Mt Difficulty Barrel Store
New Zealand’s largest extensive living roof was installed at Mt Difficulty Wines in March 2012. Spanning an impressive 900m2, the roof was designed to incorporate native plants. Within just four days, the LiveRoof® pre-vegetated modular system seamlessly merged with the surrounding environment. Not only does this living roof conserve energy through evaporative cooling, but it also embraces a circular use of water by utilising process water from winemaking for irrigation.
Location:
Bannonkburn, Otago
Client:
Mt Difficulty vineyard
Living Roof Designer:
Greg Yeoman – Stormwater360
Architect:
Wild Rooster Architectural design
Project Manager/Contractor:
Stormwater360 / Naylor Love
Living Roof Type:
Extensive
Development Type:
Commercial – Vineyard Barrel Store
Build:
New Build Green Roof
Retrofit
Building Type:
Commercial – Vineyard Barrel Store
Living Roof Brief:
The roof blends seamlessly into the environment. In addition to the biophilic design elements, the vineyard wanted the logo to be included in the roof design. The plant selection and placement were designed to accommodate this. Also, the living roof conserves energy through evaporative cooling, but it also embraces a circular use of water by utilising process water from winemaking for irrigation. This provides financial savings as well as environmental benefits.
Project Drivers:
Amenity (blend in with landscape), functional (energy conservation and water reuse)
Living Roof Design:
Vegetation
Native
The plant palette was chosen from locally sourced New Zealand natives, including wild thyme to encourage bee habitats. Additional habitat creation for endangered skinks was included with rock features.
Carex Buchananii (Leather Leaf Sedge)
Carex testacea (orange sedge)
Festuca (Novae Zelandiae)
Poa Cita (Silver Tussock)
Festuca coxii (Blue Grass)
Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme)
Local Stonecrop sedum
Substrate depth
150mm
Substrate composition
LiteRoof™ 80%inorganic pumice based growing media
Drainage system
LiteRoof™ 80%inorganic pumice based growing media
Waterproof membrane
Warmroof TPO
Irrigation
The roof is watered from a permanent irrigation system using process water from the winemaking process. This reduces tradewaste discharge and provides a circular use of water.
Living Roof Construction:
Modular tray living roof system
Roof structure:
Reinforced Concrete
Slope of roof
Minimal
Describe roof access:
Type of access
Permanent (Public)
Climate evaluation:
Otago has very low annual rainfall, the roof does require watering.
Size:
900m2
Completion:
March 2012
