Cantina Zymé – Valpolicella (VR)

A growing number of Italian wineries have chosen green roof systems to better store their wines: cellars protected by green roofs, so as to maintain the ideal temperature inside them for the barrels, with the dual advantage of cutting costs and blending seamlessly into the surrounding environment.

Beyond aesthetics, green roofs offer environmental benefits such as improved microclimate and up to 30% energy savings.

The Harpo verdepensile division is not new to wine projects: among its most important achievements is that of Cantina Zymé located in the heart of Valpolicella, in San Pietro in Cariano (Vr). Designed by arch. Moreno Zurlo, the 1,000-square-meter roof garden houses real relaxation areas where one can enjoy the benefits of being outdoors to spend pleasant moments in the company of visitors. In addition, a wing of the structure has been converted to urban gardens.

The continuous drainage system created a multidirectional network of water-permeable channels beneath the garden, optimizing water management across the entire surface. This system allowed for the creation of boundaries, walls, and curbs without disrupting water flow.

The substrate where meadow planting was planned was shaped to create thicknesses ranging from 15 to 35 cm. The construction of the green on a 45-degree sloping plane suggested the use of a geostructure to contain and prevent the substrate from slipping to make the sloping green front stable. The adequacy of drains was verified by ensuring that the green roof system does not constitute an obstacle to vertical infiltration flow. The high permeability of the installed green roof system was confirmed by simulations at the University of Genoa, and the system was shown to act effectively in order to rapidly convey water to the drains during extreme storms.