about 900 BC
First roof gardens were built in the Near East e.g. the hanging gardens of Semiramis (2nd.wonder of the world).

about 0
The Romans even built fish ponds on roofs. These green roofs were the first used surfaces on roofs.

as from 800 
In Scandinavia and Island grass roofs were used for thermal insulation.

as from 1400
During the Renaissance roof gardens became popular again.

as from 1900
In Berlin wood-cement composite roofs were covered with layers of gravel and clay. Due to flight of seeds wild meadows and beautiful green roofs appeared.

in 1903
In Paris the time of green roofs started: The Pervet brothers built their famous apartment building with patios and roof gardens.

in 1912
In Paris the two-sidded staggered terrace house with several green roofs was built by Henri Sauvage.

in 1914
Frank Lloyd Wright built his large restaurant with numerous usable roof areas in Chicago. In Cologne on top of the office building of the Werkbundsiedlung he built the Gropius roof garden restaurant.

as from 1914
The Domino Houses of Le Corbusier were devised for a large batch production. With theses houses Le Corbusier defined the first constructional and design fundamentals for green roofs. He was one of the first systematic green roofers.

as from 1920
In conjunction with the flat roofs of the Bauhaus architecture green roofs spread out again.

as from 1980
Besides the usability of green roofs the ecological aspect of green roofs was becoming more and more important. The first extensive green roofs were established. During this time manufacturers developed technically mature and reliable product and system solutions for green roofs.

as from 1982
The German Forschungsgesellschaft Landschaftsentwicklung Landschaftsbau e. V. (FLL) published various sets of rules and guidelines for green roofs. Today they are state of the art and they are for green roofs and acknowledged beyond the borders of Germany.

in 1984
The German Forschungsgesellschaft Landschaftsentwicklung Landschaftsbau e. V. (FLL) published the examination procedure for the root penetration resistance of root protection membranes.

as from 1990
The "Guidelines for the Planning, Construction and Maintenance of Green Roofs" of the German FLL represent the state of the art for extensive and intensive green roofs.

since 2003 
The German Fachvereinigung Bauwerksbegrünung e. V. (FBB) organises an annual sector symposium. At this symposium the latest trends and developments of green roofs are presented.

in 2008
The German Forschungsgesellschaft Landschaftsentwicklung Landschaftsbau e. V. (FLL) published the latest "Guidelines for the Planning, Construction and Maintenance of Green Roofs".