Great article, though I see an engineering challenge with item 4. Are there materials that would resist buckling due to root action or would it be best to use pavers, brick, ect. to allow easy removal of problematic roots.
On that note, one may need an arboriculturist to make sure removing roots doesn’t kill the tree!
Thanks for posting our first comment Dan!
You’re absolutely right. A landscape designer and preferably an arboriculturist should be consulted especially when space restrictions require the project to have car parks and trees in close proximity. The introduction of green features like vegetation swales is another great way to separate the spaces that trees need to grow from the paved areas, ensuring roots have enough water filtration (and room) to survive.
In the end, designing WITH nature instead of against it will save you money and generate value to your property. A great example of this is naked Stables (see our projects under Hospitality). They chose specific locations on their site to build the villas and other hotel structures where land was already disturbed. They also built around existing trees and even incorporated them within their designs (e.g. some trees can be seen going through parts of the decking and walkways). This not only creates a pristine environment that is enjoyable for guests but the shading helps greatly to save energy in the summer.
The options are endless when you start early and think outside the box!
Parking areas also represent an ideal area under which to put the underground heat exchanger component of a Ground Energy System (GES), also often referred to Ground Source Heat Pump system. GES is a clean technology that provides energy efficient space heating and air conditioning to buildings. A GES replaces conventional chillers, boilers or city heating systems, by using thermal energy from the ground as a free source of renewable energy. The technology comprises an underground piping system that acts as a thermal energy exchange through the circulation of clean water, which is brought to the surface at a constant temperature between 15°C and 20°C where heat pumps adjust the water to the required temperature so it can be used to heat or cool the building efficiently. Parking and landscape areas make an ideal location to install the underground loop system without any impact on the surface use.
[…] And Now … The Green Parking Lot 绿 色建筑在中国发展的思考 […]
