Last updated: October 2021
One of the largest green roof building sites in Switzerland, the new dispatch building at Kloten International Airport is Dock E. Previously known as Dock Midfield the building is situated between take-off runways and landing strips. The roof is sporting an extensive green roof measuring 4,000 m2 (43,056 sf). Dock Midfield represents a perfect example how green space can be regained on roofs. Completed in November 2002 after years of detailed discussions, the planning group decided to install ZinCo green roof systems. (Ref 1)
Green Roof at the Zurich-Kloten International Airport (2010)
ZinCo, retrieved 08/13/2018 from Joachim Stroh
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature on buildings (external)
- Green roofs
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
(a) Protect Rare species like Emberiza calandra; (b) The management of most of the spaces as extensive high-grass meadows; (c) Managing green space in reducing the risk of collisions between aircraft and birds (bird strikes); (d) Increase green space within the airport; (e) Reducing CO2 emission; (e) CO2 sequestration; (f) Improve air quality by absorbing Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM); and to achieve ISO standard 14001:2004 and ISO 14001:2015. (Ref 1,3)
Implementation activities
• An extensive greenroof was installed measuring 4,000 m2 (43,056 sf).
• Installed an 80 mm (3”) depth substrate for the plants.
• A 14 m (46’) wide photovoltaic installation at the roof’s perimeters.
• ZinCo partner’s special vehicle utilized a pneumatic pump and placed the substrate materials onto the roof’s perimeters at three locations, where it was then spread on to the entire surface using flexible pipes at a depth of 80 mm (3”).
• The vegetation consists of Sedum shoots at 20 – 25 pieces /m2 (2-3 pieces /sf) which are drought and frost resistant Sedum plants. (Ref 2)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
- Install vertical or horizontal artificial surfaces that help with carbon storage and cooling
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Restore native species
Main beneficiaries
- National-level government
- Citizens or community groups
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Led by the National Government, designed and implemented by ARGE Zayetta and Behlke GmbH private foundations for designing buildings (Ref 1). Flughafen Zürich AG also bears great responsibility for structuring the operation and further development of the airport (Ref 3).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(‘Swiss Landscape Concept’ when commissioning or rehabilitating buildings and installations. This means that facilities must be compatible with natural settings and landscape. (Ref 3) • "Swiss federal legislation" has been designed to protect endangered species. (Ref 3))
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The “Zurich 2035 strategies” to follow the vision of further developing Zurich into a metropolis with sustainable facilities. (Ref 4))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- 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
- Energy efficiency improvements
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Other
Socio-cultural impacts
- Unknown
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Dock E at Zurich-Kloten International Airport (ZRH). Case study. Source link. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 2nd August, 2020.
2. Clean Air Through Greenroofs (2009) Zurich's Greenroofs. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 2nd August, 2020.
3. Annual report of Zurich Airport, 2011.
2. Clean Air Through Greenroofs (2009) Zurich's Greenroofs. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 2nd August, 2020.
3. Annual report of Zurich Airport, 2011.
Green Roof at the Zurich-Kloten International Airport (2010)
ZinCo, retrieved 08/13/2018 from Joachim Stroh
Green Roof at the Zurich-Kloten International Airport (2010)
ZinCo, retrieved 08/13/2018 from Joachim Stroh