Green Roof City is a Giant Vegetated Ramp for Chicago

Expanding on Chicago's already existing 200 <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/green-roof">green roofs</a>, (more than any other American city), this sloping, garden-topped building won't be like any you've ever seen before. Designed by Yi Huang, Tian Tan &amp; Xu Zhang, <a href="http://www.ctbuh.org/Research/DesignResearch/Nottingham/20092010ClimateCultureContext/DesignResponses/GreenRoofCity/tabid/1665/language/en-US/Default.aspx">Green Roof City</a> is a ramped structure that links together two of the windy city's existing buildings. The building (very appropriately) would house an architecture school, but the roof is an exciting park that would be accessible to everyone in the city.

Currently, <a href="http://www.depaul.edu/">Depaul University</a> and its student housing are in two separate buildings split by Van Buren Street and the elevated rail system.

Green Roof City would link the two existing buildings together.

The new building would tie the two plots together, offering a secondary and tertiary route for students to get from one building to the other - either through the new <a href="http://inhabitat.com/architecture/">architecture</a> school or across the sloping <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/green-roof">roof</a>.

The sloping elevated rooftop park would add an exciting new recreational space to the city.

In order to maximize views of Grant Park and Michigan Lake, student housing will be located at the southern end of the site.

Rotating timber screens on the <a href="http://inhabitat.com/2010/09/17/jean-nouvels-stunning-museum-facade-dilates-to-let-in-daylight/">façade</a> will provide both privacy and shade.

The screens also add to the aesthetic quality of the structure within the rectilinear confines of the tower.

The residential plan of the tower.

The floorplan for Green Roof City.

An architectural model of Green Roof City.

The wooden screens do triple duty - they allow light in/keep it out, allow for privacy, and they look good!

The existing green roofs of the city.