Green Our Rooftop project

An interdisciplinary team including project managers, landscape architects, green infrastructure experts, horticulturists, waterproofing and irrigation specialists, engineers and landscaping contractors were involved in delivery of this successful green roof. This includes:

• Client Group: Department of Transport and Planning (landlord), and City of Melbourne and DEECA (co-funding partners)
• Lead Project Manager: SEMZ
• Lead Design Consultant: Hassell Studio
• Lead Builder: Harris HMC
• Structural Engineer: Meinhardt
• Waterproofing consultant: Australian Waterproofing Consultants
• Irrigation specialist: G & M Connellan Consultants
• Plant design and selection: Hassell Studio, Super Bloom, University of Melbourne’s Green Infrastructure Research Group
• Green roof systems installation: Evergreen Infrastructure
• Maintenance and data collection: Practical Ecology
• Monitoring and evaluation: University of Melbourne’s Green Infrastructure Research Group

We would like to thank everyone who has contributed throughout all stages of the project, including ASPECT Studios who contributed significantly to earlier design iterations of the green roof.

Three First Nations groups were engaged through the Green Our Rooftop project to codesign individual projects based on the interest of each group. The three projects focused on green roof maintenance, culturally significant plant species and connection to Urban Country through knowledge sharing. 

The green roof will test different plant palettes that are not traditionally used in Victorian green rooftops, different green roof systems, plant installation methods, and planting mixes, as well as planting arrangements that provide aesthetic value year-round.

The green roof is designed into two sections.

The eastern garden bed comprises a series of research plots designed to test:

• different green roof systems (layered, modular)
• planting installation methods (direct seeding, planting, roll-out mats)
• planting mixes (succulents, forbs, grasses, indigenous grassland species).

The western garden bed offers a demonstration of how the above planting typologies can be applied in a designed context to create a visually attractive and environmentally beneficial landscape.

A selection of tough, non-invasive and climate compatible plants have been selected for this green roof, that suit the challenging green roof conditions.

Researchers from University of Melbourne’s Green Infrastructure Research Group will be evaluating the relative costs and success of constructing and maintaining the different green roof typologies being trialled on the green roof. 

As part this, the research garden plots will be monitored for a minimum 12 months post-planting.

Findings will be shared to help overcome current industry knowledge gaps and barriers to green roof uptake.

This timelapse video captures the construction process of a green roof being retrofitted on an existing commercial building rooftop at 1 Treasury Place, East Melbourne. Footage has been taken between May and July 2024. Beginning with a bare rooftop, over the course of the video contractors can be seen preparing and planting out the site. The timelapse video finishes when the planting is complete. This is followed by and end frame with logos of City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government who are partners of the project.

[Sound: Background music only, no dialogue provided]

Timelapse footage has been supplied and curated by Tempus in collaboration with Harris HMC. This video is owned by City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government.