ISSUE 11 > AUTUMN 2013
SUSTAINABLE GRASS IS GREENER AT ESSENDON FIELDS
COSTA ROLFE
Essendon Fields’ environmentally friendly reputation is not only well earned, but also one its landscape design team is immensely proud of. Mark McWha – Director of award-winning site landscape architect Formium and equipped with 30 years practical experience – is charged with the task of overseeing and instituting the site’s broader landscape master plan. Over many years, McWha has worked extensively with the Directors of Essendon Fields to achieve a landscape environment that tangibly elevates the site’s life experience. And the fruits of that relationship are immediately evident upon entering the park’s generous open spaces. “Our collective landscaping vision was that of an urban oasis that privileged the use of local
materials. It was important to us to harmonise a sense of amenity with a quality, sustainable living landscape. We feel that we have established a site wherein both workers and visitors can enjoy lowmaintenance, attractive and useful outdoor spaces.” One important element of this ‘worker friendly’ commitment is the series of interlinking pedestrian dedicated footpaths that connect the various public spaces and office buildings throughout the Essendon Fields precinct, so providing workers with pleasant avenues along which to take a walk at lunchtime. For McWha and his team, the very location of Essendon Fields – situated as it is on Melbourne’s northern plains – dictated a full-bodied approach to plant selection when it came to filling the site’s garden beds. “We were mindful that the vegetation should be suited to the local climate, growing conditions and soil conditions.
Given the prevalence of reactive basalt soils and the quite frequent northerly winds, this can sometimes be a tricky environment for certain sensitive plant species to flourish.”
The choice of Essendon Fields predominating tree – the Ornamental Manchurian Pear – was thus a highly deliberate process taking myriad factors into account. Providing a basic contrast to the largely native plant material of the Tullamarine freeway, McWha’s theme tree not only exhibits fantastic stress-resistant qualities, but also striking seasonal variety. “These trees are a robust urban species, and hence require very little watering once established. On top of that though, they retain incredible visual appeal, regardless of the time of year. They exhibit massive white blossoms in spring, a flush of verdant green in summer, and then brilliant reds and yellows throughout autumn.”
Even the very placement of these deciduous beauties was decided with the seasons in mind. “The tree planting throughout the site was very strategic. In the hot months, the pear trees’ shady foliage serves to screen buildings and absorb heat, thus saving on air conditioning cost. But in winter, the exposed architectural structure of the leaf-less trees welcomes sunlight in, thus allowing it to penetrate and warm the various building sites.” Further, McWha’s architectural interplay of pear trees in the English Street precinct is typically considered. “The trees are arranged in diagonal lines, providing entering park goers with a sequence of controlled views that immediately establish a sense of rhythm to the landscape.” The park’s environmental conscience does not end with the implementation of the rarely thirsty Manchurian Pear, however. The hard work of