‘There's a meadow outside my workplace’: A phenomenological exploration of aesthetics and green roofs in Chicago and Toronto

Abstract

Green roofs are an increasingly popular urban greening strategy in North American cities. Most green roofs have been sedum-based, but there has been a recent trend to mimic the native habitat of a region in prairie-style green roofs. While this supports ecological restoration goals, it also conflicts with ambiguous responses by urbanites to the aesthetics of ‘wild’ and ‘messy’ nature in the city. Though green roofs are transforming downtown central business districts, there has been little research on office workers’ perceptions of green roofs, or on how they may influence their health, well-being, and experience of central business districts. Furthermore, while recent research has looked at aesthetic perceptions of green roofs, there is scant qualitative work that explains why urbanites may have these preferences, or cultural and contextual factors influencing these perceptions. While not uncontroversial, green roofs make an excellent lens through which to explore the human relationship to nature in cities due to their lack of existing symbolism, challenge of the nature/city divide, and mimicking of native habitat. This paper explores office workers’ perceptions of green roofs in Toronto and Chicago, two cities known for their leadership in green roof implementation. Using a phenomenological analysis of fifty-five semi-structured interviews, this paper examines (a) office workers’ perceptions of green roofs; (b) how their lived experience influences their perceptions of aesthetics and urban nature, and (c) design implications for a more sustainable city. Results show that while ‘wilder’ prairie-style green roofs are not always well-liked, they are more likely to be associated with fascination, creative thinking, and calm well-being than sedum green roofs. Green roofs were also linked to an ethic of care and restoration, and may provide ‘loose fit’ places for respite and better health for office workers.