PREFAB FRIDAY: Beautiful Green Roofed Affordable Housing In the UK

Affordable housing meets stylish design, renewable energy, green roofs, energy efficiency and <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/architecture/prefab-housing/" target="_blank">prefabricated construction</a> in this fantastic housing project in the London Borough of Hillingdon. <a href="http://www.birchwayeco.com/" target="_blank">Birchway Eco Community</a> was built as an infill project to provide <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/02/19/upcycled-living-rolls-out-affordable-shipping-container-housing/" target="_blank">affordable housing</a> for residents of Hillingdon and is more than just a series of <a href="http://www.inhabitat.com/2010/01/08/prefab-friday-modcells-stunning-straw-bale-prefab-homes/" target="_blank">green built prefab homes</a>. The residents are creating a green charter that will serve as a guidebook for the community on how to live greener lives.

Each of the five buildings is covered in a green sedum roof, along with solar panels and skylights.

A sedum roof is a roof of a building that is partially or completely covered with vegetation and soil planted over a waterproofing membrane. Sedum is a succulent plant also known as stonecrop.

Photovoltaic systems are mounted on the southern aspects and help power the community and common areas.

The prefabricated modules are lifted into place via crane and connected together.

The roof and cladding are added on after the modules are in place.

The modules themselves are constructed from 65% recycled steel.

Birchway has 24 one and two bedroom units in five separate buildings.

Tight insulation, passive ventilation as well as a heat recovery system help make the buildings energy efficient.

The skylights in the roof as well as the large windows on the side help provide lots of natural daylight into the interiors.

The Birchway Eco Community is all affordable housing built on an infill lot.

This community is more than just a development and is working on creating a resident's green charter to help people live greener lifestyles.