Connect LA is excited about the opportunity to speak about one of our key design approaches. On Tuesday, June15, 2021 Ken will be speaking at the Grey to Green Conference together with architect Ronald Schwenger, referencing the innovative design of the Vancouver VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Center Living Roof. Key themes address biophilic principles, stormwater management, and significance of climate resilience and landscape design. With the global water demand set to increase by 25% in 2050, healthy cities must adopt conservation technologies & design with nature. The presentation will celebrate seamless integration of biophilic design and technical requirements.
About the VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre:
The Visitor Centre re-connects people to the environmental issues of the 21st Century including water and energy management, re-use and recycle, beauty of our native plant ecology, and a healthier way of building and design. The project exceeds LEED Platinum, and is certified by Cascadia Green Building Council’s Living Building Challenge (LBC) 2.1. and Canada’s first Living Building.
“Designed to be one with nature, the Visitor Centre creates a harmonious balance between architecture and landscape—from both a visual and an ecological perspective. Inspired by the organic forms and natural systems of a native orchid, the project is organized into undulating green roof ‘petals’ that float above rammed earth and concrete walls. These petals and stems are connected by a vegetated land ramp linking the roof to the ground plane, encouraging use by local fauna.” (https://living-future.org/lbc/case-studies/vandusen-botanical-garden-visitor-centre/)
About Ronald Schwenger:
Ronald Schwenger is a Principal and Founder at Architek SBP based in Vancouver, British Columbia. As Educator and promoter of green architecture and a more sustainable world – Architek specializes in green roofs, living walls, and living facades.
About Grey to Green:
“Grey to Green is the theme of an ongoing set of conferences that promote the latest research, policy, design practices, products and progress in the green infrastructure industry now beginning to transform city life around the world.” (https://greytogreenconference.org/the-conference-2021)
Credits
Cornelia Hahn Oberlander Landscape Architect
City of Vancouver Parks Board, and
Botanical Garden Steering Committee