I've become obsessed with green roofs!!! We discussed them in my Human Health and the Environment class this past semester and it really hit home during my trip to visit the grandparents in Florida this week. They've been in a three year drought (though it rained all four days I was there) and yet everything was uber lush. I had bought a National Geographic with a big article on green roofs and it had lots of really interesting pictures.
Beyond the resource benefits that people love to ignore from ecological design options like this, Nat'l Geo got it right when it said that in taking away the ground with a building you can give it back through the roof. It makes perfect sense and after the initial costs it doesn't require much upkeep, and in fact gives back to plant, insect, and bird biodiversity, prevents flood runoff, and cools the building and surrounding area. Shazam!
Imagine if THIS ^ is what a city looked like when you flew over it! When I was coming home from Tampa yesterday I looked out the window and saw blank dead space on all the rooftops. Imagine if they were covered in grass, plants, flowers, community gardens! Fanfuckingtastic, man. I even saw a picture of a bus stop in San Fransisco that had a full-blown exotic garden on top of it. The designer said that the real purpose was to inspire people and get them thinking. Well, it definitely worked. Now when I picture the fully sustainable house I want for myself someday, it has a greenroof!
Meanwhile...
I saw Spring Awakening tonight and it was PHENOMENAL! Beautiful story, superb lighting and sound quality. I love that it is technically a period piece but it's been revolutionized by the rock opera stylings. Completely unique to my theater experience, that's for sure. I also love that the actors served as crew for the minimal changes, and the set design of the central tree brought new meaning to Their Eyes Were Watching God's epic Treegasm! Sexy, sexy, sexy, lusty, angsty, and dressed in honesty. I didn't feel like it had a solid catharsis at the end but overall I was completely taken in by it. Just goes to show, there have always been angsty teenagers- and there's nothing like new love. I miss theater! It was so fun to get a little dressed up and hop in to town with Mum. It was probably the most successful date we've had since I was a little tiny kid. No fights, great evening- perfecto! I love this play. A new favorite for sure.
