© 2007 Wendy Dager

The Leaf-let spoke with Paul Kephart, Chief Ecological Consultant for Living Structure at Rana Creek Living Architecture. Kephart is an expert on green roof technology.

"The urban areas have greater capacity to provide habitat, food and lifecycle needs for wildlife. Like the field of dreams: if we build it, they will come." -- Paul Kephart, Rana Creek Living Architecture

Leaf-let: Rana Creek's Web site (http://www.ranacreek.com/) describes you as a biologist and restoration ecologist. What made you decide to embark upon a career as a living architecture/sustainable-landscapes consultant?

Paul Kephart: I saw structure and the urban environ ments as the next frontier in restoration ecology. I am interested in re-establishing linkages and corridors between intact habitats by revegetation of cities and structures. The urban areas have greater capacity to provide habitat, food and lifecycle needs for wildlife. Like the field of dreams: if we build it, they will come.

LL: The green roof photos on Rana Creek's Web site are very impressive. It seems it would take a forward-thinking corporation to create and maintain a green roof. Are these companies usually "green-minded" to begin with, or are there incentives or influences that inspire them to create a vegetative structure?

PK: Integrity, ethics, pure inspiration, heart and passion. A reverence for life and interest in art, science, and architecture. Good combinations.

LL: It's an understatement to say it's a challenge to design and construct green roofs and living walls for each client. Do you have a standard "game plan" -- a checklist -- for every job prior to customizing?

PK: Understand the site. Complement and support the team. Do better work than we did on the last project. Innovate and do not be afraid. The game plan is simple: "win."

LL: What do you think the future holds for green roofs? Will there be more single-family dwellings and housing developments incorporating this type of architecture, or do you think it will remain a mostly corporate endeavor?

PK: Vegetated structures, living architecture, living interiors and living infrastructure. All levels of society and development will bring life into structure and process. That means food production, water capture, storage, reuse and waste streams (will be less problematic).

RANA CREEK LIVING ARCHITECTURE 35351 EAST CARMEL BALLEY ROAD CARMEL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 93924 (831) 659-3820 http://wwww.ranacreek.com

LL: What advice do you have for Leaf-let readers -- landscape professionals -- who are interested in pursuing living-architecture projects?

PK: Ponder the unexplored, learn from the past, and seek good references. Hire or work with people who have done it and learn from them.

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