The Coolest Green Roof Ever

I've been intrigued by the California Academy of Sciences building ever since I saw it under construction in Golden Gate Park a year and a half ago. I watched from the tower of the new DeYoung Museum as the workmen put the finishing touches on this most unusual building, and vowed to get back to see it. Imagine my surprise to see it turn up in Dwell magazine, the portholes in its roof looking like clear soap bubbles popping up in the middle of a meadow. So last week I finally made it back to San Francisco to see the new building, which is a model of innovative sustainability.

Designed by Renzo Piano, the building took ten years and $500 million dollars to complete....it houses an aquarium, planetarium, natural history museum (my least favorite part - how many dead stuffed animals does it take to be too many??), and a four-story rain forest. You can walk onto a deck next to the green roof, which is an undulating meadow of California native plants covering two and a half acres in the sky. 

The green roof's pop-up windows are slightly martian-like

I've never seen such a beautifully contoured green roof before, let alone one with portholes...

Here's how the green roof looks from the inside

Ever wonder how they keep aquarium glass clean?

The rainforest is an extravaganza of tropical foliage and free-flying butterflies

Comments

[grow lights]

Oh my god! This is so beautiful and something extra ordinary roof. It is just different roof and very rare people have seen or build this type of roof. The most adorable thing that you have done is you have shared very beautiful pictures of it.

[Sierra Nordgren]

Whoa! Now that's a green roof! At first you'd think the green roof pictured in the first few pictures is a bunch of odd hills, and the mind is blown away once you realize that there are rooms underneath those fake hills. It's cool (in more ways than one) architecture, from interior to roof.

[Nelson Kamaka]

Looking at the first picture, I was quite surprised to realize that those pop-up windows are part of the roofing structure. That is way cool! Spending $500 M to build the California Academy of Sciences was indeed worth it. :)

[Max Boughner]

Cool! That is probably the most amazing green roof I’ve ever seen! It looks so futuristic. In fact, it almost looks like a space station or something, but green, hehe! I sure do want to visit there someday!

[Ashlee Starns]

Aside from its cool looks, I’m sure that it also feels cool inside that facility. With its teeming greens everywhere, you won’t need high powered ventilation appliances at all. That’s quite the savings in your electricity bill, isn’t it? I wish to be able to go there someday and feel the ambiance of nature being in harmony with technology.

[Lino Kosters]

You could be right, Ashlee! I think it would be great if more facilities in the country will emulate the design? If schools or research labs would try this, the personnel and students might find it the atmosphere comfortable and cozy while learning at the same time! =)

[Nelson Mcglaughlin]

I’ve always been conscious of green roofs because I love seeing other people’s different methods of putting up one and making it unique at the same time. But now I shall rest my hunt. This is the coolest!! It looks like a starship in disguise. I would actually be afraid to come close and wouldn’t have thought there was some kind of a rainforest in there. This is awesome! :D

[Chantay Smithingell]

Awesome! This is the most fascinating rooftop that I’ve ever seen! It’s quite amazing how these hollow windows form part of the roofing structure. At first glance, it can be mistaken as a hill filled with holes! The creator is a natural born artist-scientist. I’m just curious where he got this idea. Maybe he took it from the moon’s structure?

[Charlie]

I have been reading a lot about living walls and roofs. This was absolutely awesome. Thank you for the photos.

[solar power]

wow, this is amazing! Renzo Piano has always been one of my favorite architects and this just solidifies that once again.