MULTIFUNCTIONAL ROOFS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD OF PASSIVE BUILDINGS

How do you imagine the residential neighborhood of the future? Design criteria aside, part of your answer is probably: it should be environmentally friendly. For La Petite Halle, a neighborhood of passive buildings near Luzarches, in France, the architect achieved energetic independence of buildings and efficient management of renewable resources by making the most of flat rooftop surfaces.

There are many ways of activating the fifth façade: from green and blue roofs to solar panels, a roof lends itself to a wide variety of sustainable solutions. Jean-Marc Porche, the architect behind La Petite Halle, implemented all of them for maximum ecological efficiency. Thanks to its characteristics, Elevate’s RubberGard EPDM roofing membrane covers all of these needs. It remains uninfluenced by external conditions, has a service life of over 50 years and can be reused or recycled, and it significantly contributes to the overall carbon neutrality of the building.

CHARI ETANCHÉITÉ, an Elevate authorized contractor, was responsible for performing the waterproofing work of the building from February to June 2019, when a total of 2,300 m² of RubberGard EPDM was installed. Despite facing strong winds, heavy rain, and even snow during the winter of 2019, the installation was completed in just about twenty days by a team of three roofers. The large 5.8 m wide membrane panels made the installation faster and more efficient. Laurent Vyncke, Regional Sales Director of Holcim Building Envelope in France, confirms that the crew was able to complete an average of one roof per day.

It is also important to note that the use of RubberGard EPDM is not only efficient but its flame-free installation made it also safe. This was crucial as the houses were built using expanded polystyrene formwork blocks. The Elevate V-Gard vapor barrier membrane and the Elevate RESISTA AK PIR (polyisocyanurate) insulation boards with a thickness of 120 mm were also used in the project.

In a conversation with Jean-Marc Porche, we broke down three key functions of the roofs at La Petite Halle. Green roofs regulate the temperature of the building and provide a habitat for insects and birds. Photovoltaic panels are connected to smart electric heaters that analyze the way residents live and manage the consumption accordingly. Rainwater-collecting functionalities provide water for plants in a community gardening area. View the gallery and read more about the design and building process of this eco-friendly neighborhood.

EPDM is the most future-proof roofing solution when it comes to sustainability, performance and design freedom. Learn more about the role it played within this project and many others by discovering its benefits.