Page 7 - Landscape-Issue155

Hard landscape elements were designed to accommodate the harsh conditions and heavy usage of the site. They are robust and permanently fixed to prevent vandalism.

Open-ground planters accommodate very large tree species, creating a tree
avenue along the street

Chess creates an opportunity for social engagement and interaction

his portion of the street was pedestrianised to cater for the spill-
out of the client’s tenants; up to 90% of the buildings flanking
Tthe pedestrian portion are owned by AFHCO Holdings, a
wholly owned subsidiary of SA Corporate Real Estate. The brief called
for excessive greening of the new pedestrian precinct, including
ample seating and identifying signage.
Signage sculpture at the start of the pedestrian precinct acts as an announcement Landscape design philosophy
for entering it and creates a sense of arrival
This was formulated by Walter Language, landscape architect with
Bertha Wium Landscape Development. The work was undertaken by
the company as a complete turnkey project for design, installation
and maintenance, focusing on the following aspects:
• large-scale design elements with open-ground, built up planters
accommodating very large tree species to create a tree-lined
avenue along the street;
• a secondary green layer in large, custom-designed concrete pots,
planted up with trees and lush foliage in conical shapes;
• a third green layer in lower trough pots flanking the building
façades and shop entrances; these are planted up with evergreen
shrubbery shaped into hedges;
• fill planting in built planters under the tree avenue; evergreen,
hardy shrubs and groundcovers accommodate extreme, windy
conditions and harsh, cold winters.
Soft landscaping and plant species
Language explains that planting was undertaken in the middle
of this year’s harsh winter, with icy cold winds blowing in between
the high-rise buildings. Once installed, plants were protected with
frost cloth to enable them to become acclimatised to the exposed

Check us out www.salandscape.co.za Landscape SA • Issue 154 2025 5