Harpo verdepensile Systems
THE SYSTEMS DEVELOPED BY HARPO VERDEPENSILE ARE CERTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNI 11235:2015 “INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DESIGN, EXECUTION, CONTROL AND MAINTENANCE OF GREEN ROOFS.” BOTH THE SYSTEMS AND THE INDIVIDUAL MATERIALS MEET AND GUARANTEE THE REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED IN THE REFERENCE STANDARD.
IN ITALY, THE FIRST GREEN ROOFS – AND IN GENERAL THE “DO-IT-YOURSELF” APPROACH -REFER TO SOLUTIONS DEVELOPED AND USED IN NORTHERN EUROPE, DESIGNED, HOWEVER, FOR LOCAL CLIMATES. HARPO VERDEPENSILE, AS EARLY AS 2003, INITIATED A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE SOLUTIONS TO BE APPLIED IN THE MEDITERRANEAN CONTEXT, WHICH, ALTHOUGH CHARACTERIZED BY DIFFERENT CLIMATIC ZONES, DIFFERS FROM THAT OF NORTHERN EUROPE. IN FACT, WHILE NORTHERN ITALY IS CHARACTERIZED BY RAINFALL PHENOMENA (SOMETIMES EVEN SIGNIFICANTLY INTENSE) AS ONE PROCEEDS SOUTHWARD, THE CLIMATE BECOMES MORE ARID, RECORDING HIGH TEMPERATURES AND LONG PERIODS OF DROUGHT.
In response to this dissimilarity of climatic contexts affecting our country, Harpo verdepensile has developed two lines of systems over time: the BAS line for the central north and the RIC line, at first dedicated to the regions with a typically Mediterranean climate in the central south. The BAS line initially aimed to respond to the issue of heavy rainfall by enhancing the dra
inage capacity of the system and differentiating substrates by hydraulic conductivity, thus also improving the contribution to the functions of the green roof system. In some variants of the BAS line, the system also contributes to increasing the overall thermal resistance of the roof. The RIC line, on the other hand, was developed later precisely as a response to the needs of Mediterranean climates, working on the performance of the system to increase both the strength and resilience of the green roof system. Thanks to the studies conducted on water potential, it was possible to intervene to improve the system’s performance in terms of available water and usability ratio, which led to solutions that on the one hand promote savings in irrigation water and on the other stimulate plants to be resource efficient. The tools that enabled the implementation of system performance in the RIC line are the Idromant 4 retention and protection felt, a key element to trigger the resilience mechanism of the plant system, and the MediWaterSafe 4.0 control unit, an adaptive control device for optimized management of the irrigation system. Today, climate change is causing a significant alteration in seasonal temperatures and rainfall patterns, making the difference between environmental settings increasingly blurred. For this reason, the two lines of green roof systems developed have partly lost that rigid geographic affiliation and are now adopted uniformly throughout the territory, consciously according to the specific local criticalities and the different sensitivities of developers. In addition to classification according to the two system lines BAS and RIC, Harpo verdepensile solutions can also be classified according to the traditional criterion defined by the relevant UNI standard, namely into:
EXTENSIVE GREEN ROOF
This system is designed to support the growth of wild vegetation, which requires minimal maintenance. It is often the lightest and thinnest system, with the lowest cost and easiest installation. It is primarily used for environmental mitigation and compensation, replacing traditional inert coverings to extend the life of the waterproofing layer. It also helps improve the building’s thermal performance and promote biodiversity in urban areas, with a focus on environmental sustainability. With dedicated design, an extensive system can be adapted to a more orderly appearance, approaching the aesthetic language of a garden.
- Extensive natural meadow
- Perennial extensive
- Extensive aromatic
- Extensive sedum
SLOPED GREEN ROOF
A system designed to green sloped roofs, specifically developed to prevent the sliding of the stratigraphy elements. This solution is well-suited to the architecture of alpine and subalpine areas (thanks to improved thermal resistance). Generally, sloped green roofs are planted with low-growing perennial groundcovers to reduce maintenance burdens, which, given the specific geometry of the roof, would require more attention in terms of accessibility.
LIGHT INTENSIVE GREEN ROOF
These systems aim for a high level of usability of the green roof, usually with turf or groundcover shrubs, while aiming for a significant reduction in thickness, total weight, as well as construction and maintenance costs. This category of system can integrate furnishing solutions, paved areas, and possibly concentrate vegetation in limited areas, also working with medium-sized shrubs.
INTENSIVE GREEN ROOF
This system is designed to allow for the creation of any type of green roof, even with medium to large trees, heavy furnishings, and pedestrian and sometimes vehicular paved areas. The application possibilities of this category of system are multiple, the main constraints depend on the project limits, such as the load-bearing capacity of the supporting structure and the available budget.