The Washington Post: Why this couple went all-in on a show-stopping ‘green roof’

By Bridget Reed Morawski, The Washington Post

Photos by Jennifer Chase

When most people offer guests a tour of their home, they give you a spin through the kitchen, living room and maybe their yard. At Mark and Lucia Freeman’s home, an elegant mid-century modern residence in D.C., you might also get an invitation to climb a ladder and check out the roof. It has become the talk of the neighborhood — and occasionally of social media — since the couple installed an array of native plants up there last year and added a bracing system to keep it all from sliding off.

The pair are architects who try to incorporate eco-friendly features whenever possible, so when they needed to replace their roof, Lucia advocated for a green roof instead of a traditional asphalt or metal surface.