A study on the usage and perceptions of office building occupants to green roofs in Hong Kong

Abstract

As Hong Kong is famous for its image of leading international financial metropolis, many high-rise office buildings are confined inside some developed commercial districts of Hong Kong. A place for provision of greenery in such districts seems impracticable. However, greenery can exist in forms of green roof onto office buildings, it seems a practical way to embellish this concrete city.

Academic studies from other countries have proven that having green roof onto buildings is able to bring numerous psychological benefits to the building occupants, but is this fact still true for office building occupants of Hong Kong? Besides, what do office building occupants think about the presence of green roof onto the building they are working inside? In this study we would like to explore the perceptions of office building occupants in Hong Kong toward green roof, as well as their mode of green roof usage in case green roof is present. The opinions on how office building occupants get satisfied with the green roof they have visited during their working time may give us a glance to the direction of green roof development in the future. What they expect on green roof is the best source of evidence in designing an optimal green roof on human-based consideration.

Study result features that green roof on office building can provide a decent leisure place to occupants for relaxation, although they seem do not treat green roof as a vital place where they must go. Office building occupants are generally satisfied with green roof having appropriate provisions such as large variety of vegetation, attractive appearance and good management level. Some crucial characteristics of green roof have been identified in the viewpoints of office building occupants such as its aesthetic nature and location for convenient access. In considering the numerous benefits of green roof, every visitor, as office building occupants, agrees that green roof should be present for their needs. It gives positive and supportive evidence as incentive to the industry and developers for future green roof development.