The River House Green Roof
Moretown, Vermont
The extensive green roof garden on this new Net-Zero Energy home supports a pleasing composition of sedum, wildflowers and grasses, which provides year-round interest and contributes to the integration of house with the natural ledge and vegetation of the site. Environmental benefits are significant, including energy efficiency and the reduction and management of storm water runoff. Most of the water is absorbed and returned to the atmosphere, with minimal residue water collected in richly planted stone-lined rain gardens at the base of the house foundation.
Collaboration with William Maclay Architects.
Seventh Generation Living Wall
Burlington, Vermont
A welcoming feature in the lobby of the Seventh Generation headquarters is a two-story tall recycled content steel wire trellis panel that supports a lush tapestry of vines with varying shades of green. These vines provide the necessary microbes for transforming typical indoor air contaminants into harmless water and carbon dioxide. Symbolically, this living sculpture also reminds visitors of Seventh Generation’s commitment to ‘become the world’s most trusted brand of authentic, safe and environmentally-responsible products for a healthy home’.
Collaboration with William Maclay Architects.
Seventh Generation Green Roof
Burlington, Vermont
Seventh Generation is committed to providing a healthy workplace for its staff, which includes a roof garden terrace that orients west to the adjacent Lake Champlain and distant Adirondack Mountains. The staff enjoys a variety of spaces, group or intimate, for taking a break or conducting a meeting. The green slate walkways from southern Vermont and the speckled gray granite terraces from the state’s capital region reflect Seventh Generation’s commitment to local community and environment. The colorful and fragrant composition
of native wildflowers and edible-berry plants, including local blueberry and strawberry, envelope the spaces with the richness of nature.
Collaboration with William Maclay Architects.
The Putney School Permeable
Paver Courtyard
Putney, Vermont
The Putney School Fieldhouse is a new sustainable, green
educational facility on campus, which has received a LEED Gold certification. The new associated courtyard, connecting the existing Student Union building with the Fieldhouse and providing a much needed central social space with gardens, contributes to the certification with the permeable paver surface. Permeable pavers significantly reduce stormwater and associated contaminant runoff by allowing infiltration of rain into the subsurface and, ultimately, the water table.
Collaboration with William Maclay Architects.
Meadow Home Rain Garden
Morrisville, Vermont
A rain garden was incorporated into the landscape plan to collect large amounts of rainwater that accumulates in a significant roof valley during heavy storms. This feature discretely performs the function of carrying excess water away via subsurface drains, while blending with the adjacent mature bonsai garden. Drifts of ferns, wet-tolerant shrubs and river rock emulate a woodland brook, which overlaps with the existing patio / garden space.
Sugarbush Home Rain Garden
Warren, Vermont
One of the conditions of the local permit for the construction of this new mountain home was to maintain all additional stormwater runoff that the new roof will generate within the property boundaries. In collaboration with a local hydrologist, a large biorentention area was designed to collect and temporarily hold most of the roof runoff into a unique composition of special soil and native wetland plants so that the water can slowly percolate into the earth rather than drain to adjacent properties and water sources, and potentially cause erosion. At the same time, this ‘rain garden’ is a beautiful entry focal point as it provides color, texture and fragrance, and attracts butterflies and hummingbirds.
Collaboration with William Maclay Architects.
Click here to view/download/print a PDF version of Cynthia Knauf Landscape Design's Green Design Projects.
Return to top of page |
