Client CR Land specified that the Green Technology Showroom be a 5,382 sq. ft. (500 m2) rectangle. Made of steel, covered in grasses, and elevated, the Green Technology Showroom is a temporary structure that was scheduled to be demolished after three years. In other words, 2011 is the last year of its existence. The building was intended to be easily set up and torn down, and Vector Architects responded to this need by elevating the building: with no foundation, it is less rooted and required less set up, which translated to fewer labor hours and cut costs. Vector Architects chose steel because it is recyclable and sited the Green Technology Showroom on the central lawn to make the least impact on the garden and on the flow of pedestrian traffic.
The Green Technology Showroom boasts an extensive green roof of grasses that cover not only the roof proper but also two sides of the building. An extensive green roof is shallower in depth and requires less maintenance than other green roofs. Once the Green Technology Showroom is demolished, its green roof will be reused on a half-wall in the residential compound. The grasses are also meant to help the building better blend in with the courtyards, stucco walls, and ornamental archways of the classic Spanish style garden.
One of the benefits of a green roof is that it makes the building more heat-efficient, reducing heat loss in colder weather and keeping it cooler in warmer weather. A major push for green roofs is occurring, particularly in densely populated areas. Green roofs in large numbers help combat Urban Heat Island Effect, a phenomenon wherein the temperature of cities rises because of heat reflecting off buildings, among other causes. Keep in mind that the population of Beijing exceeds 22,000,000 and is ranked as one of the most densely populated cities in the world.