Green rooftop oasis

In the heart of Gothenburg’s vibrant Selma District, a lush and inviting outdoor space has been created on top of a parking garage. The large rooftop terrace serves as a communal courtyard for residents and features a series of raised planting beds that contribute with greenery and help define space and variation in the open layout.

The planting design is carefully composed to ensure both biodiversity and resilience in the exposed rooftop environment. The beds include geranium (Geranium) and catmint (Nepeta faassenii), known for their dense growth and colorful, pollinator-friendly flowers. Bergenia (Bergenia cordifolia) and periwinkle (Vinca minor) provide year-round structure, while ornamental grasses add lightness and movement. Selected beds are also dedicated to culinary herbs like tarragon, chives and marjoram – offering both ecological value and daily delight for residents.

Milford's contribution

For this project, Milford supplied the Contrast Freestyle™ steel edging solution used to construct the raised beds. A durable and adaptable edging system was essential, as the terrace is built atop a parking structure with limited soil depth. Contrast Freestyle™ allowed for well-defined planting zones with sufficient volume and strong visual appeal – tailored precisely to the architect’s design and the project’s technical constraints.

To ensure optimal plant growth and reduce manual watering, the beds are also equipped with CoreBlue™, Milford's passive irrigation solution. The system collects and stores rainwater, gradually releasing it to the plants' roots – an effective and sustainable approach for maintaining greenery in rooftop environments that are vulnerable to dry periods.