RAFAEL VIÑOLY UNVEILS PLANS FOR THE WORLD’S LARGEST GREEN ROOF

A community-oriented project in California that will host a 30-acre park on the roof

Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly, in collaboration with the landscape architects at OLIN, is set to transform a California shopping mall into a mixed-use project that will boast the world’s largest green roof. Called “The Hills at Vallco”, the development will overhaul the existing Vallco Shopping Mall, which is located in Cupertino, California, near the new Apple 2 campus. The project will blend housing with shops, entertainment, offices and community spaces.

The crowning glory of the project will be an immense green roof accessible to the public. The roof will host a 30-acre park that incorporates a 3.8 mile trail system, a public amphitheater and a children’s play area along with various gardens, vineyards and orchards. It will equally serve as a nature preserve for local birds.

The intention is for the project to receive LEED Platinum certification through a series of eco-friendly initiatives such as the use of recycled water for irrigation, heating, and cooling, and the recapturing of rainwater to reduce overall water consumption. The park’s flora will feature “native, drought-tolerant and climate-responsive landscaping that thrives on little to no water”. And, of course, the green roof, in combination with smart technology, will provide natural insulation to help regulate interior temperatures.