A green roof or living roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems. Container gardens on roofs, where plants are maintained in pots, are not generally considered to be true green roofs, although this is debated. Rooftop ponds are another form of green roofs which are used to treat greywater. Vegetation, soil, drainage layer, roof barrier and irrigation system constitute the green roof.
Green roof at the British Horse Society headquarters
Model of layers and components used in some green roof systems
A green roof being used on a bike rack to keep bikes dry.
Roof garden which highlights a roof that uses garden boxes which can be a more economical solution for a green roof
A roof is the top covering of a building, including all materials and constructions necessary to support it on the walls of the building or on uprights, providing protection against rain, snow, sunlight, extremes of temperature, and wind. A roof is part of the building envelope.
Terminology of some roof parts
The roof of a library in Sweden
Roofs in the central of Ystad 2022.
Slate, Jersey