Rooftop gardens are not only a great way to combat air pollution, global warming and foster peace of mind in the city – they’re also beautiful. Take a look at these majestic rooftop greeneries from around the globe.

Rooftop gardens are not only a great way to combat air pollution, global warming and foster peace of mind in the city – they’re also beautiful. Take a look at these majestic rooftop greeneries from around the globe.

Productive urban green spaces are an inevitable and exciting part of the future of the world’s cities. Urban areas need green space not only for food and combating air pollution, but also to revitalise community life. Take a look at these gardens revolutionising city life around the world.

1. Kensington Roof Gardens, London, UK

Kensington Roof Gardens, London, UK

Image via Business Insider

2. Parkroyal Hotel, Singapore

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Parkroyal Hotel Rooftop Garden, Singapore

Images via Decoist

3. Mill Valley Cabins, California, USA

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Mill Valley Cabins rooftop gardens, California, USA

Images © Joe Fletcher via GBlog

4. Green Intercontinental Resort in Sanya, Hainan, China

Green Intercontinental Resort in Sanya, Hainan, China
Green Intercontinental Resort in Sanya, Hainan, China

Images © Patrick Bingham-Hall via Arch Daily

5. Chelsea, New York City, USA

Rooftop garden in Chelsea, New York City, USA
If you’ve ever been diving in the Great Barrier Reef, you know why it’s a natural wonder revered all around the world. The Reef is a massive, vibrant, diverse underwater gem. It’s full of life and colour - and it needs your help.   Right now, the Great Barrier Reef has a UNESCO World Heritage Listing. But with a 50% decline in coral cover since 1985 and the impacts of industrialisation and climate change taking a toll on the Reef’s health - it’s clear that our greatest natural wonder is at risk. UNESCO already knows the Reef is at threat, warning in 2012 that Australia’s planned industrial expansions directly threaten the World Heritage wonder. <b>With a decision on whether to keep the Great Barrier Reef under close watch in June - now is a crucial time for us to keep eyes from around the world on the Reef.</b> <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/action/?cid=84&src=BLOG"><b>You can help - take a virtual tour of our breathtaking Reef today and join the movement to keep it great.</b></a> <b>If we work together now, we can make sure that a virtual tour isn’t the only way future generations can see the world’s largest coral reef.</b> <!--more--> Extending over 2,300 kilometres off the north-east coast of Australia, there’s a lot of the Reef to see. Here are some highlights from Google Maps: <strong><b>Great Detached Reef</b></strong> <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/2b8e16dd-resize2.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-9473 size-full" src="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/2b8e16dd-resize2.jpg" alt="Resize2" width="600" height="405" /></a> Get close and personal with the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/views/u/0/view/streetview/oceans/great-detached-reef-great-barrier-reef/I2MBeyGDMAEAAAQfCaZWGQ?gl=au&heading=119&pitch=23&fovy=75">Great Detached Reef here.</a> <strong><b>Lizard Island</b></strong> <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/0b7a61ad-resize5.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-9476 size-full" src="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/0b7a61ad-resize5.jpg" alt="resize5" width="600" height="363" /></a> Explore this underwater <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/views/u/0/view/streetview/oceans/lizard-island-great-barrier-reef/N71STQcgRZEAAAQfCadA5A?gl=au&heading=170&pitch=78&fovy=75">wonderland by clicking here.</a> <strong><b>North Horn, Osprey Reef</b></strong> <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/11050999-resize-7.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-9471 size-full" src="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/11050999-resize-7.jpg" alt="RESIZE 7" width="600" height="421" /></a> You can swim with the sharks in <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/views/u/0/view/108517873237526057594/gphoto/5947995652568656322?gl=au&heading=330&pitch=100&fovy=75">Osprey Reef here thanks to Catlin Seaview Survey.</a> <strong><b>Myrmidon Reef</b></strong> <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/b68c09c0-resize6.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-9477 size-full" src="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/b68c09c0-resize6.jpg" alt="RESIZE6" width="600" height="414" /></a> Or if you’re more of a dolphin lover, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/views/u/0/view/streetview/oceans/myrmidon-reef-great-barrier-reef/hvJbgfc-HtoAAAQfCaR8Mw?gl=au&heading=47&pitch=121&fovy=75">check out Myrmidon Reef!</a> <strong><b>Heron Island</b></strong> <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/9fcd50fd-resize3.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-9474 size-full" src="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/9fcd50fd-resize3.jpg" alt="resize3" width="600" height="389" /></a> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/views/u/0/view/streetview/oceans/heron-island-great-barrier-reef-australia-a-world-heritage-marine-site/CWskcsTEZBNXaD8gG-zATA?gl=au&heading=326&pitch=86&fovy=75">There’s a turtle or two to see at Heron Island...</a> <strong><b>Lady Elliot Island</b></strong> <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/9d34777e-resize4.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-9475 size-full" src="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/9d34777e-resize4.jpg" alt="resize4" width="600" height="380" /></a> And there’s plenty of fish in the sea <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/views/u/0/view/streetview/oceans/lady-elliot-island-great-barrier-reef/8OSpK11Y4NvG0nJCdw-QVg?gl=au&heading=188&pitch=76&fovy=75">around Lady Elliot Island. If you look hard enough, you might even spot a ray!</a> <strong><b>Explore the Reef from the sky</b></strong> <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/905342e6-resize1.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-9472 size-full" src="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/905342e6-resize1.jpg" alt="resize1" width="600" height="376" /></a> <strong>You can also <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/views/u/0/view/106642761680605709217/gphoto/6058817154180416610?gl=au&heading=261&pitch=57&fovy=75">explore the Reef from above with this panorama by AirPano.com.</a></strong> We don’t want to see our Great Barrier Reef on the ‘World Heritage in danger’ list – we’d much rather see it protected. Unfortunately, the Australian government has not yet done enough to keep the Reef off the endangered list. There’s so much at risk. <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/action/?cid=84&src=FB2&utm_campaign=Save%20the%20Reef&utm_source=Blog&utm_medium=referral"><b>The beauty, diversity, and complexity of the Great Barrier Reef cannot be easily replaced. Take action now: sign on to become part of a grassroots movement against plans to put the Reef at risk here.</b></a> <a href="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/737b793e-savethereef-act-now-resize.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-9479 size-full" src="https://www.greenpeace.org.au/static/planet4-australiapacific-stateless/2024/02/737b793e-savethereef-act-now-resize.jpg" alt="SAVETHEREEF ACT NOW RESIZE" width="600" height="221" /></a>

Images © Sotheby’s via Home DSGN

6. Waldspirale, Germany

Rooftop garden in Images © Sotheby’s via Home DSGN 6. Waldspirale, Germany

© Kuebi via Inhabitat

7. Chicago City Hall, USA

Chicago City Hall, USA

Photo via Wicker Furniture on Flikr

8. Acros Fukuoka building, Japan

Acros Fukuoka building, Japan

Photo via greenroofs.com

9. Beirut Wonder Forest, Lebanon

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Alas, this is just a digital design by Studio Invisible. Is this what the future of the world’s big cities looks like?