BY SHALINI RAVINDRAN

Rooftop gardens will improve the environment and quality of life. - filepic

WHEN a city needs green space but there is no room, what can it do? Go up, of course.

Urban regeneration organisation Think City has embarked on a pilot project to promote the creation of rooftop and vertical gardens in Kuala Lumpur.

Targeted at building owners within a 1km radius of Masjid Jamek, the programme hopes to encourage them to rethink how to best utilise the rooftop and wall space to improve the urban landscape and contribute to the larger urban regeneration agenda.

“There are not a lot of public spaces that can be turned into green space. So, why not rooftops?

“Rooftop gardens are not a new phenomenon and can be seen in many cities across the world from Tokyo in Japan to Montreal in Canada.

“We have not quite caught on in South-East Asia so there is a lot of potential for growth in this area,” said Think City programme manager Duncan Cave.

He said rooftop gardens provide many benefits.

“Aside from the obvious cityscape benefits, the environmental and quality-of-life impact these gardens have on cities have been well-documented.

Cave says Think City wants to partner with building owners within a 1km radius of Masjid Jamek, Kuala Lumpur.

“Having greenery on rooftops can also lower electricity costs because the building is actually cooled by two to three degrees Celcius. This is especially impactful for those using air-conditioning where even a few degrees can make a difference,” hesaid.

An added benefit to rooftop gardens, he said, was that it could help mitigate flooding.

“Because cities are so built up, there is no runoff for the water when it rains. If there is more greenery on the roofs, a lot of that water will be held and slowly released.

“It would also activate the previously empty space by adding a cafe or bar to attract people,” he said.

Cave added that the garden could be developed into an urban farm which could help mitigate some of the costs for food.

“In Kuala Lumpur, we are looking to partner with building owners within the historic core to pilot these rooftop gardens and demonstrate how use of these spaces can add a new dimension to how they see and use their asset.

“We will also be looking for opportunities for vertical gardens around the city, so we encourage property owners to consider revitalising their buildings and join us in this exciting project,” he said.

Building owners who join the programme will work closely with Think City and a panel of experts to identify, assess, formulate and implement a suitable solution for the site. Think City will also support the building owner by helping to provide funds to offset costs for implementation.

“Successful applicants will be supported with funding to implement the project as well as have access to the technical expertise that we will bring on board to ensure the project is completed to standard,” said Cave.

To apply, log on to www.thinkcity.com.my to download the application form.