🎙️ Q&A with Igor Ustinov: Designing a Rooftop That Breathe

This month, we sat down with Igor Ustinov, inventor of WaterRoofs and co-creator of the UHCS modular building system, to discuss the inspiration, innovation, and next steps behind evaporative roofing. His insights reveal why WaterRoofs matters for climate-resilient architecture.

As the inventor of WaterRoofs and co-creator of the UHCS modular construction system, Igor Ustinov brings a cross-disciplinary vision to architecture, sustainability, and urban innovation. In this interview, he shares the origins, purpose, and future of WaterRoofs.

❓ What inspired the WaterRoofs concept?

WaterRoofs was born from a very simple observation: most rooftops do the opposite of what nature does. They shed rain instantly, seal off evaporation, and trap heat. I wanted to reverse that. I wanted to create a rooftop that behaves more like a forest canopy—retaining rain, cooling the air, and returning water to the atmosphere. In other words: a roof that breathes.

❓ Why choose recycled PET for the tiles?

PET is one of the most widely available waste materials in the world—and one of the most stable when recycled. It’s lightweight, UV-resistant, and can be regenerated multiple times without losing its structural strength. That made it ideal for both WaterRoofs and UHCS. Choosing recycled PET was not just an environmental gesture—it was a functional, material decision that enabled circularity and performance.

❓ How does WaterRoofs differ from green or cool roofs?

Green roofs are beautiful, but they’re heavy, expensive, and often hard to maintain. Cool roofs reflect sunlight, but they don’t restore humidity or balance microclimates. WaterRoofs introduces a new category: evaporative roofs. Our system uses stored rainwater to cool the surface and surrounding air through natural evaporation. It’s passive, low-maintenance, and replicates what trees and soil do—without needing soil or vegetation.

❓ What performance have your pilot projects shown?

Our pilot installations have shown surface temperature reductions of up to 8–10 °C compared to conventional rooftops, even under peak sun. We’ve also recorded lower ambient air temperatures and greater thermal comfort at street level. These are early results, but they confirm what the physics of evaporation already suggests: this system works, and it scales.

❓ Where do you see WaterRoofs heading next?

We are currently focusing on deploying WaterRoofs in more pilot contexts: schools, public buildings, and modular housing. We’re working on licensing partnerships to produce tiles regionally, adapted to different climate zones. And we want to integrate with other green infrastructure systems—solar, rain harvesting, bioswales—to help cities build full climate-resilient ecosystems.

❓ How do WaterRoofs contribute to broader climate resilience?

WaterRoofs addresses two of the most pressing urban challenges: heat and water. It reduces surface heat through evaporation and restores moisture that would otherwise be lost into sewers. When applied at scale, it can help stabilize local climates, support biodiversity, and reduce building energy loads. In a time of droughts and urban overheating, that’s not just useful—it’s urgent.

✅ Final Thoughts from Igor

We can’t afford to build passive buildings anymore. Every surface must have a function—especially rooftops, which cover up to 40% of cities. WaterRoofs is part of a new generation of architecture that doesn’t just sit on the environment—it actively repairs it.

🔧 Interested in joining the next phase?

• Architects & planners: Learn about performance-based installation guides

• City authorities: Pilot evaluation of microclimate impact

• Manufacturers: Regional licensing and deployment

• Researchers: Collaborate on climate modeling and health outcomes

Explore more at: www.waterroofs.com