The roof redefined

To facilitate this research- and demonstration Blue-Green roof, businesses, government and stakeholders have joined together to create Project Smartroof 2.0 within the Dutch Topsector Water Program. In the ever busier and more densely built urban environment rooftops are no longer just the top of a building, but become an integral functional part of the buildings energy performance, its rainwater management, while reducing the urban heat island effect, with a positive effect on people, human health and biodiversity.

The project aims at demonstrating and scientifically validating function and value of the combination of Blue (rainwater catchment, storage and reuse) and Green (biodiverse) roofs for resilient and climate adaptive cities, not for the future, but for today. 

Building 002's black bitumineus rooftop at the former navy base Marineterrein has been transformed to a green oasis in the heart of Amsterdam. Many different species of plants grow in this lightweight Blue-Green roof system, where water is capture, stored and capillary fed back to the soil for plant irrigation, without the use of pumps, hoses or energy. 

Under guidance of the KWR Watercycle Research Institute the goal is to measure the exact plant evaporation (an indicator of cooling capacity) and water- and energy balance, using top grade sensor systems. to gain scientifically validated insight the actual cooling capacity of Blue-Green roof systems in the urban environment.

With this multidisciplinary Project Smartroof 2.0 the aim is to reinforce the Netherlands' lead in knowledge and experience in the development of multifunctional rooftops, circular on-site water management and resilient cities for today, and the future.