Why don't we use the roofs of our buildings?
By strongsz
@strongsz (161)
China
November 14, 2010 6:27am CST
Hi everyone,
As is known to us all that our city is becoming more and more crowded.The space here is extraordinary expensive.
However on the other hand,the space above the top of the buildings haven't be used enough.A lot of roofs are leaving there deserted.Why don't we use them?
We can plant some grass on the top of the buildings to increase the green area.What's more, we can build some restaurants which is open to the air.I am sure many people will like it.During the summer,we can not only eating cool on the top of the buildings but also can see the beautiful night sky.
So,what do you think about it?
5 responses
@ra1787 (501)
• Italy
14 Nov 10
Those are great ideas, and i can tell you that many of those are already being realized. Green roofs are used sometimes on new building (i fear that implementing a green roof on an existing building could create some serious water infiltration problems and probably even some structural problem to the roof structure due to the weight of the soil).
I've seen at least two restaurants that use roofs.
By the way, since in my city snow is a twice in a century event roofs are flat, and attics usually can use the roofs as a huge balcony, so there is not much wasted space!
@strongsz (161)
• China
17 Nov 10
Hi
I am so gald to know that you have seen at least two restaurants that use roofs.I have dreamt to set up a restaurant on the roof.It looks like that someone has done that.
Actually,my major is civil engineering.As far as I know,the problems such as water infitration and structural problem can be solved easy as long as we spend a little more money when building the roofs.
@ra1787 (501)
• Italy
17 Nov 10
That is sure, i don't think it makes any problem for new buildings, but converting a traditional roof, seems a little bit more problematic.
Consider that when my neighbour built a home made flowerpot 20 year ago, putting a perimetral concrete manufact to contain the soil that was put in a corner, it started creating massive water infiltrations in my apartment :)
This was eventually solved with proper insulation, but it has to be redone every 10 years or infiltrations will be back again.
Anyway there are surely ways to solve those problems, but i think that it can be somewhat problematic, particularly for old buildings.
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
19 Nov 10
We make good use of our rooftop. When we bought the apartment, we were given the right to utilize it for our personal use. Out of this reason my wife and I decided to have this apartment on the top floor with a rooftop. Our rooftop has a pavilion. Last summer we change it into a big room. We plant some grass and bonsai on our roof and some other nice things to make it beautiful and comfortable for us. I like the rooftop of my house.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
18 Nov 10
I like to see bungalows plus houses with an upstairs and a downstairs. These should have a front garden and a back garden. There should be some green areas around like parkland. Some people that have a roof that faces south are using solar energy.
A roof top could have a green landscape or a swimming pool. An open air restaurant is a lovely idea. In some cites it gets ever so crowded. Using the roofs of the buildings is a superb idea. We would have to make sure that nobody falls from a height.
@strongsz (161)
• China
19 Nov 10
Hi,thanks for your reply.
You are right.At the time we use the roofs,there are a lot of problems we should take into consideration first.Just as you said,the safety is a main problem we should solve.
Nevertheless,in my view,nothing is impossible as long as we want to do it.
Have a nice day.:)
@cowboyofhell (3063)
• Philippines
14 Nov 10
Though habitable roofs become a reality I am not comfortable with the distance from the roof to the ground of a tall building. I'd suggest elevators 2 m x 10 m dimension to speed the transportation of people to the top and down. Elevators smaller increase the time wasted. It's not only space that's important but time.
@puccagirl (7294)
• Israel
14 Nov 10
Actually, here where I live, a lot of people do use the roofs. It is usually given to one of the people living on the top floor, or to several of them. And then people use it as huge balconies and even decorate them quite nicely. I do not have a roof apartment myself at the moment, but I would like to get one.
So I think your idea is really good!
