And the winners are … Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects.

It looks like there’s a trend these days to redesign rooftops into spectacular eco-friendly retreats no matter what the costs are. Do these guys do it for publicity or just to do their good deed for the environment? A little bit of both I suppose. Take the guys at Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects and the 14,000 sq-ft rooftop in downtown Chicago (900 North Michigan Avenue) which was turned into a living … thing.

They used tall verbena, phlox and nodding onion, small trees, including Japanese tree lilacs, cranberry cotoneaster, recycled concrete and sustainable, toxin-free ipe wood which other than looking great on the roof, provide a great heat and cold insulation for the building, and offsets excessive noise.

Their whole project won the 2008 Green Roof Award of Excellence.

A great scenery for a quiet day/evening on top of your building, with a great view over the city and knowing that your roof is helping the environment, even if it’s just a little bit, sounds just about right. Isn’t it?

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