5TH INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE CONFERENCE ON

ENGINEERING, SCIENCE AND HUMANITY

19 – 21 AUGUST 2014
BLOCK N24
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

THE ROLE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF

ROOFTOP GARDEN TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE
URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN MALAYSIA
By: MARYANTI BINTI MOHD RAID
 PRESENTATION OUTLINE

RESULT,
LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION METHOD DISCUSSION &
REVIEW
CONCLUSION
• In the recent decades, the question of ‘how to
live sustainably’ has become central to every
development agenda.
• This deliberation opens up for more innovations
to be made especially in property planning and
development, the vital sector that plans and
develops spaces for human civilization.
• One of the innovative green features introduced
is rooftop garden concept.
INTRODUCTION
 DEFINITION
• This concept is defined as a landscape built on
the roof of multi-storey buildings in-addition
to the provision of open space for multi-storey
residential building with limited development
area (Town and Country Planning Department,
2012)
• This landscape has been recognized as a tool
to combat environmental issues in urban area -
widely implemented in Europe, America, UK
and several Asian countries especially
Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan
• In Malaysia, this landscape is basically used to
solve issues concerning the provision of public
open space for the limited development area
(JPBD, 2008).
• Due to the high land value in several areas
that are experiencing rapid development, the
provision of open space for the community
fails to meet the guidelines set by the
planners.
• Therefore, this landscape is used as an
alternative to fulfil the community needs to be
provided by the developer appropriately.
 CONTRIBUTION
Thermal comfort Energy efficiency
(Wong et al., 2003a) (EE1)

Energy efficiency
(Wong et al., 2003b)

ROOFTOP Storm water management Sustainable Site

Management and
GARDEN (Sabariah et al., 2008) Planning (SM6)

Urban Heat Island (UHI) Sustainable Site

(Roslina (Sapawi, 2009; Wong Management and
et al. 2003b) Planning (SM4)

Habitat for birds, insects and

plants (Canero and Redondo,
2010)
 METHOD
• The purpose of this article is to explore the role
and significance of rooftop garden towards
sustainable urban development through its
contribution in Green Building Index (GBI)
assessment
• Qualitative research design
– In-depth interview with expertise (GBI Facilitator,
architects, planners, consultant)
– Use case study
• Certified green building with rooftop garden
CASE STUDY
 First Resident Kepong
• Certified green building
• The role of the landscape is not only as a
recreational area but it also served as an
appealing landscape for visual impact
• the landscape were planted with several types
of flower plants, shrubs, trees and
groundcover that also have a great potential
to give a positive impact to the environment.
• In order to identify the GBI criteria and its scored
marks in GBI assessment, reference was made on
the document of GBI assessment for the case
study.
• Based on the documents and confirmation by
the respondent, rooftop garden at case study has
been able to mitigate UHI and preserve habitat
for flora and fauna. It was assessed under
Sustainable Site Management & Planning (SM).
 RESULTS

Criteria Code Description Scored Marks

Open Space,
Landscaping and UHI:
SM 4 4/37
1. Minimized UHI
2. Improve biodiversity

Innovative design and

environmental design
IN 1 1/6
initiative.
1. Herbs garden
• Most of respondents agreed that rooftop garden is
one of the strategies to assist city in achieving
sustainable urban development.
• The benefit of this landscape is not only in terms of
aesthetics but also include the social, economic and
environmental aspects.
• Through the development of rooftop garden, it will
not only assist to solve urban issues, but also act as a
passive recreation area that promotes social
connection among the community.
• Besides, it also acts as a method to maintain and
balance the preservation of green area in the city.
 CONCLUSION
• Innovative green feature – constitute an opportunity
to prserve green landscape in the compact urban area.
• Sustainable urban development requires not only
pollution-free but emphasizes on the quality of urban
environment through the provision of green networks,
whether in its natural form or man-made.
• Although the development of urban area has expand
rapidly, but the preservation of green areas can still be
implemented through building greenery alternative
such as rooftop garden concept.
• not a major leap towards sustainable urban
development – due to high development and
maintenance cost – major barrier of its
implementation
• this research suggests a good rooftop garden
should be practice which means not only for
the purpose of passive recreational area but
also served as a tool to combat environmental
issues occurred in urban area.
• Benefit for a dynamic urban planning either as
greeneries preservation in compact urban
area or provision of open space for the
community to improve the quality of life
through healthy living environment for human
well-being for the present and future time.
- END -

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