Page 13 - Landscape-Issue153

PROJECT

ST MARY’S SCHOOL, WAVERLEY

St Mary’s School in Waverley, Johannesburg, recently opened a new building,
Khanyisa (meaning to light or illuminate). Existing pathways were used to join the
junior and senior schools, at the same time creating an environment where the
trees, gardens and water provide a calm space that is conducive to learning.

Project Team
Client: St Mary’s School, Waverley,
Johannesburg
Architects: Rebel Base Collective
Main Contractor: LV Projects
Landscape Design: Life Green Group
Landscape Installation: Kingfisher
Landscaping, a division of Life
Landscapes

andscape designer Chris Lamprecht
explains that the building is a multi-
Ldisciplinary space, “a porous, pod-like
nexus that re-shapes how students and
staff navigate, inhabit and understand
their environment.” He was briefed to
create an indigenous wetland that would
attract wildlife so that students and
staff could be “at one with nature.” The
client wanted a wetland effect between
all the new buildings, and required it
to be clearly visible from the two main
buildings.
Lamprecht’s design concept therefore
embraced a green space with education
and relaxation in mind, a tranquil area
with emphasis on indigenous planting.
The water was required to flow without
being audible or distracting, and as safety
was also a consideration, the water could
not be deep.

Wetland design and construction
Lamprecht says that all rainwater and roof
drainage from the new buildings runs into
the wetland, and it was important for it to
be a filtration system at the same time.
The wetland is a water storage collection
point and most of the area is in shade. Soft grasses on the water’s edge. The water was required to flow but not be audible
Construction of the pond was done in
layers, starting with bentonite geotextile
rolls, followed by gravel mix, the planting water and shade. Soft grasses such as Judges’ comments
medium and another layer of gravel. Large Juncus effusus and various Cyperus species The project received a gold award in the
Delams rocks were brought in for the were planted on the water’s edge, and tall 2025 SALI Awards of Excellence, and the
surrounds, and then a final layer of river Cyperus papyrus was used on the island project was entered in the category of
pebbles was placed in the waterfall area. for nesting birds. Landscape Design and Construction.
An island in the wetland was constructed A mixture of Aristida grass, Watsonias, The judges commented as follows: “I
with old beer crates placed on their sides scabiosa and Crinum macowanii were loved this garden, well thought through
so that frogs and fish could find hiding used on the drier embankment and in the and planned, and very much in keeping
places in the winter. more shady area, Lamprecht planted a with current landscaping trends. The brief
Thereafter, a new irrigation system was mixture of setaria megaphylla grass, Arum was to bring pockets of wildlife and birdlife
installed, linking with the existing system. lilies and various Plectranthus species. into the new development, so that the
In the new area, a dripper system was Nymphaeae nouchali water lilies were students could immerse themselves in
used. planted in the pond and to introduce this, and to settle the building structures.
Soft landscaping and planting needed texture differences, certain water-tolerant The wetland sits centrally, with the stream
to comprise material that could tolerate Aloe species were included. running from the header pond down into

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