Page 11 - Landscape-Issue146

PROJECT

The planting around the admin block forms part of the rehabilitated natural Creeping plants soften high retaining walls. The stormwater swale at the top
slope. Trees were retained as much as possible, and pathways meander of the wall is lined with pebbles to create a visual feature when viewed from
through the grassland the top floor of the building.

Several planter beds around the buildings have deep shade, and plant Stormwater collected in the swale behind the retaining wall flows into a rain
material focusses on textural variety to create interest. garden feature.

pause areas, natural coloured wet pour were multiple places to ‘hang around’ on There are various pause areas along this
for safe falling areas, and a large informal a net or hammock, and more structured route, each one playing on a certain topic
soccer field for casual games during break seating areas to play board games or similar and accompanied by an interactive activity,
time. activities, catering for all interests. for example ‘light’ with a large sundial or
One of the project’s biggest challenges Rocks from the large stone ridge were ‘indigenous vegetation’ with a playful hop-
was the slope of the site, and both design used to build a stormwater swale, catching hop / balance beam journey through plants
and construction processes had to and guiding water to collection points and that typically grow in this habitat. More
overcome the difficulties it posed. Skye managing large amounts of water around serious topics such as ‘global warming’
Architects used the slope to its advantage the buildings. Some of the water is guided feature at an outdoor learning space, and
and were able to connect the first floor of to a rainwater play garden, also built with ‘carbon footprint’ at the active packaging
the building to a higher level of the slope; stones from the ridge. plant, showing the cycle of sewer back into
this gave rise to a unique case where When it rains, it collects and spouts nature as clean water without any negative
all levels have either a direct physical or through a stone wall at the lower edge of impact on the environment. Each pause
visual connection to the exterior. A large the ridge, then onto a pebble and stone area has a QR code that can be updated with
play berm was also created, as were a ball ‘river bed’ with channels guiding the educational information to continuously
play wall and a large slide to get from the water through the garden. This is a great encourage learners to wander along the
building platform level down to the play opportunity to learn through play, when nature paths and keep them engaged with
areas. water moves through the channels. topics relating to the environment.
With this age group, the focus was on About one third of the site is a riparian
activities that are close to the ground, buffer zone around the existing stream, Landscape design
limiting the risk of falling from a height and prohibiting any work in this area. However Landscape architect Elize van der Walt says
thus also limiting the number of artificial this zone was not disconnected from the the site was severely overgrown with alien
products such as wet pour that are typically rest of the site. By creating grass paths invasives (mostly Wattle and Syringa trees),
needed on playgrounds. At this age, learners throughout the site and using large stones which gave it a woodland feel. The client
also start to relax more during break times, as seating or defining look-out points over wanted to retain this woodland/forest sense
instead of undertaking very active games; the site, learners can now explore the entire of place, but at the same time rehabilitate
the architects therefore ensured that there property and admire its beauty. the natural landscape to what it should have

Check us out www.salandscape.co.za Landscape SA • Issue 146 2025 9