A Blackdown green roof system from Alumasc has created a roof top retreat for residents of a stunning new development of flats and leisure facilities in Sunderland.

The River Quarter, a £10 million mixed-use development from Gentoo Ventures, comprises a mix of commercial and residential accommodation in Sunderland city centre. Built over 11 floors, the development sits on a former brownfield site and includes 53 apartments, a residents’ car park, bowling emporium and café bar.

Designing a roof garden directly over the car park structural concrete roof deck, presented a challenge for Napper Architects of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, who worked closely alongside Alumasc’s technical support team to create the ideal solution for the project.

The green roof was installed by Everlast Waterproofing of Leeds over Hydrotech MM6125 structural waterproofing, also from Alumasc. Hydrotech is the first choice for BBA Approved waterproofing on inverted green roofs and hard landscaped podium structures in new build applications. Its high-performance bituminous rubber blend allows fast and simple installation, even over complex roof details.

For the apartment balconies, Derbigum Rapido waterproofing and Derbifoam thermal insulation board were used to create a warm roof build up, with Derbigum Anti-root providing a robust waterproof barrier against roots under the seated areas in the roof garden. Derbigum is BBA Approved and manufactured under an ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System.

Blackdown green roofs offer notable ecological and amenity benefits, providing a natural habitat for plants and wildlife, while helping to reduce air and noise pollution, cutting carbon emissions and assisting with rainwater retention and attenuation. They vary from extensive and biodiverse types which require minimal irrigation and maintenance, to intensive roofs, which are suited for areas of public and recreational use and require more tending.