Case study: an eco extension

This contemporary extension designed by Jeff Kahane + Associates shows how a green roof can be an aesthetic feature as well as improving your home’s green credentials. Sitting beneath the property’s upper-rear window, it turns what could otherwise seem like a barren, sterile view into a beautiful garden scene. This is an extensive green roof, so it’s a low maintenance option, but as you can see the hardy foliage it supports still has a lot of charm.

Note how the cosy outdoor space shaped by the extension integrates permeable hard paving, with blocks spaced apart to allow rainwater an egress from the area. In this sort of heavily built garden area, this is an essential concern, and again the solution to this practical problem ties into the garden’s overall aesthetic.