How to turn a concrete rooftop into a thermal ballast
In short: In dense urban environments like Sydney, nature is often a luxury. But by applying biophilic design, a landscape architect transformed a cramped three-story terrace into a lush oasis. This renovation proves that even the smallest footprints can provide cooling, biodiversity, and a vital connection to the natural world.
Sacha Coles, a landscape architect, renovated a narrow three-story block in Redfern, a densely populated suburb of inner-Sydney. The project aimed to maximize access to nature for a family living in a small two-bedroom terrace. The core philosophy was biophilic design: creating a space that incorporates natural light, greenery, and materials to evoke the feelings of being in nature, specifically to counter the constraints of a packed concrete environment.
The renovation utilizes a vertical approach to greenery. The ground floor features a 4x4m courtyard designed as a 'tropical pocket' or gully because it lacks northern light. It uses large-scale plants like elephant ears, Australian Fan Palms, and ferns to create an immediate sense of establishment. Moving upward, circular skylights allow the canopies of three tall Livistona australis palms to be visible from every floor, maintaining a visual connection to the trees throughout the home.
The crowning feature is a flat rooftop garden designed as a 'wild garden' for pollinators rather than for human maintenance. Unlike the surrounding parks, this space is intentionally dense and diverse. Structurally, it requires a sophisticated layered drainage system consisting of jute matting, structural soil cells, and engineered rooftop soil. This setup functions as a thermal mass, acting as a temperature ballast that keeps the home cool in summer and retains heat in winter.
Coles argues that utilizing roof space for greenery is as practical as installing solar panels. By using off-the-shelf products and engineered systems, urban dwellers can turn 'dead' space into functional ecosystems that improve wellbeing and local biodiversity.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: A nature driven inner city terrace renovation | Garden Design and Inspiration | Gardening Australia
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