#soddy-daisy

Entry View

Today, down the hollow toward Hardscrabble Road, my own encampment has some comforts - at least the part that's enclosed.  It's a 1950 modern ruin, mostly stabilized with a green roof assembly, sod, that was partly inspired by a visit to Linnaeus's house in Sweden.  But why would a house already redolent of mildew, designed on a wet concrete slab (frogs in the hallway) with no vapor barrier--and a dead-flat roof that ponds and leaks-- want even more flora incorporated into its structure?  The architectural reason is that I've added a tiny rooftop belvedere of glass, from which I want to imagine that the rest of the house below doesn't exist.  It will have just a bed, and I'll wake up to the illusion of an independent, one-room Walden.

And then, sustainability-wise, it's green.  The inhabitable part I use now doesn't need air conditioning this summer.  The clever pre-planted Xero Flor green roof system is a lightweight terrine of: a root barrier to protect the membrane roof, drainage stuff, soil, and then an array of plants. Different sedums and mosses slug it out in Darwinian fashion to conquer roof area according to moisture and sunlight.  The plants and soil act as a sponge to reduce run-off, and help the house stay cool like a wet cloth on one's forehead.  The succulents are all drought tolerant, and are fine with light foot traffic (and an occasional sprawl.)

Green Roof View

Green Roof Plan

Garden View