Page 19 - Landscape SA 99

PROFILE FEATURE

• planting plans
• water feature designs
• project costing
• project management
• environmental planning
• landscape construction and
maintenance
• irrigation installation.

Design and construction of
projects

The following projects are underway or
have been completed:
• a primary school based in Tembisa,
Gauteng, is one of the company’s
favorite, as it is based in a township
location and shows that schools in these
areas also need landscaping, just like
private or urban schools. The project is
ongoing; Nape Elvis Mello, MD Boitumelo Mashiane, MD
• a residential garden design in Midrand,
Johannesburg, has been completed;
• design and installation of a project one and same thing, which suffocates our profession to schools, so that learners
in Avanta Estate, Pretoria North. The businesses and growth.” are informed about it during career
project is underway; guidance, as is done with professions
• the design of a lodge entrance and “Students choose courses with a view to such as engineering, agriculture, law and
parking area has been completed in growing the industry, but other professions teaching.”
Mpumalanga; such as architecture and civil engineering,
• in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, Mello to name a few, are given landscape jobs, He is confident that the status of the
was appointed to design an outdoor which is one of the reasons the industry is profession will improve, with the support
seating area and fire pit. The client was not growing. On top of that, the Covid19 of associations such as SACLAP and the
one of his family members who had pandemic put our business under huge Landscape Podium.
just bought a home, and Mello says stress. Residential clients stopped their
whenever he goes there, he realises maintenance services, our main source
how the value of a property can be of income during our ‘off’ season, and Landscape podium sessions
increased simply by being landscaped. commercial clients were restricted under The Landscape Podium is a voluntary
This project is complete; Covid 19 regulations. We had to retrench
• a project completed at Alveda Park, 80% of our permanent staff and put them association for landscape architecture,
technology and horticulture.
Johannesburg, required Garden Décor on contract.”
Landscapers to install and maintain it
for the first year thereafter; To encourage matriculants to enter the A detailed article on it will appear in the
• a project designed by Msavheni profession, Mello advises students who next issue of Landscape SA. LSA
Landscape Architects was implemented want to study landscape architecture
by Garden Décor Landscapers in a joint or technology that this profession is as For landscape design, installation and
venture with Mello Landscape Studio important as agriculture for food security. maintenance services contact:
and is one of their favourites because it “Our country needs the profession to Nape Elvis Mello:
was the first time they worked with their enhance the environment. In addition, it 084 692 4095 or
students, implementing knowledge has traditionally been a white-dominated Boitumelo Mashiane:
that had been transferred to them. This field, and this needs to be rectified. Our 078 834 5854/079 760 3017
project is complete; universities also need to introduce the Email: mellolandscapestudio@gmail.com
• a stadium based in Kameelrivier,
Mpumalanga, comprised pitch lawn
installation and maintenance. As a
joint venture, Mello recommends to its
clients that they do the maintenance
for the first year of any newly installed
landscape, ensuring that it is sustainable
before handing it over.

View of the profession
Mello says that within the fields of
horticulture and landscaping, landscape
architecture and technology are
‘rear’ professions, and many people
misunderstand what it entails, equating
it with gardening. “Companies give our
jobs to architects to design, thinking it is
Design of lodge entrance and parking area in Mpumalanga

Landscape SA • Issue 99 2021 17