Livingroofs.org is again a proud supporter of the second Integrated Habitat Design Competition (IHDC). We hope that this becomes an established and influential competition as interest grows in the delivery of ecosystem services and green infrastructure. Green roofs are only one element of how urban areas can not only be designed but also retrofitted with green infrastructure such as rain gardens, green roofs, trees, pocket parks.

Downtown Rain Garden in Portland, Oregon

The idea of the competition that biodiversity considerations should be at the heart of the design process. In doing so green infrastructure is likely to provide greater benefits for Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) issues such as Sustainable Urban Drainage Management Train (SUDS) and urban cooling.

The competition was inspired by a similar project in Portland Oregon, which is an inspiration for all.

As the competition website states

Integrated habitat design ensures that development maintains the health of the natural systems that we all depend on.

"Human needs and a healthy environment are not opposing claims that must be balanced; instead, they are inexorably linked by chains of cause and effect."
Jared Diamond

The focus of this competition is to ensure that enhancing biodiversity is integral to the design of new urban, suburban and rural built developments, working with nature to help us adapt to climate change. We hope that the IHDC will provide a forum for visionaries and innovators to design better, more sustainable habitats for all of us.

This competition is open to all and it's is hoped that the competition will encourage a trans-disciplinary approach that cuts across the engineering, architecture, landscape, construction and ecological sectors.

It is exciting this year as the principle sponsor VBID has already commissioned a major assessment of the current state of the Victoria Business Improvement Districts in terms of green infrastructure. The Green Roof Consultancy were one of the consultants involved in assessing all the roofs in the area to establish the potential for retrofitting green roofs over the coming years.

For more information click here...