1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Zürich
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Green roof at Sihlpost Platform
Short description of the intervention
Under the “Bahn 2000” project while restructuring the main railway station of Zurich, a green roof has been implemented on one of the platforms. The whole area was mapped as a sensitive area, a living space for different endangered insects and reptiles whose natural environment consisted of desert-like spaces. Swiss law prohibits the destruction of such biotopes without replacement. In their protection, the idea of using the rooftop as a replacement was suggested and accepted by the administration. The roof was planned with a special focus on the living space demands of the different species. (Ref 1)
Address

HB, Bahnhofpl.
8001 Zürich
Switzerland

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
Total area
883.00m²
NBS area
883.00m²
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Building
Website of the intervention
http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=396
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2000
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2002
End date of the intervention
2002
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Goals of the intervention
• Protection of the local ecosystem;
• Protection of the biotope;
• Create habitat for specific local animal species;
• Building temperature control (Ref 1).
Quantitative targets
To preserve habitat for 4 different species (Ref 2,3).
Monitoring indicators defined
Number of habitats created, number of lizard ladders, number of species protected, air temperature reduction (Ref 1).
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change mitigation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Green space creation and/or management
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Reduce energy demand, with the use of renewables or energy efficiency improvements
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Install vertical or horizontal artificial surfaces that help with carbon storage and cooling
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore native species
Implementation activities
In Sihlpost Station, Zurich roofs have been designed to accommodate wall lizards, a rare grasshopper and several rare species of bee inhabit the trackside ballast. When the platforms were extended, the newly constructed platform roofs included stony habitat for the lizards and rare invertebrates. Lizard ladders, in the form of rock-filled gabions, connect the new roofs with the ground. (Ref 3) Therefore connections using block walls and planted fences had to be introduced to give rooftop access to the less mobile insects. On the ground, a system of interconnected biotopes of the same sandy and rocky surfaces as those on the roof had to be installed to attract and house the necessary fauna and flora to make the system work. (Ref 1)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Nature on buildings (external)
Green roofs
Type of Green Roof
Semi-intensive Green Roof: depth 5 - 7 inches; plants: Selected Perennials, Sedums, ornamental Grasses, Herbs and little Shrubs; Medium maintenance and costs
Vegetation Type
Grass
Shrubs
Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS
No amenities provided. The greenroof is inaccessible to the locals and passengers (Ref 1, 3)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Other
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Scale
Spatial scale
Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Unknown
Governance
Governance arrangements
Government-led
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Led by Zurich municipality, designed and implemented by INGE LHL, a private foundation for designing buildings (Ref 1)
Key actors - initiating organization
National government
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Railway
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Local government/municipality
Private foundation/trust
Land owners
Railway
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Unknown
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
(a) ‘Swiss Landscape Concept’ when commissioning or rehabilitating buildings and installations. This means that facilities must be compatible with natural settings and landscape. (Ref 3)
(b) "Swiss Federal Act on animal protection" has been designed to protect endangered species, "Swiss Feredal Act on the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage": in support of protecting biodiversity. (Ref 3)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
The “Zurich 2035 strategies” to follow the vision of further developing Zurich into a metropolis with sustainable facilities. (Ref 4)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Mandatory (based on policy)
Intervention is mandatory
Environmental regulation
Other
Please specify other type of mandatory intervention
Species habitat protection (Ref 1)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Zürich’s green roof programme (Ref 1)
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
The “Zurich 2035 strategies” to follow the vision of further developing Zurich into a metropolis with sustainable facilities. (Ref 4)
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
City specific green space strategy or plan
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
“Bahn 2000” project is an attempt to alleviate existing congestion and provide extra capacity for future growth of Swiss railway. The current project is an attempt under "Bahn 2000"(Ref 2).
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
National Government
Co-finance for NBS
No
Co-financing governance arrangements
No
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Not applicable
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
Public national budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Urban offsetting model (biodiversity or water)
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Technological
Product innovation
Please specify technological innovation
• Product innovation: the rooftop of the Sihlpost platform has been renovated to create the green area. (Ref 1)
• New floor with stony habitat and rock filled gabions have been installed, new lizard ladders have been installed. Other infrastructural facilities like fencing, planting, and block walls. (Ref 1, 2 3)
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Lowered local temperature
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Reduced biodiversity loss
Increased number of species present
Description of environmental benefits
The rooftop vegetation is developing well and the more mobile insects have already taken possession of their new habitat. As there is little disturbance, the green roof provides a living space to the wild plants and animal species, creating a compensating green area which partially compensates for the loss of other green areas through building activities. In addition to protecting the biodiversity, the green roof has shown to reduce the temperature of the area. (Ref 1, 3).
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Education
Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Please specify other environmental justice issue
Not mentioned in the project details
Description of social and cultural benefits
Passengers using the new railroad station can find out about the project from the information sheets or signs attached to the fences. (Ref 3)
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
Number of species provided habitats, area covered in greenroof, air temperature reduction (Ref 1)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Other
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of July, 2020
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Conduct a baseline survey before and after NBS implementation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Knapkiewicz & Fickert AG
Alluvial gravels, Lizards and green roofs – photo of the day
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
Swiss Landscape Concept (2.07 MB) 2.07 MB
List of references
1. Sihlpost Platform at Zurich Main Railway Station. Project details. Greenroofs.com. Available at: http://www.greenroofs.com/projects/pview.php?id=396. Accessed on 1st August 2020.
2. Bahn 2000, Switzerland. Railway-technology.com. Available at: http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/switzerland/. Accessed on 1st August 2020.
3. Grant. G. 2013. Green roof and facades. IHS. BRE Press.
4. Policies in the city of Zurich. Available at: https://www.stadt-zuerich.ch/portal/en/index/politik_u_recht.html. Accessed on 1st August 2020.
5. Lining roofs. Alluvial gravels, Lizards and green roofs – photo of the day. Available at: https://livingroofs.org/gravels-lizards-green-roofs-photo-day/. Accessed on 1st August, 2020.
Additional comments
The Swiss Landscape Concept (SLC) is a federal concept approved by the Federal Council on 19 December 1997, which

- seeks to achieve sustainable landscape development;
- promotes a dialogue between landscape users and conservationists;
- stipulates binding objectives that are to be pursued by government departments in any of their activities which have implications for land use.
Comments and notes
Comments
4/governance arrangements: Project Design: INGE LHL, Site Management: Ernst Basler Partner AG, Site Management: TBF + Partner AG, Site Management: Dobler-Schllibaum + Partner AG, Architect: Knapkiewicz & Fickert AG, Waterproofing Membrane: Sarnafil, Roof Contractor: Preisig AG Zurich in ARGE Brunner Erben AG/J. Meyer Stahl & Metall AG (Ref 1).
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/sihlpost3.jpg
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/sihlpost6.jpg
Public Images
Greenroof on Zurich railway platform
Greenroof
Urban Green-Blue Grids. Available at: https://www.urbangreenbluegrids.com/projects/zurich-switzerland/. Accessed on 1st August, 2020