Last updated: March 2025
The Torre Sevilla is a commercial building complex with extensive green roofs. The green roofs cover 11000 or 12000 m2 (different sources report different numbers) and aim to contribute to thermal isolation and energy efficiency of the building, improve air quality and provide an urban green space for relaxation and recreation [Ref. 1-3]. The green roofs include a mosaic of different vegetation types and about 60 mostly native plant species. There is a rainwater recovery system that allows the gardens to be irrigated in a sustainable way [Ref. 1-3, 6]. The building finished construction in 2017 and the gardens were initially not available to the public. In 2023, the owner applied for a permit to host events in the gardens, which will allow the public to visit on occasion [Ref. 1, 3-5].
The Torre Sevilla green roof from above.
https://www.sevilla21.es/torre-sevilla-abrira-sus-cubiertas-vegetales-a-partir-de-otono-2023/
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Green roofs
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Drought
- Heat stress & Extreme temperatures
- Environmental Degradation
- Air pollution
- Physical water retention and availability
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Physical health harm (from pollution, wildfire, extreme temperature)
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of green roofs and walls
Project objectives
-Contribute to thermal isolation and energy efficiency of the building [Ref. 1-3]
-Improve air quality [Ref. 1-3]
-Provide an urban green space for relaxation and recreation [Ref. 1-3]
-Irrigate the gardens in a sustainable way [Ref. 1-3, 6]
-Allow the public to visit on occasion [Ref. 1, 3-5]
Implementation activities
1. The Torre Sevilla complex and its green roofs were designed by architecture firm Pelli Clarke & Partners, with a real estate company belonging to Caixa Bank as the customer.
2. The complex was completed in 2017 [Ref 5].
3. The green roof was fitted with structures to allow for different plant species and prevent erosion [Ref. 2].
4. The Torre Sevilla applied for a permit to host outdoor activities in the rooftop gardens in 2023, allowing the public to gain access to the gardens [Ref. 1]
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
- Implement green walls or roofs to lower indoor temperature and provide insulation
- Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater
Main beneficiaries
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was initiated by Puerto Triana S.A., a real estate company belonging to CaixaBank. In some references, CaixaBank is listed as the owner of the Torre Sevilla. The architecture firm Pelli Clarke & Partners designed the buildings and the green roofs [Ref. 4, 5]. At least one construction and landscaping company focused on green solutions was involved in the project [Ref. 2].
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Achieved lowered local temperature
- Energy efficiency improvements
- Achieved energy efficiency improvements
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Expected improved air quality
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Expected improved stormwater management
- Reduced risk of damages by drought
- Expected reduced risk of damages by drought
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Other
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Reduced risk of heatstroke and/or dehydration
- Expected reduced risk of heatstroke and/or dehydration
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Torre Sevilla (2023). TORRE SEVILLA obtiene la licencia de obra para abrir sus cubiertas verdes a eventos al aire libre. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Projar Group (n.d.). Cubierta vegetal intensiva sobre la Torre Pelli de Sevilla. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Ochoa, Á. (2021). El jardín del techo del centro comercial. Diario de Sevilla, Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Sevilla21 (2023). Torre Sevilla abrirá sus cubiertas vegetales a partir de Otoño 2023. Accessed on September 19, 2024,;
5.
Pelli Clarke & Partners (n.d.). Torre Sevilla ignites a new economic engine in a historic city. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Diputación de Badajoz (2019). La Diputación de Badajoz visita el Centro Comercial TORRE SEVILLA como referencia de construcción sostenible. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Garcia Novo, A. (2022). La Isla de la Cartuja se convertirá en la ciudad de 2050 (y lo hará en 2025). ABC, Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link];
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.