HASSELL Unveils Living Roofs at the University of Melbourne’s Burnley Campus

The University of Melbourne’s Burnley Campus research buildings have been given a green lift with an incredible network of lush <a href="http://inhabitat.com/pavilion-pool-green-roofed-house-looks-like-a-rift-in-the-landscape/" target="_blank">rooftop gardens</a>. Designed and built by <a href="//www.hassellstudio.com/" target="_blank">HASSELL</a>, the three new <a href="http://inhabitat.com/green-roofed-paul-chevallier-school-gives-kids-a-connection-to-nature-in-france/" target="_blank">green roofs</a> couple green technology with actual greenery. Students and faculty can enjoy meandering along the wooden rooftop pathways that run between diversely planted gardens.

The Burnley Living Roofs are made up of three separate <a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-wall-house-stacked-double-home-in-singapore-features-a-dramatic-green-roof/" target="_blank">green roofs</a>- the Demonstration Roof, the Research Roof and the Biodiversity Roof.

The Demonstration roof welcomes visitors, showcasing planted zones in an exhibition style, from irrigated to non-irrigated areas which are planted over a wedge structure.

The different zones of the Demonstration roof are threaded together with a continuing red edging that leads visitors from one garden to the next. Expanded sitting areas also double as outdoor classrooms for studying the experimental landscaped zones.

The Research Roof is split into four segments used by the research team for experiments related to <a href="http://inhabitat.com/d-house-urban-sandwich-renovates-an-aging-polish-home-with-a-sky-garden-oasis/" target="_blank">green roofs</a> such as stormwater quality effects on plant life and varying degrees of green roof insulation.

The third roof, The Biodiversity Roof, fosters animal life. Birds, insects and reptiles live amongst local plants. This portion of the roof is outfitted with recycled materials like logs, sticks and roof tiles, which create a cozy habitat for the flora and fauna.

The resulting spectacular roofs are a true marriage of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/hassell-transforms-a-brisbane-bread-factory-into-a-hip-architecture-studio/" target="_blank">HASSELL’s ideas</a> with the University’s wants, making for a beautiful series of green roofs that will provide an outdoor research facility and respite.