More and more people want to live in cities, where space is limited. As a result, architecture grows vertically: new worlds are created on old roofs. Schemes from around the globe show in detail just how attractive these worlds can be, as well as illustrating the form of construction and materials.

More and more people want to live in cities, where space is limited. As a result, architecture grows vertically: new worlds are created on old roofs. Schemes from around the globe show in detail just how attractive these worlds can be, as well as illustrating the form of construction and materials.

PLUS to DETAIL 7+8/2011 | page 884

Green-covered areas alternate with wooden ramps, a wooden stage, solar collectors and photovoltaic panels: the roof of the Environmental Unit Headquarters in Zaragoza, from Magén Arquitectos, serves as an extended park landscape as well as generating energy. See below for a selection of images documenting its construction.

PLUS to DETAIL 05/2011 | page 602

The demands of the conservationists were taken into account when the additional story was built: the seemingly sober, steel-covered boxes do not influence visually the historical facades of Leinster Street, which is located in the centre of Dublin. They protrude out on the courtyard side, present themselves as a self-confident modern design element and offer enough space for the clinic library.

Philippsburg in the Baden-Württemberg region has not only recently become home to one of South-West Germany’s nuclear reactors: the photovoltaic system on the roof of Goodyear Dunlop’s logistics centre – at around 7.4 megawatts – is the largest solar power roof system in the country.

The trade show ROOF + TIMBER International in Cologne, Germany, will be presenting products and services for the entire building from the 24th until 27.2.2010. The host of the trade show, GHM Gesellschaft für Handwerksmessen mbH, is concentrating this year’s show on the core topic of “internationalisation” and “energy efficiency” stated Deter Dohr from the top management of GHM.

Germany's biggest thin-film photovoltaic system mounted on a pitched roof in Moers has now started operating. In future, the more than 11,000 modules are to supply a nominal power output of 837 kilowatts of electricity, enough to cover the needs of 170 households.