"On a property with otherwise limited outdoor space, the original roof
has been transformed into an intimate roof garden."
Fifteen different species of plants grow from a polyethylene grid and
thrive in the day-lit space while a concealed irrigation system provides
water as needed.
The award-winning Watershed Architects (1521 West Main Street) recently offered tours of their project on Grove Avenue that pushes the boundaries of home and garden. The firm creates with a mission to "foster healthy sustainable communities through innovative design based on ecological principles and social consciousness."
Patrick Farley, founding principal, explains one unique feature for the Grove Avenue house offers an interior living wall. "This vertical garden brings the natural world into an atrium at the center of the home. Fifteen different species of plants grow from a polyethylene grid and thrive in the day-lit space while a concealed irrigation system provides water as needed." Watershed Architects partnered with SG Designs to create the two-story expanse of plants.
Greening the exterior also employs a smart use of nature. "On a property with otherwise limited outdoor space, the original roof has been transformed into an intimate roof garden," Farley says. Native sedums provide a carpet of seasonal color throughout the year and a variety of indigenous plants further enhance the space while providing habitat for various fauna such as birds and butterflies.
More Eco Elements The large glass lawn ornament centered in the garden is actually the top of a solar tube that extends into a second floor bathroom ceiling and provides almost all of the light for the space
The residence's eco-upgrades came about "after rising from the ashes of a devastating fire," explains Farley. The home is striving for a LEED Platinum certification. Other green elements include solar electric power and hot water supply, native hardwood cladding, rainwater harvest, natural lime plaster finish, and non-toxic materials throughout.
