El Portal, a boutique hotel located in Sedona, Arizona, has installed a green rooftop garden.
At El Portal, owner Steve Segner started the process in early February by installing grass sod on the roof and seeding it with native wildflowers. Green roofs creatively use space to absorb rainfall, provide thermal protection, and engage the aesthetic structures of landscapes and buildings.
These roofs include partial or complete covering over the top surface of a building, with a variety of plants and grasses spread over a waterproofing membrane. Modern designs include advanced drainage and irrigation systems.
Built on the site of an old apple orchard in a the turn-of-the-century Southwestern style and utilizing 18-inch thick handmade adobe walls, El Portal takes advantage of natural insulation. To help conserve natural resources, each of its 12 guest suites feature recycled wood beams and trim and natural native stone.
