Page 17 - Landscape SA 100

LANDSCAPING FEATURE

Maine Central Square. Attention was given
to the full life cycles of power, water, waste
management and air conditioning to
achieve this star-studded rating.

The completed portion of the Trilogy
building will tie into Phase 2 towards the
west, and the masterplan will include a
meandering water feature with oversized
pebbles and half-moon shaped seating
steps concentrically wrapped around the
centre.

Towards the north, planting cascades over
walls, softening the retaining structures
down to ground level. When driving on the
northern perimeter road, only a soft green
wall is visible with Barleria, Freylinia and
other indigenous plants both softening
and hiding the almost secret garden at the
level above.
Roof garden construction

As with any landscape or roof garden A sculpture of female figures by Anton Smit. Entitled Reflections,
installed on a slab, challenges include it invites residents into the space.

water supply and drainage, weight issues,
and growth medium – especially for larger
trees. Furthermore, there is building glare
where glass can literally burn the courtyard
plants, or on other hand extensive shade –
especially with high rise buildings - that
creates full shadow towards the south.
This garden is no different, but with a
clever plant palette and use of polystyrene
void formers to shape the ground and
soften the edges, these challenges were
met. This high-rise building scheme
aimed to create a lock-up-and-go lifestyle
situated in a mounded parkland character,
and this was achieved as follows:

Soft landscape elements
View of geometrical patterns in the landscape, with walkway leading to a
playful water feature. The walkway is scattered with oversized pebbles. Tree species include Celtis africana,
Platanus acerifolia, Combretrum
erythrophyllum for Autumn colours, as well
as Vachellia xantophea with lime stems
An outside amenity space in a hedged courtyard towards the east of the building forming pillars along the walkway towards
the north and water features.
The shrub and groundcover palette is
mostly indigenous with clever waterwise
textures and seasonal colour in the flowers.
Thick tufted Aristida were interplanted
with Kniphofia and Crocosmia for both
Autumn and Spring colours of red and
orange.

Agapanthus, Tulbaghia and Bulbine were
used closer to the building and planted
in layers of lilac, purple and orange for
an all-year round waterwise solution.
For the evergreen hedges, Freylinia and
Barleria were used and planted densely to
form a green screen wrapped around the
perimeter. For privacy and layers along the
ground floor units, evergreen box hedging
includes Viburnum and Barleria species.

Landscape SA • Issue 100 2021 15