Roof garden wagnis 4

The project in Munich's city center deals with an important future topic of landscape architecture: the design of versatile, green, at the same time natural and aesthetically pleasing garden areas on roofs, as a supplement to the scarce open spaces on ground level with - as almost always in residential construction - very limited budget.
Extensive green roofs or pure roof terraces are not an option here.
The special features of the project presented are the choice of materials, differentiated substrate planning and plant use, integration of building technology, community use and, above all, the intensive participation of users in the planning, construction and maintenance of the roof garden.

The cooperative housing project wagnis 4 with approx. 100 residents is located at Ackermannbogen in Munich in relatively green surroundings, on the edge of the Olympic Park. The 4-5-storey development is still relatively low-density with a GFZ of approx. 1.0. Nevertheless, during the planning process it was relatively quickly clear to the residents that their open space requirements could not be accommodated in the ground-floor courtyard alone. At the same time, the residents wanted lots of trees, sunny green spaces, exercise and play space for children, quiet retreats from wild nature, extensive cultivation areas and much more.
The planners decided to outsource the open space uses in need of rest and sunshine to a roof garden above the 3rd upper floor of the north building, and to allow retreat and green experience here in "garden rooms" of different sizes. The roof above the 3rd floor of the west building accommodates cultivation areas for vegetables, with a greenhouse in the northwest corner. On the 5-storey East House, there are four oil pastures in the north-east corner with greater long-distance appeal.

The roof areas to the north and west have barrier-free access via the lift in the East House. The amount of pavement areas has been reduced to the minimum necessary. Low impact allows for "cheap" path surfaces of recumbent concrete ledge stones installed with large joints and no edging, and a flare as a wood deck. Woody plants, perennials and vegetables grow in hand-made large troughs of raw steel. Four different substrate mixes made from regional base materials were used for emaciated lawns, woody plants and perennials, vegetables and lime-avoiding crops. Planting follows a continuous concept, with robust Mediterranean perennial areas and a sparse canopy of rock pears and summer lilacs.

The vegetable beds are each cultivated by 2-3 families side by side. Similar is the case with the greenhouse, the cost and construction of which has been shared by 6 families. For the communal "Solettl", an unheated glass conservatory at the staircase north, a sun-hungry sponsor has been found among the comrades.

In the planning process, it was possible to bundle and place the multitude of sanitary facilities (roof vents, roof drains) in such a way that they do not interfere with the use and the overall impression of the roof garden.

The most important feature of the project is the strong participation of the residents already in the planning process, in the realization and in the maintenance. Plantings, wooden decks and three larger wind-protecting loungers and seating furniture were planned by the residents themselves and (with initial guidance from the landscape architects) implemented with great commitment even before they moved in.

After three years of use and maintenance by the residents, the roof garden makes an orderly and at the same time natural impression. The few materials used (larch wood, concrete strips, patinated raw steel) harmonize with the lush greenery.
The useful and ornamental garden areas are very intensively accepted, the residents withdraw alone and in small groups or meet to chill and barbecue on the roof. This also allows the unpaved open spaces in the courtyard with the large fruit meadow to develop "greener" than one would expect in this inner-city location.

The project received the Housing Award in 2015 and the Green Space Award of the City of Munich in 2016 (both 1st place).

Neighbourhood development and living environment awardGerman Landscape Architecture Award 2017

Jury verdict: The project convinces through the combination of multi-layered aspects of contemporary, residential landscape architecture. In an early participation project, the residents and users of a new building project in Munich were activated. The use of the roof surfaces for horticultural purposes as well as for contemplative stay extends the possibilities of a common neighbourly appropriation and contributes at the same time to the climatic protection.

Already the participation process can be considered as exemplary example for the participation of humans in neighbourhood in the organization of the residentialnear environment. The involvement with plants also offers city dwellers the opportunity to experience nature. The implementation is successful in terms of design and proportional to the development. Diversity of use enables the participation of different age groups. Care and maintenance of the rooftop garden make it possible to promote togetherness in domestic proximity in the long term. Overall, the project serves as an example for a large number of similar neighborhood projects. The jury also praised the successful participation and the associated learning process of all those involved in the example of nature and landscape space.