part to runoff from the factory and its parking lot, the river from which the plant takes its name was highly polluted. Ford faced a $50 million bill to build facilities to clean water and comply with Environmental Protection Agency standards.
McDonough's approach was not only greener, but cheaper, reaching $15 million. The project focused on the 10-hectare green roof, but devices to reduce runoff and absorb rain were also involved, allowing for wet meadows and shallow trenches.
Green roofs are no longer just on top of buildings, they have become buildings and architecture has changed. What a remarkable transformation in just ten years.
Authors: Val
