San Francisco Museum Living Roof

One of san francisco s most exciting green projects is the construction.

San francisco museum living roof.

Living roof the academy s iconic living roof is more than a beautiful architectural feature. The six inches of soil substrate on the roof acts as natural insulation and prevents stormwater runoff from carrying pollutants into the ecosystem. The california academy of sciences features a living green roof with native plants insulation made from. Its 2 5 acre undulating greenroof sits 35 feet in the air planted with a variety of over 50 native wildflowers and other species.

Learn more about the 2 5 acre oasis atop the museum. Living roof california academy of sciences museum san francisco california contributor names highsmith carol m 1946 photographer created published 2009 april 30. Tim griffith california academy of sciences. It s critical to the building s heating and cooling efficiency.

That sketch launched plans for what may be the most complicated living roof ever built. In size and design the academy roof is unprecedented marked by seven domes and steep hillocks envisioned by celebrity lead architect renzo piano as a nod to san francisco s undulating topography. The san francisco based bernard osher foundation made a 20 million donation to the new academy project in support of the living roof and the four story osher rainforest exhibit. A living roof will slope over interior exhibitions and read as hills against the natural landscape.

A building heralded as the greenest museum in the world opens saturday in san francisco. Rolling hills and 1 7 million plants create an oasis for native species atop the academy s 2 5 acre living roof. The living roof planted with nine local species the 2 5 acre roof is the largest swath of native vegetation in san francisco. The new building will be an organic extension of the academy s commitment to understand and.