I am very sensitive to the topic of green roofs. I have already talked about it extensively, but I wouldn’t stop repeating that they are a real architectural revolution, in both environmental and aesthetic terms.
Having said that I read with great enthusiasm the news of Veranda announcing the opening of the first vineyard on the roof.
This great news could only get from New York, a city at the forefront.
More precisely it is located in Brooklyn, on the roof of the Brooklyn Navy Yard in the Rooftop Reds, a space of 1.300 sqm. In the vineyard on the roof there are more than 400 vine plants that are working already since 2014.
The idea came to Devin Shomaker, graduated in viticulture and now owner of the first world plot of vines on a urban roof.
Rooftop Reds will produce all varieties of Bordeaux and in the future on the roof will also be built the production facility for Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. According to Shomaker’s projects the first vintage wine produced from a urban roof vineyard should be ready in autumn 2017.
This of Shomaker was a dream, but this is precisely the starting point of everything.
Once it has become a reality this project of the vineyard on the roof it allowed the field of so-called urban gardens to take a big step forward. In recent years, this technique has grown dramatically around the world, allowing the construction of small farm plots in various places in the city, both private and public.
The green in almost any city in the world is rare, which is why the phenomenon of green roofs has caught on and it is increasing more and more and the next step was precisely to transform the green roofs in small gardens producing fruit and vegetables, they provide great environmental benefits, but also economic. Until now the roof gardens had produced vegetables and fruit. Making wine is to go beyond this and is definitely a challenge.
I’m just happy that there are always new developments for green roofs.
Personally I have dealt with many hanging gardens in any context, anywhere in the world and every time dreamed to create always new, innovative, useful environments. I understand the dream of Mr. Shomaker, when working with green, fantasy is a must!
Marco Sandrini, Chief Landscape Designer at Sandrini Green Architecture
Bergamo. Hanging garden for a residential building
Arab Emirates. Terrace in Dubai