GREENING MELBOURNE'S ROOFS

The $2.5 million retrofit project at 1 Treasury Place was the inaugural development of the initiative, a joint initiative between City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government representing a significant step forward in urban sustainability. ASPECT Studios contributed significantly to earlier design iterations of the green roof, and Hassell was the Lead Design Consultant on this project.

The initiative, a key component of City of Melbourne’s Green Our City Strategic Action Plan, aims to demonstrate successful building retrofits with high-quality environmental green roofs while providing locally relevant education and guidance materials to the public about creating sustainable rooftop spaces.

The demonstration green roof on the East Melbourne Treasure Theatre will provide crucial case study data for the built environment sector, particularly benefiting landlords, developers and construction industry professionals seeking to understand low-cost, successful green roof retrofit strategies.

The innovative design divides the green roof into two distinct sections for comprehensive testing and demonstration purposes.

The eastern garden bed comprises research plots designed to test different green roof systems including layered and modular approaches, various planting installation methods such as direct seeding and roll-out mats, and diverse planting mixes featuring succulents, forbs, grasses and indigenous grassland species.

The western garden bed demonstrates how these planting typologies can be applied in designed contexts to create visually attractive and environmentally beneficial landscapes.

Researchers have selected tough, non-invasive and climate-compatible plants that suit challenging green roof conditions while providing aesthetic value throughout the year.

University of Melbourne’s Green Infrastructure Research Group will evaluate the relative costs and success of constructing and maintaining different green roof typologies being trialled.

The research garden plots will undergo monitoring for a minimum 12 months post-planting, with findings shared to help overcome current industry knowledge gaps and barriers to green roof uptake.

The project delivers multiple environmental benefits including urban cooling, improved biodiversity, and reduced stormwater runoff. These outcomes support broader urban sustainability goals while demonstrating practical solutions for increasing green infrastructure quality and quantity across Melbourne and southeastern Australia.