Taking the green roof to greater lengths

Plans are developing for the first ever 5-star hotel and resort to be located mostly underground. We have all been exposed to the greening of built-up structures, and even the innovations of planting indoor trees, as in Jean Nouvel's 100 E 11th Avenue, New York, or garden terrariums, and green roof/grey water collection systems. In this vein, the firm of Reardon-Smith Architects has developed a complex as a response to the standard removal of green elements when providing parking spaces, living quarters, and spa elements. In their design there is little potential for obstructed view, and no chance of dreaded parking lot overlooks because the parking garage is located well below the surface of the earth, and courtyards provide partially canopied views and gathering spaces for guests.

Reardon-Smith Architects, Hersham Golf Club, Surrey, UK

The only concern I would have with building underground, aside from the cost incurred to carefully remove and re-transplant vegetation post-construction, is the potential for flooding.However, I do find this to be a very creative counter to our extreme sky-high cities, even those with green roofs and neighborhood vegetable gardens, and expect to see more strides to utilize underground potential in the future, especially as overcrowding in larger cities continues, and our population continues to grow exponentially. The architecture of the future will need to efficiently utilize space, reduce the carbon footprint, and offer more to its environment. And yes, they will still need to possess "Venustas, Utilitas, and Firmistas."-Vitruvius