Concept to Delivery
DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN
July 2018
SAGIC 2018 - Platinum Partner
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DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN
Welcome to the July Edition of Pro Landscaper Africa 2018. various sectors of the industry. These are two essential initiatives that we are proud to be pioneering and look forward to seeing members of the trade from all over South Africa attend and contribute towards them.
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his year seems to be flying by as we move at pace into the second half of 2018. We are certainly looking forward to the months ahead and to the many progressions in the outdoor design, build and maintenance sectors. We are, as always, taking a proactive approach to contributing to this progression. We have really been enjoying the process of diversifying our magazine as we set the wheels in motion for our Inaugural FutureScape Trade Show on the 1st of November. The energy amongst our audience and exhibitors is electrifying and we cannot wait to put on a beneficial event, chock-full of all things landscaping for every member of the trade. Our Faces of the Future Campaign has also really taken off and we are beginning to receive brilliant nominations for youth members within
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We have thoroughly enjoyed putting this edition together in celebration of the SALI Awards of Excellence held a few weeks back and have been blown away by the calibre of the projects submitted for the up-coming issues. Alongside the IFLA Africa update, we witness the honoured members who have made their way onto the SAGIC Honours Roll this year. Our agenda section focuses on the benefits and pitfalls of collaboration and our landscape architects journal visits the work of Heloïse Pieterse as she explores the Johannesburg Cottesloe, Gas Works. We highlight the SALI trophy winners in an 8-page spread and explore the winning submissions from each of the categories. Our projects section features KZN’s R25 Billion mixed-use development, Cornubia, and focuses on both the interior and exterior landscaping in this vast and incredibly interesting development. There were many firms and contractors working in collaboration to achieve its result.
We then take a trip to the Cape for a Multi-Sensory Celebration of Art and Landscape by dhk Architects and Keith Kirsten International as we visit the new Norval Foundation, a venue expected to become a significant space for art both in South Africa and globally. We round off our SA projects with a piece titled The Club. With design by Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects and construction by Greenacres Landscapes, the new Atterbury Headquarters are set to be nothing short of spectacular. We will soon be featuring the next phase of this design and look forward to documenting its progress. Visit our Nurture section for tips on the best growing mediums and find out why De Fynne's Jacky Goliath #Loves Horticulture. We also have a beautiful plant list from GvH Landscapes latest roof top garden in Plettenberg Bay in our Designer Plants section. We look forward to tackling the second half of 2018 with you and encourage all readers to get in touch to register their interest for our up-coming initiatives and events. Enjoy the read.
Cover image supplied by: Tongaat Hulett Developments
CONTENTS
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News Shed & Association News Industry news from around South Africa and an update from the IFLA Africa’s President, Carey Duncan.
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The Agenda What are the benefits and pitfalls of collaborating with other landscapers/designers/landscape architects on projects?
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Introducing FutureScape Africa Trade Show Register your attendance by contacting media@paperplanepublications.co.za
18-26
The SALI Awards of Excellence 2018 Pro Landscaper celebrates the trophy award winning companies and projects as well as showcases the highlights of the SAGIC Convention.
28-29
Landscape Architects Journal: Mutualism: The Antidote to Exploitation on a Former Manufactured Gas Plant By Heloïse Pieterse, University of Pretoria – Master’s in Landscape Architecture.
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PORTFOLIOS 30
Cornubia: Where We Meet for Good by, a collaboration
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A Multi-Sensory Celebration: Art Meets Landscape by dhk Architects and Keith Kirsten International
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The Club by Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects
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Jiading Central Park: Shangai China by Sasaki
NURTURE
49-50
Growing Mediums
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Designer Plants: Graham von Hoesslin of GvH Landscapes designs an enchanting roof garden in Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape
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Why I # Love Horticulture: Jacky Goliath
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Little Interviews
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NEWS 10 Year Partnership of Growth for Haifa and Prime Trees Prime Trees wholesale nursery and Haifa South Africa celebrate their 10-year partnership promoting the growth of container grown trees. To commemorate this partnership, Prime Trees has incorporated Haifa Multicote branding on their
new bags in which their trees are being grown. The partnership began 10 years ago when Bruce Stewart, Director of Prime Trees was looking for the best suitable fertilizer solution for his container grown trees. A chance meeting with Michael Koch, Senior Agronomist at Haifa South Africa, introduced Bruce to the world of Multicote, Controlled Release Fertilizers. After some trials in the 2007/08 season Bruce immediately realised the benefits of using Multicote as his base fertilizer for all his container grown trees. He converted
his entire nursery to incorporate Haifa Multicote (8) 15-3-12+Mg+Me whenever new trees were planted or when potting up to a bigger container.
ILASA Water Sensitive Design Seminar
of many topics her and her team at Water Wise and Research at Rand Water undertake – research which drives and informs much of the educational work done by Water Wise. The presentation provided important information to landscape architects on the benefits and applications of grey water in landscapes. Leslie Hoy, Manager of Environmental Management Services at Rand Water, followed with a presentation which touched on his current PhD studies focusing on the topic of “Modelling Landscape Plant Water Use in South Africa.” Leslie’s presentation provided valuable information on landscape water use and planting. His research will culminate into an amenity landscape water use model for South Africa – taking into consideration design, environmental, climatic, edaphic and management factors. This model will also include a useful plant database – the prospect of which was met with great enthusiasm and sure to be very beneficial to built environment professionals in future.
Finally, Sheldon Hutchison from Controlled Irrigation provided a compact and informative presentation explaining different irrigation systems and their effectiveness, before discussing water sensitive irrigation approaches. Because of environmental pressures, the irrigation market is everadapting – Sheldon provided awareness into the latest irrigation technologies that not only save water but also money in the long term.
In light of the ongoing tribulations concerning water in South Africa, it seemed fitting to hold an event regarding water sensitive design as it pertains to the landscape. A few weeks ago, ILASA held a Water Sensitive Design seminar was at the University of Pretoria. The presentations provided the attendees with varied and vital insight of water sensitive strategies, which could be considered or adopted in future decision making. The first speaker Meagan Donnelly from Rand Water focused on grey water and its role in water conservation. Grey water is one
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ILASA would like to thank the speakers for taking the time and effort to share their indispensable knowledge and expertise on the complex topic of sensitive water use in the landscape. This occasion was a great opportunity for built environment professionals to be conscious of the developing issue of water and the many ways it can be used sustainably. www.ilasa.co.za
NEWS
Honours Roll – SAGIC 2018 Awarded at the SAGIC Convention The SAGIC Honours Roll was successfully launched at the 2006 convention with the aim of recognising and rewarding those individuals that have excelled and who have made significant contributions to the green industry. Members who receive SAGIC’s highest honour are listed in the SAGIC Honours Roll. Professor Richard. M. Hendrick, known to most as Jimmy, was initially employed in the town council system before he made a move to join Unisa in the Horticulture department. It was however, in the council that his horticultural skills were honed. On joining Unisa he was able to bring with him his extensive industry experience, playing a key role in managing and leading the Horticultural Department, to where it is today. His passion for the industry and for ensuring that students are adequately trained and prepared for what lies ahead of them, is seen in the results.
Ida Marie Ehlers and Prof Richard Hendrick
His role in theoretical studies, the practical exams (both at Unisa and within the industry itself) as well as in several international advisory bodies are exemplary. His personal ethics are always above reproach. In his long career at Unisa he has also supervised and co-supervised (with many hours of guidance and support) numerous students through their Honours, Masters and Doctoral theses. Jimmy was one of the key role players in bringing about the professionalisation of the Landscape Management professions, a process that was lead by SACLAP. Within SAGIC, he is involved in assisting with the development of numerous qualifications. He has recently retired from Unisa where he was the Director: School of Environmental Sciences. Despite this he remains committed to his education calling and continues to supervise and co-supervise students providing mentoring and guidance- and of course assisting SAGIC. As SAGIC, which represents numerous industry bodies, we believe that his dedicated contribution over many years to training and academia should not go unrewarded. SAGIC is proud to announce that this year Professor Richard. M. Hendrick, has been added to the Honours Roll:
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Pro Landscaper Africa | May 2018
Ida Marie Ehlers, Hayden Hutton and Annemarie van der Westhuizen Excellence in Training Award The SAGIC Excellence in Training Award, sponsored by Stihl, was launched in 2011. The Excellence in Training Award is presented annually to an individual or company who has excelled in the field of training, skills development and enterprise development benefiting the green industry. SAGIC is proud to announce that this year SABI – The South African Irrigation Institute received this award. From 2017, irrigation training previously offered by SABI is now being presented under
a new banner – the IrrigationWise Academy. Through this new training entity, a broader range of irrigation training interventions have been introduced over time, to effectively boost optimum irrigation practices and water conservation in South Africa and on the continent, in line with the objectives of SABI, the recognised representative organisation of the irrigation industry in South Africa. SABI’s aim is promoting the optimal and efficient use of irrigation water in South Africa, and the knowledge and skills vested in its members, best equips the IrrigationWise Academy to advance efficient use and management of water.
www.prolandscaper.co.za
NEWS
A S SO CIA TION NEWS IFLA Africa is the African region of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), which currently represents 76 national associations from 5 geographical regions: Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. IFLA Africa represents landscape architects across the continent enabling professionals to find common ground to tackle issues relating to Landscape which are pertinent to Africa. At the same time, as part of a global organisation, it is well placed to draw on experience from other countries when dealing with similar problems and issues. One such project is the African Landscape Charter which is IFLA Africa’s declaration of a set of principles that support the active stewardship of, advocacy for, and enhancement of African landscapes. It also serves as a frame of reference to inform decision-makers about the broad scope of landscape matters across the continent. Another priority for IFLA Africa is education in landscape architecture. The organisation will shortly publish the IFLA Africa Education Policy, Standards and Accreditation Procedure, which will provide a framework for IFLA Africa to advocate and evaluate the quality of Landscape Architecture education in tertiary programmes in our region through the definition and verification of required standards and core competencies. It will also outline the requirements for professional recognition of tertiary Landscape Architecture programmes based upon the IFLA/UNESCO Charter for Landscape Architectural Education and the IFLA Guidance Document for Recognition or Accreditation. The document will serve as a guide for landscape architectural schools to benchmark their programmes and if appropriate to apply for approved status. With the aim of encouraging communication amongst member nations and to elicit debate on issues that affect the profession, IFLA Africa produces a newsletter and co-hosts (with member nations), biennial conferences. Member nations include South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco and Tunisia. It is hoped that Ethiopia, Botswana, and Ghana will soon join the ranks. Individual members are in Niger and Uganda. In 2019 the 6th IFLA Africa Symposium will be held in Tunisia. www.prolandscaper.co.za
IFLA Africa is governed by an Executive Committee (the current President is Carey Duncan from Morocco), supported by the Communications an External Relations, Professional Practice and Policy, Finance and Business Planning and Education and Academic Affairs committees and a Secretary General.
RESULTS OF THE IFLA AAPME REGIONAL AWARDS, HOSTED BY IFLA ASIA-PACIFIC REGION, AND CO- CHAIRED BY IFLA AFRICA AND IFLA MIDDLE EAST.
Africa was well represented in the winning line-up starting with an Outstanding Award that went to CMAI Architects for their project in the Analysis and Master planning category entitled Crossways Farm Village located in the Eastern Cape. Awards of Excellence went to the Bay of Luanda Waterfront Requalification project by Landplan (Social and Community Health Category), and another CMAI Architects project in the Wildlife, Biodiversity and Habitat Advancement or Creation category for Thesen Islands in Knysna, Western Cape. Honourable
Images from the Crossways Farm Village project by CMAI Architects Water harvesting is mandatory at Crossways. Natural drainage swales allow for rain water recirculating to retention dams, used for irrigating the pastures. Purposely designed circulation systems provides for cows (to walk to the dairy twice a day), vehicles and pedestrians .
Carey Duncan, IFLA Africa President, cochaired the regional awards and explains, “I was marked by the fact that water seemed to play an important role in many of the projects which were situated on the coast, on an island, or along a river bed. Even some of the inland projects used water in a creative way through play or by innovative solutions of recuperation and recycling of valuable precipitation, particularly in urban environments. Perhaps this is a sign of the times where management of scarce resources is becoming an even more central part of the activity of the profession. I am happy to say that design has not taken second place, and many of the projects expressed beautifully the link between art and nature, design and science, not forgetting social and community aspects nor economic viability and resilience.”
Mention was awarded to two projects which particularly appealed to the jurors: Savannah Circle in Kenya by the Chincoi company in the Wildlife, Biodiversity and Habitat Advancement or Creation category and The Towers at Merriman Plaza in Cape Town, South Africa which was one of Carey’s personal favourites, skilfully designed by Square One Landscape Architects (Flood and Water Management).
Pro Landscaper Africa | May 2018
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AGENDA Whether on a specific project, a show garden or as a practice, collaboration with other landscapers, landscape architects and garden designers is common within the industry- but what are the benefits and pitfalls? We ask an experienced few what they have found to be the pros and cons of collaboration.
What are the benefits and pitfalls of collaborating with other landscapers/ designers/landscape architects on projects?
HERMAN JOUBERT Uys and White
Landscape architecture as any other professional career is based on personal development as well as your own experiences and influences. This becomes a crucial part of your own design language as you develop into a certain designer and ultimately professional landscape architect. What also makes this unique is that every situation or area of design has its own set of criteria and limitations, making each design process one of a kind. This is major factor to take into account when one would like to collaborate with other designers. In some professions the criteria and response will normally stay the same, go to three different doctors for flue treatment and you will generally receive the same type of medicine, but ask three different landscape architects to do a design on a garden, the results will be vastly different.
is mostly a personal interpretation of a problem based on one’s experiences. Yes there will be some factors that will normally be dealt with in the same manner, but this will be limited. These collaboration projects should be approach with and open mind, to the other professionals in the team, and also to the end result that will be a collection of different ideas. A personal “stamp” will not necessarily be achievable-and this might create some conflict if you are not willing to adapt to the situation. The pro’s on the other hand speaks for itself. The benefit will not only be for the client that will be getting the collaborated experiences from different sources with vastly different backgrounds, but also the designers, if open minded enough and willing to participate, could actually learn from one another!
This will thus create some pitfalls when collaborating on a design process, for design
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AGENDA
ANTHONY WAIN
Professional Landscape Architect
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As a seasoned Landscape Architect in a practice which has over the years operated successfully in many countries abroad,19 to be exact, it became a necessity to seek and cultivate mutually beneficial relationships with foreign based Landscape Architects, or their local equivalent. One’s first instinct is to simply transfer, and transform tried, and tested solutions based our good projects and be forewarned by the bad ones! Generally, in our profession of Landscape Architecture, it is technically and artistically bad practice, and downright risky, to cultivate and cling to an "Idee Fixee", the Fixed Idea! But it’s tempting, especially if are left to go it alone. (However, the alternative is to find the very best local Landscape Contractor one can, their work is usually conspicuous and self-promoting.) For a Landscape Architect resting in the comfort zone, of one's own country, culture, climate and
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Hooking up with local Landscape Architects in in other countries can be an edifying and rejuvenating experience, notwithstanding the language problems. They may not be qualified in terms of IFLA, but many have practiced, delivered and observed the growth of their projects for decades. Their real time experience of local materials, both hard and soft, and the capabilities and the nuances of local customs and workmanship. Face to face exchanges build trust and understanding, Skype, CAD and email do the rest! Their shared wisdom and insights are consequently invaluable to a collaborative design process and, hopefully, its shared success.
LIZELLE WOLMARANS
Senior Landscape Architect (SACLAP registered)
I believe that there is much benefit in the collaboration between landscape contractors and landscape architects. On residential projects, the potential client market usually contacts the contractors first. Landscape contractors have a different line of communication that leads to job wins that landscape architects do not necessarily have. Most contractors
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planting palette is ill advised and simply not good gardening. (And yes, I know that some Landscape Architects get upset if one refers to them as Gardeners, but it is really just a matter of scale in both recipient, a home or a city, and ego.) Formulaic design, standard details and specifications are the language of risk averse engineering, in the younger field of Landscape Architecture it is still necessary to explore and innovate, looking for new landscape answers that are adaptable to climatic and sociological changes thoughbe they unpredictable, but inevitable. This is even more pertinent in the transfer of design skills and experience to distant landscape projects, especially if on the African continent, where assumptions of familiarity may be misplaced.
Pro Landscaper Africa | May 2018
may then need design work to be done and landscape architects can offer this service. Other benefits are the knowledge sharing between the two professions. Landscape architects can learn about new and available materials, plant species, trends and client requirements to incorporate in their designs to stay up to date. The contractors through working with landscape architects achieve credibility that will lead to referrals and more job wins. I think we must find the best balance to work together and not to be in competition with each other. Ultimately, we can achieve better quality and worthy projects in the landscape industry by working together.
4. NIGEL BARR
Countryline Africa - Division Manager In the green industry and particularly on the contracting side of the industry almost all of our work is completed as part of a collaboration or team on the various projects that we work on. These collaborations are not only essential to the overall result of the projects but it also helps to form the platform that the entire industry is built on (please excuse the awful pun). We work with landscape architects on most of the large scale projects that we are involved in and as with any type of relationship it comes with its difficulties and challenges along the way. We have found that the key to success is to try and understand that each designer or landscape architect has their own personal touch, vision and style of dealing with their projects. Being sympathetic to this but retaining your own integrity and remaining open to discussion on all aspects allows for a bond to grow. It is also always important to remember that we all have a common goal on each and every project that we work on and if the relationship can be formed around this goal it often makes the system run smoother and ultimately will result in better quality and value for money in the products that we as a team can deliver to our clients.
"we all have a common goal on each and every project that we work on. If the relationship can be formed around this goal it often makes the system run smoother and ultimately will result in better quality" www.prolandscaper.co.za
AGENDA
5.
RYAN PEMBROKE Leitch Landscapes
Having worked locally and internationally in the landscape and horticultural industry, the benefits far outweigh the pitfalls when working as a team with other landscapers, designers and landscape architects as most have had different types of experience, exposure and faced many challenges on the various projects they have been involved with. By working together on a landscape project where there is constant communication and collaborating between the Client, Landscape Architect
and Landscaper, the site motivation improves, filtering down to the landscaping staff on site, no challenge is too big as there is a combined level of experience and the project is delivered in accordance with the Landscape Architects vision and ultimately to the clients satisfaction or expectations. It is of great importance that landscapers, designers and landscape Architect's work together as each have their own levels of expertise and they should work as a team, listening to what each other have to say, putting ego’s aside as this will avoid frustrations, ensure lines of communication are open and ensure that the project is both practical, completed on time and profitable for all involved. Most landscape architect's are the vital link between the client and landscaper and need to provide both with the necessary information and feedback to both parties. Where landscapers have worked with landscapers on a project, I have found
that there can be some challenges onsite such as programming where one may be holding up the other from getting into an area to work, plants or materials go missing, storage problems, and then there is the labour from the various sides that can be negatively influenced by each other, as well as in some very unfortunate circumstance bad mouthing of each other’s work. However if the project's senior management can work together and the project is properly co-ordinated/managed, the benefits of working together far outweigh the pitfalls. This does involve more time and site meetings with the landscape architect and parties involved in the landscaping project. The sooner humans all start working for a common goal we will all start achieving more and moving in the right direction.
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AGENDA
MR MARCUS GOVENDER
Founder & Managing Director – Conmar Group Horticulturist (DUT) Pr.LM-Landscape Professional(SACLAP)
6. Majority of landscaping contractors rely on work from landscape architects or designers. In return, the landscape architects or designers rely on the landscaping contractors for implementation of their projects. I always advocate for landscaping contractors, landscape architects, or designers to engage continuously in order to deliver world class projects on time, on standard, and within budget. This ensures that design concepts are realistic and practically deliverable. It also allows an opportunity for innovation since the landscaping contractor would have a wealth of knowledge from the field in terms of previous projects undertaken, what can work or not. I also would like to see the landscape professionals (architects and designers) use a broader pool of landscaping contractors. This will also ensure sustainability of the industry as a whole. Rather have a more contractors having a reasonable order book, than have only a handful of contractors monopolising the industry. This also allows for the full exploitation of the a contractors strengths, since everybody’s strengths and weaknesses vary. There is absolutely nothing wrong with appointing a few contractors on the same project according to their expertise or strengths eg. Earthworks, irrigation, hardscaping, soft landscaping, turf specialists, etc. the horticultural maintenance contractors must also be engaged at some point since they will eventually undertake the maintenance aspect. The architect’s or designer’s relationship with the horticultural maintenance contractor is critical in that the installed concept must be groomed and nurtured to realise the initial concept. Concepts must always be designed with simple and practical maintenance in mind. The collaboration of the different disciplines within the green industry is however very promising with the existence of industry bodies such as SACLAP, ILASA, SALI, LIA, TGMASA. I would like to conclude by encouraging all industry players to affiliate themselves with two or more of the industry bodies for us to maintain excellence and sustainability of our green industry.
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Pro Landscaper Africa | May 2018
7. ANKIA BORMANS
Director at Terra + Landscape Architects Collaboration within the industry – A view from a Landscape Architect
There are a number of ways in which collaboration can take place in the green industry and a number of positive aspects and negative aspects. The different aspects are largely dependant on the context and time when collaboration takes place. In principle, I enjoy collaboration as it pushes your own paradigm and forces you to interrogate and look at different aspects of the same problem. As the industry is so varied and there is never just one application of solution to a problem and there are also varied stages when collaboration can take place. These different stages give rise to collaboration with different role players in the industry. Design Collaboration with other designers is one of the most rewarding aspects, particularly
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as design can be such a intuitive and responsive process and the shift of thinking resulting in the interaction with someone else's ideas and approach can only lead to a better and more complex outcome. Ownership and identity of a design in my mind is also “pushed” into a different realm when collaborating in design. Installation As we take the design to implementation level, collaboration may become less interactive and perhaps more a situation of acknowledging practical knowledge and situational solutions relating to a practical problem. Here the contractor often through experience realises certain constraints and has creative solutions which ultimately enhances the overall outcome. This is provided that the original design intent is adhered to. There is always a risk that simplifying matters can lead to a watered down version of the original. Allowing some ownership from the contractor’s side during implementation often also enhances the original concept and is not necessarily detrimental to the design and outcome. All of these aspects are ultimately site and context dependant and is always a balance between situation and people.
WARREN J.L HORSLEY Landscape Technologist
Having worked in the landscape industry for the past twenty odd years, I have had the pleasure of working with quite a few landscape architects, designers and other landscapers on various projects that I have been involved with. As a qualified Landscape Technologist my main passion is for that of landscape design and implementation, however with a large part of my portfolio being occupied with landscape maintenance, which we all know can take up most of one’s time during the day, finding the time to design and
draw plans is somewhat limited. Thus with such time restrictions, when requested by a client to come up with a design proposal I prefer to work with the services of another landscape designer or architect. Collaborating in such a way allows for me to be able to brainstorm together with the designer, exploring various creative ideas and solutions to site problems, as well as freeing up my time to continue with my various daily maintenance commitments. I have also found working together with a designer in the initial design stage allows for positive interaction and plan interpretation during the implementation phase. By establishing and maintaining good working relationships with the various landscape designers, architects and landscapers any possible pitfalls that could be associated with working together on a project can largely be avoided, with the result of achieving a winning combination for both design and installation. www.prolandscaper.co.za
1 NOVEMBER 2018 - SAVE THE DATE!
The LookOut
COMING SOON! Pro Landscaper Africa is proud to present a first ever for our green industry. On the 1st of November 2018 we will be launching FutureScape Africa Trade Event at the Cape Town V&A Waterfront's LookOut venue. With this beautiful venue and a full day of free seminars for industry members, we are certain that this event will include every member of our diverse profession. Our aim is to bring the pages of our magazine to life by connecting various associations, trade members, municipal heads, landscape architects, landscape contractors, grounds maintenance companies, installers and industry suppliers under one roof for an event you will book into your diaries annually! To register your interest email media@paperplanepublications.co.za to receive FREE parking on the day and an electronic barcoded invite for FREE admittance. You will also receive updates on seminars and influential speakers, CPD allocations and all of the build up news prior to our event!
The LookOut V&A Waterfront, Cape Town Register your interest now!
Book your stand now, spaces are limited and expected to be reserved quickly! www.prolandscaper.co.za | media@paperplanepublications.co.za
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SALI AWARDS
THE
SALI AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 2018
T
his years' annual South African Green Industry Council (SAGIC) and South African Nursery Association (SANA) convention, was hosted at the Mount Grace Country House & SPA in the Magaliesburg, Gauteng from the 5th-8th June. It was a jam-packed few days-offering green industry professionals thought-provoking and practical information on trends, techniques, challenges and opportunities in the green industry, of course also hosting the annual much enjoyed SAGIC golf day. The convention programme incorporated inspiring presentations by industry leaders and of course the council’s AGM. Coinciding with the convention was the annual prestigious South African Landscapers Institute’s (SALI) Awards of Excellence, honouring both individuals and companies for valuable contributions towards the green industry.
Pro Landscaper would like to congratulate the companies who submitted the 137 entries this year and all of the Bronze, Silver and Gold winners in the following categories: Landscape Construction with In-House Design, Landscape Construction with Design by Others, Specialised Turf Construction, Landscape & Turf Maintenance, Specialised Landscape Construction and Water Wise. A Foreword from Morne Faulhammern, SALI National Judge. “It has been a pleasure to once again be part of this inspiring process that culminates in the SALI Awards of Excellence Ceremony. Once again, the SALI contractors have come out “guns blazing” to showcase to the industry, themselves and their clients the outstanding quality of work that has been entered into this years’ awards. This year the effects of the drought in the Western Cape have been seen, as the lowest
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number of entries were understandably received from this region. There were also a few changes to the awards process this year. For the first time, all the regional judges received an intensive briefing by myself to ensure that all of the regions were “on the same page”. I am also glad to report that this years’ regional judging has been one that reflected a high degree of consistency. There was also a slight change in the scoring process that we believe has also helped achieve better consistency. Of the (137) entries received this year a total of 64 projects were evaluated during the national round. The largest number of projects was entered into the landscape and Turf Maintenance category with 61 entries. This once again shows the importance of having a strong developed team of personnel that can offer SALI clients top class all year-round site maintenance.” Featured in this article are the prestigious Trophy winners from the SALI Awards of Excellence who deserve documented mention. www.prolandscaper.co.za
SALI AWARDS
SALI NATIONAL CHAIRPERSON’S DISCRETIONARY AWARD:
SALI NATIONAL JUDGES DISCRETIONARY AWARD:
Bernadette Eksteen
Leon Scholtz
The National Chairperson’s Discretionary Award was first presented in 2005 by the SALI National Executive Committee for the purpose of acknowledging individuals who had made a large contribution to the industry. In 2018 this award is given to an individual who, over the past number of years, became a valuable participant in the landscaping industry. Her former lecturer and colleague, Graham Young, recalls our recipient as a dedicated individual, presenting excellent work and showing her professionalism, even as a young student at the University of Pretoria, where she completed her degree in Landscape Architecture. She has a passion for our industry and systematically took the approach to delve deeply into our field and contribute through her excellent administrative and project management skills. Apart from being a successful Landscape Architect, the most significant role that she played in our industry was the recent establishing of the registration of the Professional Landscape Manager with the South African Council for the Landscape Architectural Profession. It has been a long and onerous task in which she was involved from the beginning, right to the final stages of the promulgation of the Act. She travelled to all SALI regions performing workshops to inform and educate members, and during this process she consulted with the SALI Executive Committee on a regular basis ensuring participation and inclusivity in decisions taken. Her commitment towards the advancement of the industry is evident in the time and energy that she has invested. This Discretionary Award is given to Bernadette, a friend to SALI and a champion of the industry.
The 2018 SALI National Judges’ Discretionary Award has been awarded to a person who has had a long-distinguished career in the landscaping industry and epitomizes all the characteristics of a knowledgeable, hardworking and well-liked member of the SALI community. The recipient grew up in Mondeor, to the south of Johannesburg and matriculated from President High School in 1972. After two years in the air force, he received a bursary from the Johannesburg Municipality to study horticulture at Pretoria Technicon. He studied with Peet van der Merwe, Allan Ralph and Mike Gibbons and during these studies he started growing plants and dabbling in landscaping after hours and over weekends. After graduating, he secured a job at the Huddle Park Municipal Nursery and Johannesburg Botanical Gardens. In 1980, he became a full-time grower on his property at Orange Farm and in 1983, opened a retail nursery in Rifle Range Road, Johannesburg. He supplied plants to landscapers and served on the committee that launched Plant Plan – the country’s first plant marketing organisation – with GB Braak, Mary Matthews and Val Wamsteker. In 1992, his wholesale nursery at Orange Farm was expropriated by the government. Increasingly interested in growing plants, he decided to sell his garden centre in Rifle Range Road and he moved his wholesale nursery to Hartbeeshoek in Skeerpoort. Over the next 20 years, he continued to be a SALI Supplier Member, importing, growing and bulking up many plant varieties to the benefit of the landscaping industry. As an active member of the SAGIC Invasive Species Negotiating Team, he was a major influence on the government’s decision NOT to pursue a policy to remove lone gum trees in the Karoo. He also convinced government that removing the willows along the Vaal River would cause catastrophic soil erosion. On account of his efforts, willows were never listed as invasive species in South Africa. This year’s National Judge’s Award recipient has served as a SALI regional judge and remains one of the most knowledgeable plant experts in the landscaping industry. Such is his passion for plants, that his family will tell you he has no hobbies. Plants are his passion, his hobby and his work …. and even on holidays across the world - he visits nurseries and botanical gardens. This award recognises his passion for plants and how that passion and knowledge has benefitted our landscaping industry for nearly 40 years. The 2018 SALI National Judges’ Discretionary Award is awarded to Leon Scholtz.
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SALI AWARDS
TSHALA PLANT BROKERS TROPHY FOR THE BEST ENVIRONMENTAL LANDSCAPE WORK
Winner JPJ Landscapes for Hilton Quarry Office Park A wonderful rehabilitation project that shows what can be achieved through many years of commitment by a contractor. A site which was once heavily infested with alien invasive species has been transformed into a small oasis of sanctuary, for all wildlife to enjoy. The high degree of involvement by the client shows a unique understanding of the importance of rehabilitating such areas that were created by mining practices. The once disused quarry now boasts a unique range of vegetation that has established itself in a vast range of micro climates that are found on the site. The use of propagating onsite plant material that thrives in the area is to be commended. The amazing ability for plants to establish themselves in an area almost devoid of topsoil shows that with the correct choice of plant species anything is possible.
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SALI AWARDS
THE MAYFORD FLOATING TROPHY FOR THE BEST USE OF COLOUR IN LANDSCAPING
Winner Servest Landscaping & Turf for Gold Reef City Casino
The landscape contractor has managed to capture the original intent of not only the buildings architecture but has-through the correct use of colour, added to the ambiance of the location. This garden is beautifully maintained with good hedging of the various shrubs onsite. The planting pallet that varies between mass planting of single bright colouring to a mixed planting of pastel shades, draws in a visitor to this garden. The challenge of having year-round colour has been well executed by the contractor.
THE RAND WATER FLOATING TROPHY FOR THE BEST WATER WISE ENTRY
Winner Over the Garden Wall for House Constas
When a garden has been designed and planted using all the basic principles of waterwise gardening it can only be commended for the final result achieved. Too often a waterwise garden is reflected as having only aloes and succulents. In this garden the contractor has managed to bring together an abundance of waterwise plants that thrive on this site with the minimal use of water. The well placed and designed vegetable garden together with the grape vines on the trellising shows that a large-scale kitchen garden can be achieved with minimal use of water. Proper grouping of plants that have the same water requirements have minimized the use of the non-potable irrigation. It is evident that the soil preparation on this site was of the highest standard.
SALI AWARDS
THE BRISTLE CONE NURSERY FLOATING TROPHY FOR THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND ORIGINAL USE OF PLANT MATERIAL
Winner Keith Kirsten Horticulture International for Lourensford Wine Estate This garden has an endless list of plant species that have been combined into an eclectic mix of fragrance, colour, shape and form. The garden represents a horticultural dream of plant combinations. The site has many aspects and climatic changes to deal with throughout the year, which has been overcome by the intelligent use of the correct plants. The clever use of both indigenous and exotics to intertwine both the familiar with the unknown has resulted in a garden that offers both foreign visitors and locals a feast of the senses. The plant selection lends itself to both the cultural and historical importance of the location.
THE LAWNMOWER CLINIC TROPHY FOR THE BEST LANDSCAPE & TURF MAINTENANCE
Winner Bidvest Top Turf for Gary Player Country Club
Consistent is the best word to describe the maintenance of this world class golf course. The overall quality of the course attests to the proper feeding program and pest control that is applied. The course is subject to high volumes of use throughout the year. Correct management of the irrigation system has improved the water usage on the field and massive water savings have been achieved. Few contractors can attest to this high level of attention to detail. The equipment used on this site is extremely well maintained. The maintenance staff should be commended for their outstanding quality of work.
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SALI AWARDS
THE JUST TREES TROPHY FOR THE BEST LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION WITH DESIGN BY OTHERS
Winner FSG Property Services for Maropeng A unique instillation that incorporates all elements of a well-rounded landscape project. The contractor must be commended for interpreting the intent of the design and making practical improvements to facilitate a better construction on completion. The wonderful design element of the tree staking and the way in which they were constructed should be a lesson to all SALI contractors on how tree staking should be implemented. The high level of soil preparation that was done to the poor soil onsite, is evident in the amazing growth of all the plant species onsite. Not only does the plant pallet invite visitors to wonder through the garden, but it also was seen to attract an abundance of bird species. Good drainage and compaction of the sloping grassed areas will ensure that the site will be able to handle the high volume of traffic that it was designed for. The consistency in which the exposed aggregate walkways were constructed bears testament to the attention to detail given throughout the construction of this project. A special mention must be given to the outstanding way in which the lighting was installed to create the desired effect.
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SALI AWARDS
THE RELIANCE COMPOST TROPHY FOR THE BEST SPECIALISED LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION
Winner Tswellapele Plants & Microzone Trading (joint venture) for American International Schools in Johannesburg – Playground Equipment
A landscape project that required a high degree of specialisation in both the design and construction of very technical playground equipment. The contractor had a very short time frame in which to complete this instillation as the they could only work during the school holidays. The contractor managed to make optimal use of the area given to them for the playground. The natural slope was incorporated into the overall design to make the experience for the children playing on the equipment one of variation and enticement. The high degree of safety that has been incorporated into the project is commendable. The contractor has a good grasp of the motor skills development that is required by the large age group using this playground.
THE SALI SHIELD FOR EXCELLENCE IN LANDSCAPING THE OVERALL AWARD
Winner Tswellapele Plants & Microzone Trading (joint venture) for American International Schools in Johannesburg – Playground Equipment
This year’s SALI shield is awarded to a contractor that has managed to achieve a standard in specialized construction yet to have been seen in our industry. The innovative and artistic approach of this unique project is truly outstanding. When a SALI principle member manages to excel in a niche market such as this contractor has done, the award is a recognition of their pursuit of excellence. The proof of their success is partly based on the high satisfaction index that their end user customers, aged an average of 10 years old, has bestowed upon them. Congratulations to a project that is artistic, educational, functional and was implemented to the highest standards possible.
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SALI AWARDS
THE EVERGREEN TURF TROPHY FOR THE BEST SPECIALISED TURF CONSTRUCTION
Winner Servest Landscaping & Turf for Eduplex – Multi Side Astro
The outstanding design and robust construction of this project make it a worthy winner of this category. The attention to construction detail is evident in the way in which the drainage levels have been implemented, ensuring year-round use of the facility. The incorporation of clever flood lighting that does not bother the local residents, has also ensured that the facility can be utilised to its maximum. The construction is robust and the materials used will ensure that this facility is used for many years to come with minimum maintenance being required
EFEKTO FLOATING TROPHY FOR THE BEST LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION WITH IN-HOUSE DESIGN
Winner
Life Landscapes for Keyes Ave Green Wall This project has set a new standard in South Africa for not only vertical garden design but also with regards to plant species utilization. The contractor has managed to replicate nature by using plants that have arguably never been used in such an instillation before. The bold use of Highveld grasses in a vertical wall garden together with aloe species has culminated in an end product that is a true feast for the eye. The way in which this project has managed to bring nature into a busy urban commercial street, transforming the space, is truly magnificent. We wait in anticipation to see how the site will transform itself through the seasons to provide the artistic space with a truly changing canvas.
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Winner of the SALI Trophy for Best Landscape Construction with In-House Design.
In 2018 Life Landscapes received: 4 Gold SALI Awards, 5 Silver SALI Awards, 2 Bronze SALI Awards
Full of life. Life Landscapes is an award winning landscaping company specialising in landscape construction and corporate garden maintenance. We focus on xeriscaping and sustainable garden practices. www.lifegreengroup.co.za
GREEN GROUP
Johannesburg 011 959 1000 johannesburg@lifegreengroup.co.za
Cape Town 021 850 0764 capetown@lifegreengroup.co.za
Pretoria 012 644 2152 pretoria@lifegreengroup.co.za
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS JOURNAL
Landscape Architect’s Journal:
Mutualism:
THE ANTIDOTE TO EXPLOITATION ON A FORMER MANUFACTURED GAS PLANT
By: Heloïse Pieterse, University of Pretoria – Master’s in Landscape Architecture.
Introduction The Johannesburg, Cottesloe, Gas Works is located within the Witwatersrand zone of integration, between the University of Johannesburg and Witwatersrand. According to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Open Space System (JMOSS), there is a high priority to link secondary open spaces such as the educational premises. The Johannesburg Gas Works forms part of Jozi’s cityscape and the three remaining 45meter high gas cylinders represents a visual iconic landmark in the city. The site is currently inaccessible. Capitalist industrialisation changed the dynamics in our society and geopolitics. This Gasworks typology was a “mono‐functional factory‐type”
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built across the British Empire in this era. People’s health and the environment were and are exploited through Industrial processes. This exploitation gives the Johannesburg Gas Works as well as other mono‐functional factory types a negative perception of space. However, the Johannesburg Gas Works has significant architectural, social, historical and technological value. Methodology and Concept The aspects that culminated into theory are the polluted soil which is an environmental concern and unused open space which is an urban linkage concern which occurs on an industrial heritage site that contains significant heritage structures and remnants. This can be brought into remembrance, while inscribing new memories through the Open Narrative Approach by applying a multiplicity of space by physical three realities. Three narratives are
applied by the three realities– it offers three different experiential layers through time. The past is represented by the lower, historical layer, the present is represented by the transient (Intermezzo – derived from the Rhizome) and the upper reality provides a holistic view of the site and of all its transient qualities. The following design principles were used derived from the overlapping principles of the Open Narrative and Phenomenology: Mutualism, multiplicity, movement, experience and incomplete stages. The Open Narrative inspired the concept of Mutualism through its principles along with the social values. Mutualistic organisms assisted in the form‐giving such as fungi and lichens. Mounds are a universal concept to bury the dead. It becomes symbolic of burying the old manner of exploitation. The user may witness the shaving of the myco‐remediated contaminated soil mounds annually from 8m to
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS JOURNAL
areas of the valley fill area and surrounding gas tank foundations including myco‐remediation (mushrooms). Mushrooms exudates enzymes and acids breaking down hydrocarbons, which becomes food to the mushrooms. Soil and groundwater pollution influences the health of surrounding communities, this necessitates the remediation thereof. Community organisations and surrounding university students are proposed to contribute to the rehabilitation of this site as part of the different incomplete stages.
3m mounds. The new mounds open up for active and passive recreational opportunities.
user experiences between the upper, lower and middle reality.
The aim of this dissertation will be to determine the manner in which a user experience can be created as a palimpsest of meaning between the tangible and intangible elements on site. This implies a dialogue between the polluted areas of industrial waste, the layers of historical significance and the remnants of nature.
The groundwater is polluted with organic (PAH’s – Phenols mostly) as well as inorganic contaminants (Heavy metals – Mn, Fe, Cu and Ni) and should be treated before it migrates off‐site between 12‐100 years. Contaminated water will be pumped from the affected boreholes and go through a specific process.
The dissertation specifically focuses on awareness creation through the landscape experience on a post‐industrial site of the associated social exploitation and environmental contamination.
The Piped Braamfontein Spruit is proposed to be opened up, to restore any possible lost riverine habitats. The development run‐off is also treated by means of a cut‐off swale from the opened‐up Braamfontein Spruit.
Remediation Rehabilitation will take place in the Master Plan Area where most contamination is found. The design is to be realised through incomplete stages over a 20‐year period, which allows for various
The soil pollution consists of liquid coal tar (DNAPL) and heavy metals. Phyto‐technologies applicable to Manufactured Gas Plant sites are proposed to remediate the soil for the varying
Conclusion A new narrative is inscribed onto the site and provides multiple experiences with each visit to the site through a phased intervention that opens up areas and processes for experience as they become decontaminated. To facilitate the palimpsest of tangible and intangible meaning, the user experience is proposed to consist of three realities: a lower, in‐between and upper reality with increasing elements of transience. The essence of the design and its programme becomes mutualistic (as opposed to exploitative), based on the principles outlined by Klein (2014) namely, “interdependence, reciprocity and cooperation”. The goal of the design intervention is to foster a renewed community identity and social and environmental health through the range of active and passive activities proposed but also through the particular experiences that open up the site for renewed interpretation to all users. The dissertation demonstrates that new meanings can be applied to spaces that once posed a cultural limitation. A mutualistic relationship between the site and the people can and should co‐exist.
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P R O J E C T
O N E
CORNUBIA
WHERE WE MEET FOR GOOD Cornubia City is a new R25 Billion mixed-use development which broke ground in 2012 in KwaZulu-Natal. This enormous development is strategically located within 1km from the Umhlanga/Mount Edgecombe interchange and has now extended its offerings to house Cornubia Mall. Cornubia Mall is located within the development and is a 65000 m2 regional shopping centre that offers a mix of food, fashion, lifestyle and sports, all integrated into an outdoor family-orientated shopping experience. Cottontree Landscape Architects and Bentel Associates International, fill us in on this unique and significant project for renowned client, Investec Property.
PORTFOLIO
Cornubia Mall Landscape Where we meet for good was the tag-line of inspiration for Cornubia Mall. The various elements of nature and the surrounding landscape were to be incorporated into the design so that they come together as one. The design concept was to deliver a retail centre which provided a unique offering to the area. Cornubia offers a destination of retail convenience, outdoor living and recreational value which blends with the lifestyle of Umhlanga and Kwa-Zulu Natal. While the trend in regional shopping centres has long been to offer large enclosed malls, Cornubia strikes a perfect balance between a retail experience comprised of national tenants and an outdoor lifestyle experience. This is typified by shaded walkways and pause areas, interlaced with indigenous vegetation, an open public square and an integrated cycle track. The design focuses on lifestyle with interconnected public spaces where people can interact, be entertained, and shop. The 2 oval shaped precincts, creating a ‘figure of eight’ layout, differentiate this design from other centres by allowing for the main vehicular access at the heart of the development offering maximum convenience while shops and activity nodes enjoy total visibility across the centre along planted walkways. Public spaces are characterised by retail anchors as well as lifestyle, fitness and entertainment activities. The elevated walkways prioritise the pedestrian while the location of precinct nodes ensures the development is evenly anchored with even footfalls throughout.
Client: Investec Property Size: 65 000 m2 Phase two size: 20 000 m2 Location: Umhlanga/Mount Edgecombe Timeline: Intensive landscape implementation and soil preparation started in June 2017 Mall opened end September 2017 (all sourcing and preparation had to be done beforehand)
The primary function of a large shopping centre is enhanced by a variation in the traditional theme and layout, since it represents a new way of approaching the retail centre model. The perimeter layout of stores surrounding a central parking area merges the retail with the convenience centre. By allowing visitors to park close to retailers, the layout stimulates easy walking. This encourages visitors to explore stores as well as features such as the public square and a beautifully preserved 112-year-old Natal Fig tree. Furthermore, the design has been specifically devised to accommodate flexibility of expansion and reconfiguration without disruption to trading, visual impact of the centre or surrounding ecology. Environmentally Sustainable Design Constructed on a greenfield site, it was important to accommodate a regenerative approach to the surrounding ecology whilst
ensuring that future retrofit and expansion is contained. The outdoor layout of the shopping centre is also afforded opportunities, such as the interlacing of greenery into public walkways as well as the preservation of the before mentioned 112-yer-old fig tree. The centre received an environmental merit certification for its use of recycled rubber, in the manufacture of roof coping tiles equating to 6250 cubic metres of rubber not reaching landfill. Significant Landscape Statistics •
This project entails just over a hectare of intensive indigenous planting, with an average soft landscaping implementation cost of R380/m² prioritised in different plant species themes over the 10 082m².
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Nothing on the northern parking deck is irrigated, so all of the plants in the autumn and winter zones are extremely water-wise and only hand-watered when necessary.
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Over 187 large trees were planted in the parking areas, this included Aloe trees, Combretum krausii, Ekebergia capensis, Dais continifolia and Calodendrum capense. The only exotic specie, the 29 large Royal palms were used along Tecoma Boulevard and the axis towards the southern anchor.
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Smaller ‘trees’ included Mackaya bella, Portelucaria affra, and Polygala myrtifolia to add height in the walkway areas.
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Four types of climbers were introduced on all the mesh columns to form a green rhythm along the walkway. Species included Senecio macroglossus, Rhoicissus tomentosa, Jasminum multipartitum and Tinospora caffra.
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The existing fig tree was protected and nursed throughout the construction phase and even had a temporary private irrigation supply. Fig mound was organically planted with waterwise ground covers, veld grasses and clumps including Aristida junciformis and Anthericum saundersii. Waterwise ground covers included, Aptenia cordifolia, Portelecuaria species and in between red colour splashes of Bauhinia and Crocosmia.
Of the 57 indigenous plant species onsite the only exotic species are the majestic Royal palms in Tecoma Boulevard echoing the vertical elements from the sculptural roundabout design by Iyer consulting, as well as the patterns on the building.
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PORTFOLIO
Town square with the seating steps
Royal palm trees in colourful planting
The Landscape Narrative From the conceptual stages, Cottontree worked very closely with Bentel Associates International to create a hierarchy of landscapes wrapping around the building. These layers were divided into: •
Very dense walkway planting, to form a verge from the building to the parking and bring the buildings to a human scale.
•
Island planting with large vertical elements in the parking area with groundcover planting within the kerb.
The large ring-road walkway which forms a figure of eight was divided into quadrants and read as ‘seasons’ to create four completely different landscape themes. These ‘themes’ were planted as various different seasons with an entirely distinctive character and colour scheme, to both accentuate and differentiate between the different quadrants. •
north-east: winter / green zone / theme; Aloe planting and evergreen backdrop – (on deck and with no irrigation)
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north-west: autumn / yellow zone / theme; All about leaf colour and warm colouring – (on deck and with no irrigation)
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south-east: spring / blue zone / aimed to form a cloud of flowering lilac colours.
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south-west: summer / red zone/ colourful and tropical theme.
Artistic grafitti wall at northern entrance
Sourcing materials All the plant species onsite are indigenous and have been planted on the north is all extremely water-wise, as there is no irrigation on the northern portion. Birds eye-view of Cornubia mall with different planting zones NORTH: Winter/Green zone/theme Aloe planting and evergreen backdrop
NORTH: Autumn/Yellow zone/theme all about leave colours
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SOUTH: Spring/Blue zone/ very pink and ‘flowery’
SOUTH: Summer/Red zone, colourful and tropical theme
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PORTFOLIO
SUPPLIERS Main Contractor: WBHO Landscape Contractor: Countryline Horticulture - 083 779 9919 Planting: Shalwyn Nurserys - 083 229 3290 Mature Trees: CJM Growers - 032 945 3472 Irrigation design: Controlled irrigation KZN - 031 569 1984 Product Netafim Drip Irrigation - 021 987 0477
BEFORE
Rainbird Pop-up irrigation -012 543 9953 Interior Pots and Bins & Exterior Furniture Allsorted - 011 708 7550 C: 083 448 4772 Soccer Pitches Synsport - 082 899 6458 Paving: Sub-ContractorQ Pave Tiling in Piazza RVV - 011 618 1340 Corobrik - 031 560 3111 Kalvis Precast Concrete Specialists 031 904 1683/4 Retaining Wall: Corobrik - 031 560 3111 Timber Decking: Sub-contractorEco-Sundecks - 031 702 3039 Hardwood Lumber - 031 701 1392 Images: WBHO Bentel Associates International Christa Otto Russell Cleaver
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PORTFOLIO
Trees •
All of the trees were sourced from local tree farms in KZN by Countryline Horticulture.
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The large Aloe trees were hand-picked and secured in January 2017
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Palms had to be put in place with a crane, so the timing of this had to be carefully managed with the Main Contractor as the south earthworks were still being completed for the parking lot.
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The palm embankment located at Tecoma Boulevard had to be stabilized and a retaining wall built up.
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Onsite the wind was quite a challenge during construction and during establishment phase. The soil was also compacted and so soil preparation had to be done carefully.
planted retaining wall
ABOUT COTTONTREE
The team, lead by Christa Otto, has national & international experience in the design and build industry. Their motto is ‘playing outside’ and they pride themselves on looking for sustainable solutions in the design and long-term benefit to the project. They also view every project as a collaborative art work and enjoy to work with great teams and other design and building consultants to achieve this. Their projects over the past five years included schools, restaurants, parks & play and even a small airport.
Challenges •
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The embankment around the fig tree presented an aspect of 30-60’ and had a natural rock face. Planting on here was difficult as the northern part of the embankment was very steep.
Contact: Christa Otto www.cottontree.co
Buffalo grass was used to knit a stabilizing carpet and interplanted with Aristida and Aloes.
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The prevailing wind and storms: About a month before opening there were severe storms and one of the palm trees stood at 45’ the morning after the storm.
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Drainage: half of the site is built on deck, with no irrigation and only surface drainage.
17 000m2 Appointed 1st September 2017 Opening 28th September 2017 Duration – 6 months
Despite the challenges this has been an incredible project to work on, the whole team from Client to Architect, Contractor to Supplier have worked well together to reach a wonderful end product.
external landscape
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PORTFOLIO
Aloes in flower looking East into Mall
Twelve working days before opening this is what the site looked like.
External Landscaping Brief Cornubia retail was designed with low growing water wise succulent species so that sight lines along a major roadway would not be impaired and the shopping centre would be clearly visible to shoppers. The design was developed by Gill Higgins of Uys & White to mirror the sugar cane theme on the external Architecture. The external road ways had to be completed at the same time as the Cornubia Mall opened. Three factors made this project incredibly challenging to fulfil on time - firstly most of the civil works had not been completed until days before opening; secondly the late appointment of the external landscaping literally 4 weeks before opening meant that incredible lengths had to be undertaken by a team of emerging contractors that had never yet worked together before, let alone with the main contractor Idube Landscapes. The Landscape Architect had never seen a team pull together and work under such extremely difficult circumstances with such joy in their hearts as they did on this project. Also, the scope changed days before opening to further include 3000m2 more of landscaping in the final hour. This meant that Idube Landscapes worked tirelessly with the help of the local community through the night while local labourers sung together in the pouring rain and planted 45 000 plants in one evening in the moonlight. Just under a hectare of intensive planting was fully landscaped in under one week due to areas not being handed over to the team in time because critical services still needed to be installed. It turned into a wellorchestrated dance to try and work around the pure quantity of contractors on site and also the amount of traffic coming into and out of the mall along the roadways the team were trying to work
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on, which had the addition of all the internal contractors preparing interiors of the shops for opening hour. The entire team was dedicated to a quality end result. The client was handed an outstanding final product given the circumstances it was produced under. Just think what it takes to order, deliver, plant and irrigate 75 000 plants and prepare the soil when given a compacted g5 base layer to work through first. The team had weekly and then daily site meetings that were short and to the point as there was no time to waste on administration; every command had to turn into action without delay. Idube along with the emerging contractors delivered, in miracle time, a quality product that they can all be proud of. There was outstanding performance by Acol, a Co-operative community based company who enthusiastically and timeously delivered their section of works whilst having minimal resources at hand. Autoflow provide a state of the art irrigation scheme managed off a cell phone application. The External Roadway professional project team: • Uys & White Landscape Architects • Electrical Engineer -Bosch Projects • SMEC – Civil Engineers • Iyer – Urban Designers • Tongaat Hulett Developments Contractors • Idube – Landscape Contractor • Acol – Landscape sub-contractor • Bue - Landscape sub-contractor • Mkhambi - Landscape sub-contractor • Autoflow – Irrigation sub-contractor • Siwelela – Irrigation sub-contractor
Roundabout with feature structures in veldgrass
SUPPLIERS: Exterior Suppliers: Bera Gravel Fix - 083 449 3954 Gundle Plastics - 031 577 4771 Furniture Igneous Concrete - 011 827 7425 Planting Gwahumbe Nursery Indigiflora Nursery Thornhill Nursery
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P R O J E C T
T W O
A MULTI-SENSORY CELEBRATION ART MEETS LANDSCAPE
The Norval Foundation opened to the public on Saturday 28 April 2018, and is located on the slopes of the Constantiaberg Mountain, surrounded by vineyards and residential estates and is a multi-sensory celebration of art, architecture and landscape. The project provided a unique opportunity for the architects, planners and landscape designers involved to execute a client brief with the aspiration to create a world class art and cultural centre in an exceptional location that would be open to the public. Designed to international standards, the Norval Foundation is expected to become a significant space for art both in South Africa and globally. We chat to dhk Architects as well as Keith Kirsten & Ray Hudson, landscape designers for this project.
PORTFOLIO
The Site The site is bounded by Steenberg Road on its northeast boundary, by the vineyards of Steenberg Farm and Silwersteen residential estate on its north western boundary, and by a conservation area on its south eastern boundary. There are various other residential estates in the surrounding area. Access to the site is via Steenberg Road, part of the scenic drive network which carries high volumes of traffic. The original farm dates back to the 17th century and was known as Klein Steenberg. In 1959 a poultry farm was established on the site, until its closure in 2002 - the foundations of the demolished hen houses were still visible on the site. Various small scale commercial enterprises operated in the farm buildings but were no longer in use by the time the site was acquired by the client in 2011. The site was quite wild when the project started and numerous snakes were caught and released. A porcupine continued to visit the site throughout the construction process, eating newly planted bulbs much to the landscape designer’s frustration. A pair of spotted eagle owls reside in the oaks trees near the original farm house.
Wetland Ecosystem The site incorporates an incredibly sensitive existing wetland ecosystem that had been historically neglected. The wetland was completely rehabilitated, with alien species removed and embankments shaped to improve the water course. The wetland and its surrounding buffer zones have been revived and replanted with locally indigenous fynbos, enhanced by other indigenous plants and naturalised species, and has already attracted a multitude of insects and birds onto the site. Keith Kirsten & Ray Hudson explain, “This sensitive wetland site had over many years deteriorated into a wasteland of invader species of plants. The development of this site has brought about renewal and regeneration of the wetland and surrounding buffer zones by removing all alien and invasive plant species. These areas have been replanted with locally indigenous plants in the wetland area and its surrounding buffer zones and indigenous plants in the adjacent extremities of the property. The adjoining seven residential platforms will be landscaped using the same principles. Ecological
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importance – this area plays a vital role in sustaining aquatic biota and in providing essential resources to terrestrial animals. The aim is to preserve this natural ecosystem and its unique species to allow evolutionary processes to continue indefinitely. The Steenberg area has been identified as a breeding habitat for the endangered Western Leopard Toad and as such the rehabilitation of this site has been of utmost importance.” In order to allow the toads’ safe passage, concrete culverts were constructed underneath the road, and the slope of embankments carefully designed to allow the toads to traverse them. Earth ramps were also incorporated on the upper reaches of the estate to allow the toads to move easily to the breeding ponds. The extensive rehabilitation programme was well established by the time the art gallery opened.
Architectural Design The Norval Foundation was envisioned by the architects as a modern pavilion for art, set against a dramatic mountain and vineyard landscape. It is a pure expression of form; a bold rectangular mass, delineating its heavy walled enclosure and light over-sailing roof. The building is constrained by the linear site, between a busy road and an existing wetland; turning its back to a neighbouring embassy compound. The linear circulation spine is positioned along this edge, with the galleries and public spaces facing the natural landscape, capturing framed views of the wetland, vineyards and mountains beyond. The building sits in an elevated position, and shields the wetland, creating a private space for the sculpture park and forms an inhabited threshold between public and private zones. A triple volume atrium establishes a deliberate visual connection between these zones; one urban, the other natural, and provides a physical transition between these contrasting environments. The Norval Foundation is experienced in a linear sequence. A curved wall that extends into the entrance court, draws visitors past the double volume restaurant, gallery shop and into the generous reception which calmly directs guests to the central atrium that introduces the main galleries.
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PORTFOLIO
SUPPLIERS Project Architects: dhk Architects Landscaping Contractor: Keith Kirsten Horticulture Lighting: Regent Lighting Solutions 011 474 0171 Paving: Imprint Paving - 021 979 0203 Tiling: L.Cannata & Sons - 021 510 8553 Decking: Highveld Cape Thatchers 082 559 2122 Product: Balau Planks Imagery: Dave Southwood Information: DHK Architects www.dhk.co.za
"The wetland and its surrounding buffer zones have been revived and replanted with locally indigenous fynbos, enhanced by other indigenous plants and naturalised species, and has already attracted a multitude of insects and birds onto the site." www.prolandscaper.co.za
Pro Landscaper Africa | May 2018
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revisions rev date A 180201
description Alterations & Additions
PORTFOLIO
East Elevation SCALE 1 : 100
issued for
COUNC 180201
dhk arc
6th floo
9 some
tel: +27
fax:+27
email: a reg no: project
NORVAL FOUNDATION
West Elevation
ERF 10905
SCALE 1 : 100
client
NORVAL FOUNDATION
drawing
Elevations - East & West project number
drawing num
11033 06/23/16
03-21
first issue
A terrace along the length of the building incorporates a timber deck serving the restaurant and connects to walkways on either side that lead into the sculpture park. The grounds also include an amphitheatre, children’s playground, and picnic area. The programme further dictates the building form, which is split vertically between the ground floor galleries and public spaces, and the first floor where the more private spaces are found; offices, library, bar, a further gallery space and artist’s residence. Art storage vaults are positioned below ground level, with the highest level of security as well as state of the art temperature and humidity control. In addition to 32 parking bays at grade, minibus drop off and a tour bus embayment, there are 124 parking bays below ground, with 8 bays set aside for electric car charging stations. A LPR parking payment system was specified. In addition to the rehabilitated wetland and indigenous landscaped sculpture park, sustainability features include solar photovoltaic panels on the roof, a building management www.prolandscaper.co.za
system to optimise performance, water saving measures, grey water purification system, return of storm water to the wetland system, and energy efficient glazing and solar shading on the façade. Wherever possible, natural light to the internal spaces has been maximised, with large full height and clerestory windows throughout, with the exception of certain galleries. The materials palette is raw and honest, primarily pre-cast concrete, natural timber, granite and glass, providing contrast with the natural landscape. The architectural design strikes a balance between two motivations: to protect the artwork within, and maximise the views to the outside, in a rational response to the specific context and the functional requirements of the brief. The Sculpture park allows visitors an opportunity to witness the rebirth of this valuable site and to be inspired not only by the artworks, but also by the flora and fauna of the Steenberg area.
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scale
1:1
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PORTFOLIO
P R O J E C T
T H R E E
THE CLUB International property developer and investor Atterbury has recently consolidated its two Gauteng branches into a single regional headquarters at Die Klubhuis, housed within the Pretoria precinct development, The Club. This stunning development has seen investment from Atterbury of around R180-million in infrastructure poured into The Club precinct. Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects (DRLA) were appointed by the client to design and implement its landscape while WBHO was appointed as the main contractor. We look at The Club 2 in this feature, a node within the development.
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PORTFOLIO
A
tterbury's new headquarters are positioned within the A-grade offices of the 5 200 m2 Die Klubhuis, or Club Two, which is also home to a modern and high-tech 3 300 m2 Planet Fitness Megaclub. The Brief The Project brief in short was to provide a successful landscape design and installation that would incorporate the various elements of the existing Club Precinct Development in order to create a sense of place that would integrate this development into the precinct. The Landscape design was presented to the Client along with perspectives and material samples for approval. This process provided valuable feedback and brought about the design as it is currently. The Design Approach & Materials Paving materials and copings to planter walls were selected in conjunction with Hofman Architects, the architects for the project, to compliment the lines, shape and aesthetic of the building. A terraced landscape consisting of built up planters on various levels planted with a variety of plant material was envisaged to soften the podium edge along 18th street. WilsonStone's cutstone copings were used on the staircases and planter walls, whilst WilsonStone cutstone tiles were used at the arrival space in front of the buildings, seamlessly unifying these spaces. Sculptural benches were integrated into the design and are framed and accentuated by these tiles.
Total landscaped area: 2 325m2 Hard Landscape: 1775m2 Intensive Soft Landscape area: 550m2 Landscape Construction Timeline: June 2017 – February 2018 Landscape Installation cost: R2 300 000 Location: Hazelwood, Pretoria on the corner of Pinaster street and 18th street
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The arrival space to the main entrances of the building as well as the southern entrance into the building from Pinaster street had to be accentuated through striking design interventions. In order to achieve this, signature benches were envisaged in front of the main entrance to the Klubhuis that would be a sculptural element and provide a unique gathering space for visitors. These benches were manufactured from Balau with mild steel fins. For the southern entrance, a mild steel Trellis structure was envisaged that would accentuate and compliment the architecture of the building. Both these elements were manufactured and installed by Truestyle Hard landscape solutions. The Corobrik burgundy clay pavers used in conjunction with grey Smartstone cobbles in the precinct were carried through in the design of the streetscape surrounding the development.
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PORTFOLIO
The clay pavers provide a vibrant colourful element demarcating the pedestrian walkways. Custom designed street furniture, which included the litter bins and bicycle racks in front of Planet Fitness, was supplied by WilsonStone street furniture and installed by Greenacres Landscape Contractors. The plant palette consisted of the following species: Aristida junciformis, Aloe cooperii, Dietes bicolor, Crocosmia aurea, Watsonia sp., Carissa macrocarpa, with hedge planting consisting of Viburnum odoratissimum and Murraya exotica. Juncus effuses, interplanted with Aloe cooperii, and was used on the roof gardens. Zamioculcus, Spattiphullum and Kentia palms were used at the southern entrance to the basement parking area. Plane trees from 1000L containers, supplied by Just Trees, were used in the streetscape to tie in with the existing Plane trees in the Club precinct. Drip Irrigation, rain sensors and soil moisture additives incorporated in the design and construction of the project in order to reduce the water requirements of the soft landscape installation.
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PORTFOLIO
SUPPLIERS Landscape Contractor: Greenacres Landscapes 014 576 1925 Lighting: Regent Lighting Solutions - 011 474 0171 LED Lighting SA - 011 450 0494 Planting: Just Trees - 021 871 1595 Greenacres Farm Nursery 014 576 1925 Bristle Cone Nursery - 012 207 9904 Furniture: (Litter bins & Bicycle racks) WilsonStone street furniture 011 615 6212 Bespoke sculptural benches: Manufacturing and installationTruestyle Hard Landscaping Solutions 011 768 1305 Irrigation Design: Controlled Irrigation - 011 608-0767 Product: Netafim Drip – 021 987 0477 Paving: Bosun - 011 310 1176 Smartstone Grey cobbles- 011 310 1161 Corobrik Burgundy clay pavers - 031 560 3111 Paving tiles and planter copings: WilsonStone - 011 615 6212 Images: Hofman Architects
ABOUT DANIEL REBEL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
Through a holistic design approach, collaboration with other built environment professionals, DRLA is well positioned to render a personalised and professional service of an exceptional high standard, to all its clients.
ARCHITECTS
DRLA creates memorable spaces and environments, designs that are accountable, site specific, environmentally responsive, and that are constructed on time, within budget but above expectation. We specialise in the following fields of Landscape Architecture: • Public open space development • Urban landscape infrastructure projects • Mix use urban developments • Residential estates • Corporate campuses • Office precincts
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Pro Landscaper Africa | May 2018
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PORTFOLIO
P R O J E C T
F O U R
JIADING CENTRAL PARK SHANGHAI, CHINA
Size of project: 70ha Award: Boston Society of Landscape Architects, Merit Award: in Parks and Recreational Facilities Design Build time: Designed in 2007 and construction completed in 2013
A
s part of the masterplan of Jiading New City, a new 70ha central landscape axis was envisioned across the 17-square kilometer new development at the fringe of the city of Shanghai. After five years of design and construction, Ziqidonglai Landscape Axis opened to the public, and the linear park is one of the largest urban open spaces in this rapidly expanding district. It acts as a walkable green corridor that connects otherwise separate green space patches and integrates with surrounding neighbourhoods. Its stunning combination of poetic form, cultural expression, public use and ecological restoration creates a multidimensional experience. At the project’s outset, the plan was fragmented, as the district’s masterplan lacked a comprehensive understanding of the impact of cross-traffic on the green space network. In a critical first move, the design team intervened to minimise fragmentation, reducing the number of roadways crossing the park and constructing pedestrian overpasses or underpasses where roads remained. This resulted in the preservation of a holistic park experience for wildlife and pedestrians alike.
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PORTFOLIO
Sasaki’s design concept for the park, ‘Dancing in the Woods’, is based on a contemporary interpretation of traditional Chinese painting, calligraphy, and dance. The park emphasises the rich cultural heritage of Jiading, and integrates this with the natural setting of the site. Natural landscape elements such as floating clouds and flowing water – common themes in the paintings of local artist Yanshao Lu – are reinterpreted as modern, dynamic forms that represent movement and influence how people interact with the landscape. Four major paths in the park interweave and interact in a choreographed composition with a variety of park elements, twisting and turning along the space and landforms while carrying cross-park and alongpark traffic for pedestrians and bike riders. Spatial configurations within the park embrace dichotomies of form and purpose – open and enclosed, monumental and intimate, active and quiet, urban and pastoral, straight and curvilinear, elevated and recessed.With a strong foundational understanding of the project context and an articulated design vision, the team embarked on
sustainability-driven design. Its people-oriented spirit, together with a strong commitment to enhancing the ecological system, is manifested in design details – including universal accessibility, restored wetlands, new woodland, native plantings that bolster the local bio-community, a stormwater management system, limited artificial lighting, and efficient reuse of existing materials and on-site structures. As a result of this interdisciplinary approach, inspired vision, and meaningful sustainable design, Jiading Central Park has transformed the area. Restored wetland and woodland has drastically improved water and air quality and biodiversity, rainwater harvesting has decreased potable water demand by 3.3m gallons annually, and reuse of existing structure and materials such as asphalt and salvaged bricks has reduced emissions while lowering construction costs. Today’s park features clear water and fishermen where dirty canals and algae blooms once proliferated. A quiet promenade takes the place
of a noisy roadway. Birds circle the skies and float on the canal. People of all ages take to the sports fields and wander the paths. The green corridor is the heart of the New City, and has quickly become a new sign of vitality for the region.
ABOUT SASAKI
Sasaki is a global design firm bringing together the best of landscape architecture, planning, urban design, architecture, interior deisgn, civil engineering, graphic design, place branding and data science to shape the places in which we live. www.sasaki.com
All images: ©Qianxi Zhang ©Hengzhong Lv ©Xiaotao Gao ©Shanghai Jiading New City Development Company, Ltd. ©Sasaki www.prolandscaper.co.za
Pro Landscaper Africa | May 2018
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GROWING MEDIUMS Selecting good quality growing medium can be a daunting task for any member of the trade wanting to increase their planting know how and indeed plant performance. We ask some of SA's top growers about the products they are using!
RELIANCE SOIL AND PLANT CONDITIONER Whether you are gardening for leisure or cultivating hectares for food production, soil erosion and degradation is a global problem that has a huge impact on your plant yield. Build your soil quality by adding compost, this introduces organic matter and micro-organisms to the soil. Cover soils with mulch to retain moisture and cool soil. When the soil temperature rises, its ability to absorb moisture decreases. It is estimated that a 1% increase in the organic matter of your soil could result in the soil holding 170 000ℓ more water per hectare. This is especially important in South Africa's current drought. By focusing on soil health we can continue to produce healthy plants in drier conditions. Benefits of Organic Compost: • Reduction in the use of inorganic fertilizers • Retaining moisture in your soil • Improving physical soil structure • Reducing soil borne diseases • 12mm Screened Fine Compost: Ideal as a soil conditioner for herb plants and vegetable gardens. To use as a surface application or in planting holes. • 30mm Screened Medium Compost: ideal as a light garden mulch • 50mm Screened Coarse Compost: Ideal for breaking down over time • Unscreened Compost: Ideal for agricultural use, contains from fine to rough product. Bruce Stewart - www.primetrees.co.za
STOCKOSORB Growing mediums have a wide range of compositions from the germination stage of a plant, to the ultimate destination of a plant in the landscape. Very broadly speaking, the composition is the least natural in the seedling stage, and the most natural when planted in healthy soil in the landscape. In between, the composition of the growing medium should evolve towards that of natural soil. The bigger and older the plant, as in the case of a 500 liter bag size tree, the closer the medium should resemble that of natural soil in order to reduce the installation shock and increase the survival rate. A growing medium additive of particular importance, is one that increases the water retention qualities, and even more so during drought conditions as currently experienced in the Western Cape. For production purposes, a polymer resin in granular form can be mixed into the growing medium to assist with water retention in growing bags. Refer to the photos for an application example. Dag Willems - Trees SA
HAIFA MULTICOTE CONTROLLED RELEASE Prime Trees wholesale nursery believes Haifa Multicote Controlled Release is the best suitable base fertilizer for container grown trees. The balanced nutrition ensures that trees grow at their maximum rate, clearly evident in the size and uniformity of Prime Trees. The growing mediums used for container grown trees should be carefully curated as this will allow the plant to achieve its best growth. The application of Haifa Multicote Controlled Release will depend on your soil analysis, the species of the tree and bag size. Drainage is one of the key elements to a good growing medium. It is vital to have good porosity, the correct chemistry in your mixture, as well as ratio of air to water. Hence the reason we invest in using our Rootmaker pots. Prior to identifying a growing medium, it is essential to know your soil composition and application uses. Once you have decided on a mixture best suitable for your application, the next step would be to do an analysis to ensure that the chemistry, nutrients and ph of the mixture is accurate. Bruce Stewart - www.primetrees.co.za
NONKE WHOLESALE NURSERY Our growing medium of choice, which we produce ourselves at the nursery is saw dust based, we add composted nursery waste to this as well as limestone, ammonium nitrate and gypsum. We produce on average 400m3 of medium which is then packed in windrows and composted for 22 weeks before use. Prior to making use of the composted medium we test for EC /resistance, i.e. salt build up, which affects the plants growth in the potting soil. The resistance should be above 500. The PH of the medium should be about 5, this is the best for propagation of most plants. Beth Du Plessis - www.nonkeplants.com
COIR AS A GROWING MEDIA ADDITIVE Whether you are a person who pots around in the garden at home, a professional grower or landscaper the importance of a good growing media cannot be underestimated. So without getting too technical, what qualities should we be looking out for when selecting a good growing media? Handreck and Black in their book “Growing Media for Ornamental Plants and Turf” say the following: A good growing media should continuously supply the plant roots with the following: • • •
Water Air Nutrient elements
Hence my choice to write about coir as a growing media additive. Coir has a number of good traits that make it an excellent additive to a growing media mix. Firstly, if we look at water, coir has a good ability to hold water. This is important because a growing medium which dries out too quickly puts the plant under stress and means you have to re-water more often. Secondly, with regard to air, the physical structure of coir allows good air penetration. This is important because roots also need oxygen and a growing media that does not allow air to reach the roots will lead to root death. Lastly, while coir does not really have nutrients in it, it does store water which enables the nutrient elements of the fertilizer in your growing media mix, to go into solution, ready to be taken up by the roots. We at Heuers Wholesale Nursery have been using coir successfully as an additive in our propagation mixes as well as in our growing media for specific ornamental plants that are susceptible to root diseases. We have found it to be a great product, allowing for a good balance between water holding capacity and air penetration. David Seewald - www.heuers.co.za
COMPOST | TOPSOIL | LAWN DRESSING | GARDEN MIX | SUPERGRO | BARK CHIPS | PEBBLES | SOIL | POTS
KRAAIB OSCH NURS ERIES (P TY ) LT D Suppliers of high quality exotic and indigenous plants since 1983 CONTRACT GROWING: YOU ASK, WE GROW! Kraaibosch Nurseries are wholesalers and suppliers of indigenous and exotic trees, shrubs, groundcovers, bedding plants, colour pots, roses, fruit trees and herbs to retailers, landscapers, property developers, municipalities, farmers, architects and contractors.
Viewpoint Farming
Cnr Rondebult and Main Reed Road Comet, Boksburg sales@viewpointfarming.co.za 011 917 0493 | 011 9165904 | 0119165905 www.viewpointfarming.co.za
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FIELDS OF APPLICATION • • • • • • • • • •
Commercial horticulture Landscaping Sod and seeding of grass Plant transportation and storage Nurseries, production plants Inner-city ornamentals e.g. planting beds, roof top gardens, vertical planting, hanging baskets, noise barriers Plantation of trees and shrubs Reforestation Rehabilitation of soils Bare root dipping
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EXLGel – BENEFITS SOIL
WATER
SAVE YOUR GARDEN
WAT E R R E TA I N E R
Days
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SAVE
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• Increases the water holding capacity of soils • Increases infiltration rates and decreases water runoff • Promotes the rewetting of soils and substrates • Reduces soil erosion • Reduces leaching of fertilizer • Improves plant survival • Promotes rapid plant development and uniform plant growth • Extends the shelf life of plants • Activates sustainable root growth
Days Irrigation Frequency
Water-Holding Capacity
EXLGel increases the number of days between irrigations, thereby reducing watering and will remain in the soil, ready to capture water on next irrigation.
EXLGel increases the capacity of soils to hold water and plant nutrients. It is extremely efficient in sandy soil.
Designer
PLANTS
Graham von Hoesslin of GvH Landscapes designs an enchanting roof garden in Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape.
GvH Landscapes
design
installation
irrigation maintenance
The roof garden was designed as a feature focal point in the layout of the new house and so, the client placed huge emphasis on the aesthetic importance of this space. It can be viewed from all the bedrooms and is the first thing you see once you enter through the front door with a magical backdrop of the Indian Ocean. The client loves colour and texture so the plant choice was based around this notion- but not entirely-as GvH Landscapes had to take in to consideration the extreme conditions including the prevailing salt laden winds and extreme heat being in full sun all day.
The client also loves plants that move in the wind and so various indigenous species of grasses and restios were utilized to achieve this. The client was also very keen on grey foliage plants, for example the Helichrysums. GvH Landscapes planted predominantly indigenous hardy plants from the Western Cape and made use of some other hardy plants like Statice perezii and a selection of exciting Echeverias. The contrast of soft flowering plants with textured grasses and architectural succulents makes for a pleasing and eye-catching space.
Plant Palette •
Echevaria sp.
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Statice perezii
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Kalenchoe luciae
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Helichrysum cymosum
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Pelargonium peltatum
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Orphium frutescens
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Pelargonium sidoides
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Calocephalus brownie
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Thamnochortus bachmanii
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Bulbine latifolia
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Festuca glauca
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Geranium incanum
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N U RT U R E F E AT U R E
WHY I
LOVEHORTICULTURE JACKY GOLIATH
Pro Landscaper catches up with Jacky Goliath, De Fynne's Nursery's Managing Director, to hear more about her journey in horticulture.
I love Horticulture! It brings so much joy to my life due to the multifaceted leaf and plant colouring, structure, height and life that plants bring to a garden. It is surprising what a calming effect working with plants can have. Working within the horticultural industry has opened my mind to so many intricacies within the plant, soil and even the animal life and biodiversity.
Growing up, I started to look for a career in nature and plants and ended up with studies in horticulture. I worked in various wholesale nurseries and farms with propagation and production of plants and found my way in getting to work with fynbos and other indigenous crops at the Agricultural Research Council, ARC.
How I got into this field: I grew up on a Mission station where subsistence farming and gardening was the order of the day. I used to help my father in the garden and this was my first encounter of gardening. Gardening in those days included tillage of the soil with your hands, bringing water to the site by ways of furrows, making your own compost, disease and insect control by home remedies... It really was the most natural expression of landscaping and along with the plants my father and I grew, so too did my interest in horticulture. Looking back, it was where it all started- working with plants and being outdoors. Being outdoors also brings about a calmness which is hard to find in an office.
During my working years, I was privileged to have worked with an NGO called ASNAPP (Agribusiness in Sustainable Nataural African Plant Products) which focuses on the growing and propagation of natural plant products in different African Countries. In South Africa we focussed on plants such as Honeybush Tea, Rooibos Tea, Devils Claw and the Agathosma (Buchu) families. The exposure to other African countries has made me more aware of our own plants and the importance of conserving them. In partnership with a friend, I then used these experiences to start our own business, De Fynne Nursery in 2001 with the main focus on Fynbos and other indigenous crops.
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Influencers: I will have to say the ARC, which had a big influence on my personal views and passion on working with fynbos and indigenous plants. During my time at this institution, so much focus was made on precision and quality work to conserve the genetic material of rare and endangered species. The work and conservation initiative that the Kirstenbosch Gardens and the love their horticulturist's have for our natural plant heritage, also increases my passion for these plant types. Continuous research is needed to conserve and understand our plant gems. Future of horticulture: I do see more focus on the growing and planting of these indigenous crops in the near future. As people are increasingly becoming aware of water-wise plants to conserve water, I believe that our indigenous plants, which make up our natural heritage, will be featuring more in the gardens and bigger landscaping developments of the Western Cape.
Pro Landscaper Africa | May 2018
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MAINTENANCE FREE, LONG LASTING, ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY Unique Timber Plastics (Pty) Ltd converts plastic waste into an environmentally friendly products called “Unique Timber Plastics”. We recycle a wide variety of plastics! Currently we re-cycle the equivalent of 37 800 000 plastic bags per month or 2 268 000 2-litre soft drink bottles – but this is rapidly increasing as we have upgraded the plant and installed a new technology to increase our output tremendously – to the benefit of our customers. Advantages: It is a 100% maintenance free and waterproof product. Insect and rot resistant. It is splinter free and will not break. It is a “Green” product and therefore the perfect way to teach children about environmentally friendly products. Recycled Plastic will not contaminate the soil and ground water as it contains no toxic chemicals as found in other products. It lasts a lifetime. It is 100% modular. Recycled plastic Jungle Gyms are not slippery. Proud member of 011 626 2487 junglegyms@timberplastics.co.za www.uniquetimberplastics.co.za
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LITTLE INTERVIEWS
LITTLE INTERVIEWS
ALAN COOPER
T H O Z A M A M P U TA
Landscape architect @ Outerspace
Candidate Landscape Architect @ Outerspace
What is your favourite landscaped area in South Africa?
What is your favourite landscaped area in South Africa?
The Union Buildings – as it used to be.
The Company Gardens in Cape Town a historical oasis in the city accessed by all freely during the day for various activities.
How is Sustainability embedded into your business practices? We only plant indigenous plant materials unless specifically specified. What is one item you cannot live a day without? My computer Who/What is your biggest professional influence and why? Henry Moore. He have an unbelievable way of reflecting the landscape with his sculptures which enhances my feeling of wellbeing and connection with “Mother Earth” . What is the moto that you live by? Integrity first. In design and Professional practice. One piece of advice for the landscaping industry? Do not have preconceived ideas when designing a landscape, design for the site, and not for what you want to impose on it. Top Plant? Aloe Ferox
www.prolandscaper.co.za
How is Sustainability embedded into your business practices? Working with the existing features and patterns on site and repurposing items found on site. What is one item you cannot live a day without? Music. Who/What is your biggest professional influence and why? I am constantly influenced and inspired by my colleagues. What is the moto that you live by? To live truthfully, to be driven by love and not hatred. One piece of advice for the landscaping industry? It is important for the professionals in the industry to educate the youth about the careers and study opportunities available in the industry to educate and ensure longevity in the industry. Top Plant? Aloe Bainesii
Pro Landscaper Africa | May 2018
57
LITTLE INTERVIEWS
JOE VOGES Candidate Landscape Architect & Director @ Envision Landscape Design
What is your favourite landscaped area in South Africa? Lost City - It's where my dream started. How is Sustainability embedded into your business practices? Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. What is one item you cannot live a day without? The Internet Who/What is your biggest professional influence and why? Roberto Burle Marx - The earth was his canvas, plants his paint and nature his inspiration. What is the moto that you live by? I can, I will, I must! One piece of advice for the landscaping industry? Be the change you want to see - Ghandi. Top Plant? Adonsonia digitata - Boabab - The tree of life.
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