Travelers visiting an urban setting like Singapore don't typically expect to see tropical gardens growing right outside of their hotel windows - especially when their rooms are elevated ten stories above ground level. So you can imagine that guests of the city's ParkRoyal on Pickering Hotel find the surreal sky gardens. They wrap around its glassy towers to be a truly singular experience. Conceptualized by Singapore-based WOHA Architects the fantastical form has captivated the attention of the architecture world as well as the the green building industry with its energy and water-conscious design. 

We have just completed a suburban garden in Skerries. One unique part of this project was to tackle an area outside the kitchen window.  located  under the window was a boiler and two gas cylinders for their cooker. This area was a small part of the overall plan but an eyesore and a problem! I decided to build a mini green roof structure which would cover the area completely and create a great view from the kitchen. This planting bed can harvest vegetables or herbs for cooking or can be simply a natural floral bed. We used cedar timber for the doors and  rendered walls to match the house. The planting bed itself is a steel structure engineered to carry the weight.
I hope they enjoy the view and the scent of herbs drifting in to their kitchen!

As i was born in Canada and also returned to work there as an adult i am very aware of how forward thinking the Canadians are! As our economy is starting to move again i think we should ensure future developments have green infrastructure installed on them. Take a look at what they have achieved in Toronto!

'Toronto is the first City in North America to have a bylaw to require and govern the construction of green roofs on new development. It was adopted by Toronto City Council in May 2009, under the authority of Section 108 of the City of Toronto Act.The Bylaw applies to new building permit applications for residential, commercial and institutional development made after January 31, 2010 and will apply to new industrial development as of April 30, 2012"

Photo - Toronto City Hall Green Roof