Architecture

Disused helipad transformed into Foro Ciel rooftop garden and office

Disused helipad transformed into Foro Ciel rooftop garden and office
The new roof, re-named "Foro Ciel," is now home to some species of cacti and a few small orchards (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
The new roof, re-named "Foro Ciel," is now home to some species of cacti and a few small orchards (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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The designers built an open office space filled with locally-made furniture that's designed to be easily rearranged into different configurations (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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The designers built an open office space filled with locally-made furniture that's designed to be easily rearranged into different configurations (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
A disused helipad has been converted into a rooftop garden and customizable office space (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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A disused helipad has been converted into a rooftop garden and customizable office space (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
A series of solar panels are spread throughout the rooftop to generate a reported 3,840 kW of electricity per year, enough to meet the office's energy requirements (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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A series of solar panels are spread throughout the rooftop to generate a reported 3,840 kW of electricity per year, enough to meet the office's energy requirements (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
The Foro Ciel office was constructed using the structural elements already in place along with low-impact materials (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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The Foro Ciel office was constructed using the structural elements already in place along with low-impact materials (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
The Foro Ciel office was constructed using the structural elements already in place along with low-impact materials (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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The Foro Ciel office was constructed using the structural elements already in place along with low-impact materials (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
The new roof, re-named "Foro Ciel," is now covered in a variety of local vegetation, including some species of cactuses and a few small orchards (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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The new roof, re-named "Foro Ciel," is now covered in a variety of local vegetation, including some species of cactuses and a few small orchards (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
Windows surrounding the office provide natural lighting during daylight working hours (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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Windows surrounding the office provide natural lighting during daylight working hours (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
LED-based lights have been installed to provide lighting for late night working (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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LED-based lights have been installed to provide lighting for late night working (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
The designers built an open office space filled with locally-made furniture that's designed to be easily rearranged into different configurations (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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The designers built an open office space filled with locally-made furniture that's designed to be easily rearranged into different configurations (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
Foro Ciel's designers also adapted the area below the former helipad into an eco-friendly office (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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Foro Ciel's designers also adapted the area below the former helipad into an eco-friendly office (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
Foro Ciel's office space is currently home to Transformada Ciel, a program that helps community-centered projects in Latin America find funding and support (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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Foro Ciel's office space is currently home to Transformada Ciel, a program that helps community-centered projects in Latin America find funding and support (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
The new roof, re-named "Foro Ciel," is now home to some species of cacti and a few small orchards (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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The new roof, re-named "Foro Ciel," is now home to some species of cacti and a few small orchards (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
All of the resident plants are partly maintained through a rainwater collection and irrigation system that was built onto the existing structure using recycled materials (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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All of the resident plants are partly maintained through a rainwater collection and irrigation system that was built onto the existing structure using recycled materials (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
A wooden walking path with a few benches has also been implemented to turn the space into a pleasant spot for workers to relax (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
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A wooden walking path with a few benches has also been implemented to turn the space into a pleasant spot for workers to relax (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
View gallery - 14 images

When Coca-Cola found itself with an unused helipad on top of its building in Mexico City, the simplest thing to do would have been to strip everything down, leaving a bare rooftop. But that would have been a waste of usable real estate, not to mention just plain dull. Instead, the company enlisted the help of design teams at Rojkind Arquitectos and AGENT to convert the area into a sustainable rooftop garden and customizable office space.

The new roof, named "Foro Ciel," is now covered in a variety of local vegetation, including some species of cacti and a few small orchards. All of the plants are partly maintained through a rainwater collection and irrigation system that was built onto the existing structure using recycled materials. According to the designers, this system will recycle 4,872 liters of rainwater over the course of a year, and the resulting vegetation will collect 81 kg (179 lb) of airborne pollutants and CO2.

A wooden walking path with a few benches has also been implemented to turn the space into a pleasant spot for workers to relax (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
A wooden walking path with a few benches has also been implemented to turn the space into a pleasant spot for workers to relax (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)

A wooden walking path with a few benches has also been implemented to turn the space into a pleasant spot for workers to relax.

Adding a garden to the roof would have been a welcome enough change to the building, but the designers also adapted the area below the former helipad into an eco-friendly office. Using the structural elements already in place along with low-impact materials, the team constructed an open space filled with locally-made furniture that's designed to be easily rearranged into different configurations. The idea is to provide a co-working office that can be customized as needed for different groups and projects.

Windows surrounding the office provide natural lighting during daylight working hours, with LED-based lights in place for later on. A series of solar panels are spread throughout the rooftop to generate a reported 3,840 kW of electricity per year, which the designers say will be enough to meet the office's energy requirements.

LED-based lights have been installed to provide lighting for late night working (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)
LED-based lights have been installed to provide lighting for late night working (Credit: Jaime Navarro; Courtesy Rojkind Arquitectos)

Coca-Cola, Rojkind Arquitectos and AGENT, have managed to transform a neglected 500 square-meter (5,382 square-foot) roof space into a unique green oasis. Foro Ciel's office space is currently home to Transformada Ciel, a program that helps community-centered projects in Latin America find funding and support.

Source: Rojkind Arquitectos

View gallery - 14 images
2 comments
2 comments
BigGoofyGuy
I think that is a way cool and very green idea. I think it could be an inspiration for other roof tops.
Gadgeteer
"Foro Ciel" doesn't really make sense. Shouldn't it be Foro Cielo, the sky forum?
Bravo on the reuse and recycling of a disused structure. Every building should have a green roof.