World Cup green roofs - Group A

Here is Group A. Group A features the Brazil's modern splendor captured in a time-worn fashion, Mexico's towering jewel and the beautiful unexpected of Cameroon. Green roofs are still relatively new worldwide, so some of the World Cup participants don't have any green roofs listed (or, easily found) on the web. Like...

Croatia

There are some green roofs in Croatia, like atop the Zamet Center. Unfortunately, I scoured hundreds of images, none of which showed the green roof!



Brazil

Mexico

Cameroon

Is rooftop and vertical farming the key to a true local (food) movement?

-Two weeks ago the world was a buzz with the news of the first commercial vertical farming system in Singapore. Just two years ago analysts were saying the technology was at least five years away from implementation, even in the experimental stage.
The most illuminating part of the second article is the assertion that sky farms could play a roll in places where land is at a premium and few big rooftops remain. That kind of common sense is refreshing in an industry full of promise, but, pardon the expression, needing of grounding.
The next step, pairing these businesses with groups to process the food and make value added products, like in Washington DC and somewhere that can compost (like in Tennessee) the refuse to create a nutrient-rich topsoil. Then we're talking about a true local food movement.

-While it would take years to build an integrated system I have envisioned above, in disadvantaged communities there are already programs, practices and policies working to sustain urban agriculture efforts on a smaller scale.

-Apps, apps and more apps. A multi-billion dollar industry has hardly touched the the GILA industry until now. Thanks to the Harvard Graduate School of Design the app helps unite environmentalism and urbanism.

-The last article for today is a fascinating one. One woman's 20 year journey from planting vegetables on a balcony to eventually becoming a major force in possibly eliminating Mexico City's pollution problem.

Green roofs (techos verdes) of Latin America

Living in North America there's a lot about what's happening around here. And we get a decent amount of living architecture news from Europe. But Asia? Little. Africa? Zilch. Latin America? Forget about it! So I need to do a post highlighting some of these underreported treasures. This, I feel, will be the first of many posts.

Let's check out the Techos Verdes!!! 

Mexico -
Green roofs at 'El Acantilado' in Zapopan, Jalisco are spread out over a couple of buildings. I love how the white walls really brings out the color of the vegetated roofs! Ah yes, I cannot forget that  from what I can sleuth in Mexico City, as of late 2011 there were over 8000 square meters of green roof so far.

Colombia - 
Both Bogota, Colombia and Buenos Aires, Argentina require green roofs on city buildings. 

Argentina - 
Okay, I couldn't resist adding a green wall to the mix, although I could do an entire post on green walls in Latin America.  The Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) was one of the first to get both a green roof and a green wall, to set an example for the rest of the city (Buenos Aires). Can't recall seeing any green wall before around oval windows!

Brasil-
How about some more residential green roofs? Ecovilas is a sustainable village in the province of Rio Grande do Sul. In total there are 18 green roofs, each about 1100 square feet big.

Real green wall information!

As many folks know, I'm a cooperative guy and like to share. And anyone affiliated with verticiel Inc. relishes helping as well. So it's great to see McRae Anderson release this ebook, free, with more info than I can remember coming from one person in a while.

-Continuing on the sharing topic, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension has a comprehensive guide to Urban Agriculture for Nebraska and beyond. Speaking of resources, there are always new ways to build community and save a few bucks too.
-I don't know when it will be done, but be sure to read
the Design Trust for Public Space's plan for the future of urban farms in New York City.

Okay, now a quick global roundup:

-In the Phils the Bureau of Agricultural Research plans to introduce the concept of "edible landscaping" to the mainstream population.
-In Taxco, Mexico, not far from Mexico City, residents are being encouraged to implement Cuban farming techniques to grow certain crops.
-And I've just recently read, African Indigenous Vegetables in Urban Agriculture. A touch expensive, but worth buying if you have some extra cash. Or...you can share with a few friends!

Lastly, here's a job alert for those in DC who want to write about food!