Private Kiawah Island, SC Residence
Kiawah Island, SC, USA
1,500 sf. Greenroof

Greenroofs.com Featured Project December 1, 2020

Image: Living Roofs, Inc.

After re-reading last week’s #TBT article Back to Nature ~ An Alternative Approach to Planting Green Roofs by Haven Kiers, MLA, GRP, we were inspired to once again highlight this lovely family home designed by Thomas & Denzinger Architects and Wertimer & Associates Landscape Architects, and installed by Living Roofs, Inc.

With plenty of natural features integrated to attract local wildlife, this private residence and its living roof blend effortlessly into the marshlands just beyond.

Image: Living Roofs, Inc.

Excerpt from Greenroofs.com Project Profile:

This private residential green roof is located in the marsh sensitive ecology of Kiawah Island in coastal South Carolina. The semi-intensive green roof works not only to visually delineate the union between the building and the surrounding tidal marsh environment but also works to protect the vital buffer zone from harmful storm water.

Image: Living Roofs, Inc.

The homeowners enjoy full access to the roof via slate pavers that lead to a wonderful outdoor space overlooking open marshland.

The green roof is a custom built-up system with subsurface irrigation, installed by Living Roofs, Inc. Waterproofing from Sika Sarnafil and Xeroflor GmbH (Bonar) drain mats were used throughout the green roof ensuring a watertight structure and providing both water retention and drainage.

Image: Living Roofs, Inc.

The vegetation is made up of five species of grasses including natives such as Muhlenbergia and Nassella. Perennial grasses were chosen in order to create a seamless visual transition from the roof to the marsh below.

Two pieces of marsh cedar driftwood collected from the surrounding environment were placed among the grasses providing natural design and habitat for marsh species.

Photos Courtesy of Living Roofs Inc.

The green roof was installed in May of 2011 and by the end of the same summer, fiddler crabs were found crawling through the grasses on the roof!

The Private Kiawah Island installation was challenging as space was limited for staging materials and lifting the growing media and pavers to the roof, but the team at Living Roofs, Inc. persevered through hot and muggy Charleston weather to finish this very successful project.

Photos Courtesy of Living Roofs Inc.

Year: 2011
Owner: Private
Location: Kiawah Island, SC, USA
Building Type: Single-Family Residential
Type: Semi-Intensive
System: Custom
Size: 1,500 sq.ft.
Slope: 1%
Access: Accessible, Private

Image: Living Roofs, Inc.

Credits:

ARCHITECT:
THOMAS AND DENZINGER ARCHITECTS

GENERAL CONTRACTOR:
KOENIG CONSTRUCTION

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT:
WERTIMER & ASSOCIATES

GREEN ROOF INSTALLATION:
LIVING ROOFS, INC.

WATERPROOFING:
SIKA SARNAFIL

ENKADRAIN DRAINAGE & WATER RETENTION:
XEROFLOR GMBH (BONAR)

Image: Living Roofs, Inc.

See the Project Profile

See the Private Kiawah Island, SC Residence Project Profile to view ALL of the Photos and Additional Information about this particular project in the Greenroofs.com Projects Database.

Image: Living Roofs, Inc.

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Love the Earth, Plant a Roof (or Wall)!

By Linda S. Velazquez, ASLA, LEED AP, GRP
Greenroofs.com Publisher & Greenroofs & Walls of the World™ Virtual Summits Host

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