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Landscape installation delivering and storing material. They could
only deliver small quantities at a time of
Charl Marais of Servest Landscaping paving, plants, soil and compost.
oversaw the landscape installation of
the project. Servest was responsible Servest has a one year maintenance
for sourcing of plant material, planting, contract (until May 2020) and this involves
compost and topsoil supply and spread, replacing dead plants, mulch top-up
installation of a drip irrigation system, where necessary, sweeping and blowing
paving, irrigation, grass blocks, an earth of leaves, litter removal, grass mowing and
wall and some of the kerbs. Says Marais: maintenance of the irrigation system.
“The paving installation was very difficult
because we had to use a mix of A-grade
Changing perceptions
and variation (B-grade) bricks for cost
saving purposes. The pavers all differed in Labuschagne says that by working on
size which made it almost impossible to this project, he enjoyed focusing on the
keep straight lines.” people and the institution that educated
him, namely the University of Pretoria. “It
Plant material was sourced from a variety was a privilege to work as a TUKS alumni
of nurseries and growers, says Marais, for the department that formed part of
following GreenINC’s list. “It was a variety my education. This project challenged
of very special plants so we struggled the perception of what hard and soft
to source some of them. Drs Ida Breed landscaped spaces are, and what they
and Johan Wentzel selected some scarce represent; landscape architecture should
indigenous plants and grasses, supplied always focus on creating quality and
by Wentzel.” He says the site was very usable spaces for people.” LSA
small and compact, so it was “a mission”

View of the biodiversity garden at the art centre,
where over 60 native species were used, from in
and around Tshwane and grassland regions. These
species die back heavily in winter but reappear in
spring. The ‘wilder’ look of the biodiversity garden
ties in well with the Mapungubwe collection housed
in the art centre and Mapungubwe garden at its
entrance, created by Dr Johan Wentzel. These
photos were taken by Dr Breed in November 2019,
only eight months after implementation.

Project Team
• Client: University of Pretoria (UP)
• Architects: Mathews & Associates
• Landscape Architects: GreenINC
Landscape Architects
• Landscape Contractor: Servest
Landscaping

6 Landscape SA • Issue 92 2020