Ecological green roofs bringing nature back to cities through metropolitan circularity and community engagement
Barcelona’s metropolis is facing hotter summers, longer droughts, and a growing mountain of organic waste, along with declining urban biodiversity.
TOP SEC offers a solution: transforming flat rooftops into seasonal green, or brown, spaces that do not need irrigation. This is achieved by creating an innovative substrate made from biochar derived from organic waste digestate. Another action is to identify optimal plant species for low-maintenance roofs. The project is piloted in four diverse buildings and includes an educational programme to engage the community, changing mindsets and fostering harmony between residents and urban biodiversity.
About
Challenged with improving harmony between Barcelona’s human residents and urban wildlife in a context of climate change, TOP SEC offers a groundbreaking solution: transform the metropolises' flat rooftops into naturalised, seasonal green – or brown – spaces that do not need irrigation.
How? By developing an innovative substrate made from high-quality biochar produced from organic waste digestate and pairing it with a comprehensive study to identify the best plant species for these low- maintenance, naturalised roofs.
TOP SEC is being tested in four unique buildings: a public school, an office building, a social housing complex, and an environmental facility. Plus, an educational programme is set to engage the community, changing mindsets and teaching people the benefits of these roofs. It also highlights how to live in harmony with new non-human inhabitants.
TOP SEC is not just about waste management; it is an affordable way to renovate rooftops, improve thermal insulation, enhance water management, contribute to carbon sequestration, and boost urban biodiversity.
List of resources
About this resource
The European Urban Initiative is an essential tool of the urban dimension of Cohesion Policy for the 2021-2027 programming period. The initiative established by the European Union supports cities of all sizes, to build their capacity and knowledge, to support innovation and develop transferable and scalable innovative solutions to urban challenges of EU relevance.
Similar content
