The Green Cloud Project - Gangxia 1980

Creation of new green areas, Knowledge creation and awareness raising

The aim of the project was to showcase a model to improve the urban village's stormwater management system as well as providing a green and comfortable commonplace for residents, from which the current living states of residents could be improved [1, 3]. It works with indigenous plants from Shenzhen's coastal region, recreating the original natural habitat of the city and enhancing biodiversity in the area [4]. Through the installation of the green roof, this project also "help regulate room temperature within the building, reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and lower greenhouse gas emissions." [1, p.33]

The construction of the rooftop garden includes the installation of a three-dimensional light steel structure that carries over 410 plant containers/boxes filled with indigenous plants from Shenzhen’s coastal region and a rainwater collection barrel. "The application of the sponge modification is in the planting box embedded in the (steel) grid. There is an aquifer at the bottom of each planting box to trap about 4 litres of rainwater and an overflow at 10 cm where the surplus rainwater can be discharged outside the planting box without causing the roots of the plants to rot due to too much water. After the water in the planting box on the roof overflows, it is collected and discharged into the water storage tank on the second floor. The water storage tank can store up to 400 litres of water. When it is not raining, the water in the water storage tank can be used to water the plants and form the water circulation system of the building itself." [5, p. 82] It is a low-technique project that is designed to be replicable [4]. Meanwhile, to lower the maintenance need and energy consumption, the project selected many native plants in Shenzhen, such as wild peony, Mao Ren, and Rhaphiolepis indica, which accounted for more than three-thirds of the green plant species [4, 5]. Community engagement was one of the key elements to the success of the Green Cloud project. "Due to the unique design of the Gangxia 1980 green roof, some residents of Gangxia village thought illegal construction was going on and filed complaints to the district law enforcement, resulting in the project being forced to stop during the beginning stages of construction. To resolve the problem, TNC made various visits along with Glocal, the property manager, to local community centers, government authorities and law enforcement. The team explained the project and its objectives in further detail, invited them to visit the site and shared details of the design plan with them. After several meetings, the project finally received oral approval from local authorities and the community, allowing construction to recommence... These days, neighbors are friendly and engage with the project by asking questions about the plants in the garden." [1, pp. 33-34]. "Realizing the importance of community and local support, TNC took the lead in engaging many university students, residents and youth volunteers in Shenzhen to come together and be a part of building the Green Cloud Project." [2] Since the garden’s official opening, TNC has led two summer nature education programs for local children, where students from the village have had the opportunity to be outdoors and learn about subjects like the ecosystem and biodiversity. The program also uses the green roof for children to practice and observe nature in action as they try out their gardening skills. To help build relationships among neighbors, in June 2018 TNC also worked with the Sinolink Education Center in Shenzhen to host a live music concert on the green roof, bringing a piece of cultural life to local citizens [1, 3].

• Local government/Municipality
• Non-government organisation/Civil Society
• Citizens or community groups
• Young people and children