We have all experienced the pleasure of a walk in nature, in a green space, such as a park, forest or green meadow, and by this occasion we felt calm, relaxed, in harmony with the environment, as if we felt time slow down and all our worries disappear for the moment. But have you ever wondered why or where this feeling comes from? The answer lies in the close connection we have with nature. Because nature is our home, the source of life on Earth, it represents the entire ecosystem that supports our existence. It is this deep, innate instinct that makes us feel happy and fulfilled in any interaction with nature, with vegetation, and we seek these connections, even unconsciously. This phenomenon is known as biophilia.
Various studies have been conducted to investigate the extent to which the presence of nature can influence people’s mental and physical health. These researches have produced measurable results that have demonstrated an undeniable positive contribution. It has been found that the simple sight of nature can have a significant impact on the mental and physical state, green plants reduce heart rate, stabilize blood pressure and positively influence hormone levels. The effect lasts for a long time, which means that the improved results are also measurable after direct experience with nature. Such studies have been conducted in educational institutions and office buildings, where the concentration, activity and performance of employees and students increased significantly, by up to 300%, simply by providing access to green areas or built-in green elements in the structure of the building (for example, acces to green area view, green walls). At the same time, similar positive changes were observed in the recovery of patients who were given a view and access to green spaces, with medical outcomes improving compared to controls who were not given any form of contact with nature.
In contemporary society, where artificial environments and virtual spaces dominate every aspect of our lives, maintaining a connection with nature is essential to ensure a more pleasant and healthy environment. This challenge is particularly relevant in the era of rapid urbanization, where cities absorb a significant proportion of the world’s population. However, through intelligent and innovative green architecture, we can take important steps to reintegrate nature into people’s everyday lives.
What is the relevance of this phenomenon in the context of increasing property values? In our fast-paced world, we all feel the downside of the disappearance of natural habitats in human life. In a world dominated by cars and construction, we feel it is a real revigoration when we can spend time in a green, lively environment.
In the monotonous urban landscape, the presence of even the smallest area of vegetation is of major importance. People feel relaxed, positive and fulfilled when they are surrounded by plants. It is a common phenomenon in urban environments that there are many parks and green spaces, but they are often located at great distances from each other, so that people living in the city do not always have a direct connection with green spaces in their daily life. Therefore, a building, which facilitates direct access to nature and offers a recreation experience, is particularly valuable. Usually, these spaces give people the feeling of being in a real oasis of greenery, where they can quietly enjoy the beauty and harmony of nature. It points out that properties with green architectural elements, such as green roofs or green walls, are much more valuable on the market, adding a 16% increase in property value. In addition to creating a prosperous, comfortable and welcoming environment, these buildings also represent a modern, sustainable and environmentally friendly perspective and commitment that will undoubtedly become more popular in the future.
Green spaces integrated into the building structure have a spectacular and lush atmosphere, they can transform buildings and their surroundings into islands of tranquility and freshness, which become attractive to both buyers and investors. Numerous projects boasting green roofs have gained recognition and popularity for this type of investment.
The economic value of these buildings has increased significantly due to the presence of green structures, here are some examples from the world:
However, increasing property values is not solely due to visual aspects and positive impact on people.
At the building level, green roofs can provide a number of benefits, such as extending the life of the building’s waterproofing, soundproofing and reducing traffic noise, thus providing a quieter environment for occupants. Vegetation and substrate have a thermal insulation effect, contributing to the efficient use of energy in the building by reducing cooling and heating costs. This can lead to energy savings of up to 22% during the heating season. Also, the green terraces contribute to the efficient management of the rainwater accumulated on the roof, facilitating the drainage of the building by storing up to 80% of the rainwater. The accumulated water can be used by the plants, the excess being gradually returned to the sewage system by the drainage system of the green roof. Buildings with green roofs can qualify for LEED and BREEAM certification, as well as contribute to nZeb targets, which can further increase property value due to the prestige and recognition associated with sustainable building practices. In addition, the integration of green roof technology into BIM (Building Information Modeling) can strengthen the sustainability and efficiency of urban construction in line with global sustainability goals.
Their use is not only essential for the benefit of people and buildings, but also brings numerous ecological advantages, contributing to the maintenance of a healthy urban ecosystem. They support biodiversity by providing shelter and food for many species whose habitats have been affected by urbanization, such as pollinators, which have been threatened with extinction in recent decades by human activities. In addition, green areas have a significant cooling effect, helping to reduce the urban heat island effect by lowering surface temperatures (25-40 oC) and in air (5 oC). Thanks to their absorption capacity, they reduce the risk of flooding, an increasingly frequent phenomenon, while facilitating the operation of urban sewage systems. Also, due to the process of photosynthesis, plants contribute to a significant improvement of air quality in urban environments, filtering large amounts of harmful micro-particles and carbon dioxide from the air and transforming them into oxygen, thus creating a cleaner and healthier living environment for people.
Therefore, green roofs offer an excellent opportunity to maximize a building`s potentials and to obtain a very valuable property, equipped with modern, innovative and sustainable structures. Their harmonious and naturalistic appearance creates a complex and aesthetic visual image and provides a more pleasant living environment in our quickly urbanized world. Thanks to these aspects and the benefits they bring, the more expensive initial investments compared to conventional roofs, become profitable in a relatively short time and we can count on the economic advantages they will offer us in the long term. Economic analyses, such as the one carried out on existing residential buildings in Belgrade, show that the net present value (NPV) of green roof projects can be quite significant, with the most likely end-of-life NPV being EUR 43/m² for extensive green roofs and 82 EUR/m² for intensive ones. This indicates a clear financial benefit of investing in green roofs, which can be a compelling reason for property owners to consider them.
Together, these factors make green roofs a desirable property feature real estate, attractive to environmentally conscious buyers and ultimately contributes to increased property values.
