Garden Roof

This photo was taken 2/21/09 on Isla Mujeres, a small island located just off of the coast of Cancun. The home faces Northeast with a spectacular view of the Caribbean Sea. Of course, the rear face of the home is left exposed to the brutal sun on the southern and western exposure. The builders of this home were wise to utilize a garden roof here. The roof is an extensive system over a concrete roof deck. A simple garden consisting of local grasses and wildflowers was used.

This method requires almost no maintenance. These plants are accustomed to harsh climates and adapt well to the temperatures and drought conditions associated with garden roofs. Garden roofs do not actually provide an ‘R’ value but still manage to create much more comfortable interior spaces in hot and cold environments. This is due to the evaporative effect of this type of roof.

The homes on Isla Mujeres use little to no HVAC or heat. They instead take advantage of trade winds, site selection, passive heating, passive lighting, passive ventilation, and time tested design solutions (like garden roofs). Often the best innovation is born from necessity. We as Americans could stand to learn from the simple techniques used in these homes.