An inner city art deco apartment block built in the early 1930s has been given a new lease of life with a recent rooftop garden makeover.
The apartment block, known as 'The Westbury', does not have balconies, meaning the open air rooftop is one of the only options for greenery.
"We aimed for a relaxed suburban backyard feel that was well-serviced for entertainment, but had virtually zero maintenance requirements," says Mark Harper, principal of landscape architectural firm Atlantis Design, which created and oversaw construction of the project.
Integral to the success of the design was Elmich products.
VersiDrain 25P drainage and water retention trays were installed in the shallow planted areas.
VersiDrain 25P trays enable water storage for reuse, free drainage of excess water and are lightweight and easy to install. They also protect the underlying waterproof membrane.
Geotextile was laid over the VersiDrain 25P, followed by lightweight growing media and plants. Succulent sedum plantings add greenery to the cityscape.
Deep planter boxes planted with scented frangipanis were also used. VersiCell lightweight drainage cells were installed at their base to allow excess water to disperse.
Made from recycled plastic, VersiCell also protects the waterproof membrane and can withstand heavy loads such as large trees and the weight of vehicles when installed under roadways and playing fields.
VersiDrain 8Geo, a dimpled drainage sheet with an adhered geotextile, was installed onto the planter box walls to protect the membrane and to promote drainage.
Pavers at The Westbury are supported on VersiPave, which accommodates variations in paver thickness or a slope in the fall of the roof slab.
VersiPave, manufactured from recycled plastic, eliminates the use of bedding sand or screeds. This results in significant weight reduction on The Westbury’s building structure.
The 4 mm void created between each paver allows rapid water drainage onto the membrane and then to drainage outlets, ensuring that the levelled paved surface does not retain water.
The waterproof membrane on the top of The Westbury was replaced as part of the refurbishment using Evalon. Supplied by Green Roof Technologies, Evalon is a sheet waterproofing membrane that is highly resistant to UV and plant roots and is backed by a 20-year warranty.
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