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PROJECT
Tiered planter boxes at the main entrance
introduce height and balance the scale of
the building
order to accommodate them. She says The owners plan to remove the palms once namely a wild grassland area that would
this initially proved challenging as they the new trees have matured and provide wrap around the sides of the building and
did not tie in with any of the other design more of a presence in the landscape. a more structured succulent landscape
aspects. However they proved useful as in front of the building’s main entrance.
they “provided a hierarchy between the Soft landscaping Both of these palettes ensured that water
newly installed landscape at the scale of consumption on the site would be kept
the building.” The space is divided into two distinctly low and that there would be seasonal
different but compatible planting styles, colour and variety to offer interest in these
spaces.
The contrast of the soft, flowing grassland
area would also serve to highlight the
more structured and static elements of the
succulents, offering a glimpse into two of
the very diverse biomes in South Africa,
and fusing these landscape elements into
one combined project.
Hard landscaping aspects
Van Wyk says she tied these two distinct
landscaped areas together by means of
structured pathways and seating areas
which not only reflect the contemporary
façade of the building, but allow users
to navigate the space and sit within
the landscape in a way that was not
previously possible. Tiered planter boxes
were installed at the building’s entrance,
providing an opportunity to introduce
height and a sense of grandeur, while
reducing the scale of the building.
In order to provide tenants with shade
while the trees matured, shade sails offset
at an angle were installed. This made
Structured planting at the main entrance to them less noticeable and from certain
the building provides colour and ensures that angles, they seem to be floating above the
water consumption remains low landscape.
14 Landscape SA • Issue 94 2020
