3rd Year Anniversary Issue

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DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

September 2018

ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

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DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

September 2018

DESIGN, BUILD, AND MAINTAIN

Welcome to the September, Spring, Anniversary Issue of Pro Landscaper Africa 2018. are moving mountains to ensure we diversify our offerings and bring you the very best in all things landscaping.

A mouthful indeed… for a momentous occasion.

Much like spring marks the start of new life, colour, festivity and awakening - we feel as though we too would like to have a similar effect on our industry, on the people we meet and the way in which we approach our readers and contributors. We wish to be a vibrant, active member of the community and to inject vigour into all aspects of what we do. So, it is serendipitous indeed that we share our anniversary every year with the start of spring.

3 years seems young to most, but we also know how much one can achieve in this period of time! Being a monthly publication & growing rapidly in content and subscribers, not to mention taking on the exciting and challenging task of launching our trade show this year, we

Our stance is one of inclusivity and connectivity and we would like to sincerely thank our readers and contributors, our developers, landscape architects, landscape contractors, our wonderful associations, municipalities, landscape designers, suppliers, growers, councils and everyone who actively participates on this platform. It is not without you that we manage to produce these wonderful features.

We have a fantastic issue planned for you this month, with beautiful projects, Nurture section gems, interviews, features and journals. We have even opened a Book Club section which we are hoping to expand on each month to insure our readers are inspired.

If you are an industry member, student, or affiliated professional to the green industry & if you were 30 or under on the 1st of January 2018 (or know someone who is) then you might want to consider entering our Faces of The Future Campaign where we aim to

ANNIVERSARY ISSUE

showcase and highlight the youth making waves within the industry. We have had more than 50 professionals enter thus far, & we are thrilled with the turn out. If you feel you are an industry face of the future, contact us for your entry form. We want to encourage anyone, from any aspect of the green industry to get involved.

It is difficult to eloquently put how we feel about this great magazine, which we spend so much of our energy putting together every month, but we hope it translates through our pages and into your offices and homes!

Team work makes the dream work, and we have so much to be grateful for!

We look forward to seeing you all at our inaugural trade show, which we are certain is going to be one for the books. Register to attend and book your ticket by plane, train, bus, boat… just don’t miss it!

Happy Birthday to Us.

CONTENTS

41

27

52

18

22

17 7-9

News Shed & Association News Industry news from around South Africa and updates

by ILASA

PORTFOLIOS 32

Mirror Image by Daniel Rebel Landscape Architects

11

The Agenda In light of our 3rd year anniversary we ask industry professionals... “Where do you see/ wish to see the outdoor design, build and maintenance sectors moving in the next three years?”

36

The Keyes Art Mile by Fieldwords Design Group & Life Landscapes

41

Lourensford Estate by Keith Kirsten Horticulture International

16

Introducing FutureScape Africa Trade Show Register your attendance now!

46

A Building for the Future, Now. By OvP Associates & installation by Contours landscapes & Gabions

18

Seen Around: World Outdoor Fitness Pro Landscaper visits some of the latest projects where World Outdoor FitnessTM has installed world class products around South Africa

NURTURE

51

The Indigenous vs. Exotic Mindset

by Lizelle Wolmarans with support of Paul Smit, Seas of Green

20

Landscape Architect’s Journal Nekrotopio: Scenery of the dead by Kyrstyn Oberholster

22

Landscape Architect’s Journal Guang Ming, Shenzhen, China Sports Park by LOLA Landscape Architects

52

Tree Transplanting Top tips for transplanting trees, for traders! Trees SA’s Dag Willems guides us on how to professionally transplant a tree. We also here from Divine Landscape’s Corne Mare

59

Why I #Love Horticulture James Fisk, Pink Geranium & Fisk Horticulture

27

30 Minutes with Graham Young A published author, a believer in and contributor to community service, a teacher, a researcher and a well-known name within the South African Landscaping Industry, Pro Landscaper is thrilled to celebrate its 3rd year anniversary interviewing Graham Young

61

Designer Plants Hingham Nursery design’s a node on Mount Edgecombe Country Club's pristine Estate

63

Book Club A new section where members of the trade share their interesting industry related reads and discuss literature with their peers. Kicking off this exciting section, Helöise Pieterse shares a book she recommends

64

Little Interviews

66

Birthday Blurbs. Happy Birthday to us!

www.prolandscaper.co.za

Pro Landscaper Africa | September 2018

5

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NEWS

NEWS Corobrik’s striking new paving selection

Corobrik’s paving range has always proved popular in both commercial and residential developments, and the newly-launched piazza pavers are set to continue this trend as Corobrik meets market demands of aesthetics and quality.

“We noticed a surge in the number of customers requesting tones of grey, from light graphite to dark onyx, as a paving option,” explained Musa Shangase, Corobrik’s Commercial Director.

“Corobrik has always prided itself in the ability to meet market requirements as they emerge, and the introduction the latest piazza paver, doppio and cobble pavers has proved timeous and on-trend.”

The new paving range received a lot of attention at the recent KwaZulu-Natal Construction

Meet the Effective Surface Draining Blocks

The Beany Block from Technicrete is an efficient and practical solution for effective drainage due to its large flow capacity/unit weight ratio, making it a more cost-effective solution than conventional kerbing and drainage offerings.

The Beany Block system comprises a series of Base Blocks of standard channel section and Top Blocks of inverted channel section with an opening in one side face. When laid end to end they form a combined kerb and surface water drainage unit that is strong enough to withstand normal traffic loading.

Expo which provided the industry with a sneak peek before the national launch. “There is a definite move in the construction industry to incorporate black and grey colouring,” said Shangase. “This works well alongside the trend of exposed areas, revealing the raw brickwork.”

Corobrik has traditionally provided the standard size paver 220 x 108.5 x 50mm thick, however the newly launched piazza paver 220 x 50 x 50mm, doppio 220 x 220 x 50mm and the cobble 110 x 110 x 50mm are hitting the mark.

These add to Corobrik’s range of clay pavers which boast a mixture of colours, size and types, offering a unique style and tone for every development. Currently the popular paving designs include the use of the same colour paver, alongside a different size for the header or edging. Alternatively, the borders of the paved surface are being highlighted by introducing a different colour for the header or edging.

The herringbone paving pattern remains a popular option for driveways because of the superior interlocking properties and an improved overall look, while pathways are still predominantly in the stretcher bond pattern.

Each standard Top and Base Block is 500mm in length and weighs approximately 85kg.They have also been designed to withstand accidental 80KN axle loading. The Top Block oval openings provide for greater inlet capacities compared to conventional kerb inlets. Standard blocks can be used for curve radii of 30mm or more. ‘Splay’ blocks are available to meet specific requirements with a radius of between 6m and 30m.

Benefits The system can be substituted for kerbs, stormwater pipework, kerb inlets and parts of footways. Damaged services are less likely to occur when installing the Beany Block due to its simple and practical design and installation.

Some of the traditional problems experienced with conventional drainage that the Beany Block system eliminates include: insufficient fall;

When it comes to paving applications, there is a choice of the sand-grouted or closed joint, alternatively the cement grouted or open paving variations.

“While trends in pattern, application and colour will always change, we continue to find that customers remain unwavering in the requirements of colour-fastness and skidresistance that Corobrik pavers offer,” said Shangase.

Because every paver is sourced from age-old deposits, they each exude an appealing earthy nature that is both aesthetically profound and extremely durable, able to withstand high levels of loading. The pavers are renowned for their colour integrity – possible through natural pigmentation – rich texture and minimal maintenance requirements.

“The timeless, earthy look and inherent durability are some of the primary reasons Corobrik’s pavers are constantly chosen for outdoor construction,” said Shangase. “We will continue to adapt our ranges with current trends while retaining the highest level of product quality throughout.” www.corobrik.co.za

conflicting levels of service mains and cables; ponding adjacent to low points; traffic safety and control on existing freeways.

Additional cost savings can be achieved on projects that have wide freeways and footways; freeways that have ‘flat’ longitudinal falls; rock in sub-grade; shallow outfall and existing services or foul drainage at conflicting levels.

Applications The Beany Block has been designed for use in conjunction with SABS Fig. 3 and Fig.4 Barrier Kerbs. The Beany produces 400mm length of inlet opening for every 1m of kerb. The system can be used in any application where high inlet capacity is required; wide freeways; parking areas; taxi ranks and bus depots; wash bays and vehicle service areas; median islands; industrial areas; drainage around buildings and walkways and toll plazas. www.technicrete.co.za

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NEWS

A S S O C I ATI O N NEW S ILASA- COROBRIK 2018 CONFERENCE ILASA and LaRSSA plan to look into greater collaboration in future. ILASA will also be exploring the potential of a combined green industries annual event together with the South African Green Industries Council.

To wrap up the ILASA – Corobrik 2018 Conference was a resounding success, everyone we spoke to had only positive things to say. The highlights, besides the interesting presentations and invigorating Drakensberg landscape, were the numerous opportunities to catch up with old friends and colleagues at fireside conversations.

Old friendships were renewed and new friendships were kindled. ILASA is now setting it sights on the ILASA 2019 Awards of Excellence. www.ilasa.co.za The Institute for Landscape Architecture in South Africa (ILASA) held its two day 2018 conference in the Central Drakensberg on the 13th and 14th of August. We could not have asked for a better location. The venue was sublime; nestled in the Champagne Valley at the foot of the Champagne Castle and Cathkin peaks. The majestic mountain range was ever present. On Saturday morning those of us up at sunrise were greeted by snow dusted mountain peaks, rising up above a glowing yellow Drakensberg range. Having expected cold winter weather we were surprised as the days quickly warmed up, remaining warm for the rest of the conference. On Saturday evening delegates gathered together for a wonderful Gala Dinner with excellent food, wine and conversations.

For the first time in decades it was decided to hold the conference in KwaZulu Natal. With such a remote venue, attracting a large delegation was always going to be a challenge. Never the less attendance exceeded our estimates! Delegates enjoyed outstanding talks from two international and two iconic South African keynote speakers.

Prof. Eckart Lange, Professor of Landscape at the University of Sheffield, shared his vast knowledge of innovative methodologies in landscape visualization and modelling. From Sydney Australia Joshua Zeunert, a Senior Lecturer at UNSW and author of three books, took us on a well illustrated and captivating tour of his research into Multidimensional Sustainability and www.prolandscaper.co.za

Landscape Architecture.

The iconic Geoff Nichols regaled us with stories of the wildlife that moved in as he “re-wilded” his garden. Of overhanging tree canopies with a diverse mix of undergrowth, populated by cobras under the stairs, green mambas in the trees, plus birds, bats and insects that would be the envy any ecologist. Yolandi Schoeman, an entrepreneur and specialist in ecological engineering, gave a highly informative talk on the use of specific plant species and ecological systems that are used as an alternative to chemical treatment plants for mine water and other types of effluent.

In line with the theme of connecting through landscape, thirteen speakers from across South Africa shared their research and case studies fulling out the sub themes of connecting through ecology, technology, transdisciplinarity and culture. Being exposed to such a diversity of ideas provides a necessary nudge to professionals to look up from routine approaches and to try something new.

For the first time two closely related landscape disciplines shared a joint conference session.

After a number of years discussing the possibility, ILASA and the Land Rehabilitation Society of South Africa (LaRSSA) agreed to pilot a collaborative event. Starting with a joint morning session, followed by parallel conferences, delegates from both associations were invited to attend sessions of the other association.

Pro Landscaper Africa | September 2018

9

KAZELLE EFFICIENT, DISCREET, ELEGANT The Kazelle’s minimalistic and modern look is designed around the compactness of the LED engine, blending into your landscapes. At the same time, sustainable lighting solutions are provided that dramatically reduce energy consumption and improve visual comfort for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

Reliable, efficient, discreet and vandal resistant, the Kazelle luminaire emits a pleasant, glare-free light. It has been designed for easy installation. With virtually no maintenance required, the Kazelle guarantees long-lasting performance and massive savings.

Simply turn it on and enjoy your new landscape!

FOR MORE INFORMATION: @BEKASchreder | +27 11 238 0000 www.beka-schreder.co.za/kazelle

AGENDA Pro Landscaper turns 3 this month. It is quite young in the sense that we still have so much to see, learn and contribute to the green industry, we also feel we have so much we wish to accomplish moving forward. It has been a wonderful 3 years, but what we know for sure is that a lot can change in this time.

So, in light of our 3rd year anniversary, we thought it an apt time to ask our readers...

“Where do you see/wish to see the outdoor design, build and maintenance sectors moving towards in the next 3 years?

SUE DE KIEVIT Design Consultant @ Creative Blueprint Architects Often when contemplating the future, it’s helpful to bear in mind where we are currently at. If you’ve been to a recently built development, it’s likely you’ll have noticed the emphasis on the use of indigenous, hardy, low maintenance and low water demand plants. It’s uplifting because it means we’re demonstrating our awareness of environmental challenges and limitations and the apparent availability of conscious resources. It’s also great for the future as I think the commercial and corporate scenes often set the benchmark for what’s desirable and ideas are soon adopted into the domestic settings.

Unfortunately, our civic spaces are often overlooked and have the added concerns of vandalism and lack of maintenance. Road side walkways, verges, medians and circles www.prolandscaper.co.za

amongst others are some of the missed opportunities that I would like to see receive careful consideration. On the other hand, I’m aware that much of the government’s efforts have been channelled toward community parks, which is a huge encouragement. One of the pitfalls of these parks is they often seem to appear very much the same, possibly due standard play equipment and concrete street furniture. I understand efforts have been made by landscape designers in pushing the boundaries, but are often faced with budget constraints. Over the course of the next three years I’d like to see inventive ideas from the project designers; with specific reference to children’s play equipment and street furniture taking on new forms, materials and functionality - why can’t a balancing beam also be a bench?

Pro Landscaper Africa | September 2018

11

AGENDA

JONATHAN FERGUSON

3. KATHRIN HAMMEL-LOUW

General Manager @ Bidvest Top Turf

Professional Landscape Architect @ Outline Landscape Architects

2.

Being part of an organisation that is over forty years old I am confident that whatever comes in the next three years will be at most thrilling and exhilarating or at least survivable.

Our sector needs to continue to reinforce its importance as a solutions provider in the quest for sustainable development in all the sectors of our economy.

Our products and services should lead the way in the “green economy “and offer real and measurable benefits to our clients.

• • • • •

Conservation of water, the harvesting, storing and recycling of it, will increase in importance.

Products that help to retain water in the landscape will increase in importance Plant varieties that are tolerant to dry conditions will be used more and more New landscape maintenance practises will be devised Landscape designs will be reflective of all of the above

New technologies from sophisticated irrigation control systems, drones and geo-mapping, battery powered maintenance equipment etc. will find their way into the market at an increasing rate.

Economically the sector will continue to battle in the low growth environment. Public infrastructure spending must surely increase from the current low base at some point in time?

Private developers are still active but in an environment where there is no growth they are proceeding with caution.

Socially and civically we need to continue to be a reliable and fair employer of people and to offer opportunities for growth and promotion in our organizations.

In-house training will increase either directly or via external service providers as we strive to equip our workers for the future.

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Pro Landscaper Africa | September 2018

In a world of rapid invasive urbanization, our landscapes are the only link we have to nature. We are essentially a part of nature and our landscapes should be treated as sacred and must be optimised.

change all the time and often the understanding of what is being created does not get communicated clearly, and the maintenance is either not done well, or not according to the vision of the designer.

In our busy, hectic world, the landscapes can offer retreat to our everyday lives, be they our own gardens, neighbourhood parks or open spaces at our offices or shopping centres.

In residential landscapes, I would be excited if clients don’t only look for a basic landscape to tick the boxes of finishing the project, but the briefs to become experimental and fun. Gardens should become outdoor rooms, with less lawns and more food gardens.

Here are some of my wishes for the landscape industry for the next three years.

In the public sector, I wish for authorities to really take custodianship of public landscapes. The initial development of a park is only the beginning. Landscapes

In the commercial private sector, my wish is that development is not as money-driven and that more areas are left open for landscapes, creating pockets of biodiversity and setting examples of eco-based solutions.

The greatest responsibility, we face, as influencers in the built environment, is to make the best decisions with the understanding that we are living on a fragile space station with no escape routes!

4. BILLY BLACKBEARD

Regional Manager @ Idube Landscaping

The future is all about water. The climate is changing, it's getting hotter and drier and the arid karoo is moving eastwards, so we need to adapt town planning to conserve water as they do in Europe where they appreciate the true value of conserving runoff from rainfall. We need to change the plant pallette to xerophytic plants which will

thrive with little or no water. We need to look at endemic and or plants natural to that specific area. Indigenous plants to South Africa is just too large an area.

We need to be much more concerned about the state of the ecology of bush, rivers and sea. There is too much illegal dumping, garbage from township gets washed into the rivers and sea; municipal sanitation routinely allows overflow into the rivers.

If you look at KZN coast particularly the north Coast, there are really only 2 rivers that are tourist attractions, Zinkwazi and Mtunzini, while most of the others should have recreational value.

www.prolandscaper.co.za

AGENDA

5.

CALLUM WATSON

Landscape Architect @ dhk Architects

South Africa is possibly one of the most challenging yet interesting contexts to work in as a landscape architect.

On one hand there is vast natural beauty to be seen in its wild landscapes which are some of the most varied and diverse in the world, yet there is an equal disregard for these environments exemplified by the reckless disposal of waste on land and sea and lack of adequate waste disposal infrastructure.

At the same time there is a rapid dynamic of urbanization throughout its major cities which is putting increased pressure on existing resources and infrastructure coupled with an increasingly unpredictable and changing climate. In the Western Cape we are still only tentatively beginning to see ourselves out of a major climatic crisis which has already had vast consequences on the regional economy and the construction industry.

environmental and cultural challenges is so profound. I believe what is currently preventing it from doing so is mainly a lack of understanding on the part of clients and officials as to the real value it holds both in economical terms and the potential it holds for innovative and sustainable development at a number of scales.

Over the next three years I would like to see this begin to change and for landscape Crises however, are often the fundamental architecture to begin to demand and be given drivers for innovation. I think landscape an equal status with the more established architecture is uniquely positioned to respond professions of architecture and urban design. to the scale and complexity of these challenges Hopefully this will allow it to begin to really in an innovative and holistic manner, particularly tackle some of the challenges the country faces in South Africa where the intersection of looking forward into the future.

AGENDA

COR NEPGEN

Candidate Landscape Architect Terra + Landscape Architects

8.

It is quite a thought-provoking exercise, thinking about where the industry is currently, and where I would like to see it in three years.

I would like to see more collaboration between the different sectors of the industry, while also acknowledging the differences between, and respect for each other.

6.

Each sector is necessary for the successful implementation and maintenance of a project.

I would like to see a future where each sector becomes a specialist in their respective fields, while acknowledging and respecting the others. Designers need greater understanding of the constraints and opportunities present in the construction of the project. Without skilful maintenance, no project will reach its full potential.

A future where maintenance can be done by passionate professionals specialising in this field would lead to better, mature spaces.

Skilful contractors would allow designers to re-imagine the norm with different detail and materials. Each professional working in his/ her own field while respecting the skill and boundary of each other, being able to bill accordingly...

7.

DR. KARA-LEE PRINSLOO

Lecturer at Tshwane University of Technology – Landscape Technology and Horticulture

The future of the outdoor design and related fields are faced with various challenges from which one cannot move away.

These challenges include climate change, global warming, plant adaptability,

urbanization and personal preferences.

Adaptations from the stakeholders are therefore imperative. Mindsets of designers and urban entrepreneurs needs to change and innovative design ideas and options needs to be explored and reflected. The way we design, build and maintain needs to adapt to a greener way of thinking and applying. I see a greener more sustainable future in the next 3 years that includes an growth in socio economic avenues that will benefit all.

JULIAN BARTELS Director at AfriServ

With respect to outdoor design, I hope to see an increase in its application in both commercial and residential landscapes.

The need to preserve our precious water resources, should see the use of more resilient, drought-tolerant plants which are derived from our natural plant habitats integrated into outdoor design.

The creation/production of a South African Blueprint or Handbook for a garden for each Biome should be a strong consideration. In terms of implementation, I’d like to see the landscaping fraternity become increasingly cognisant of environmental sensitivities, with water conservation at the heart of everything we do. The augmented supply of water in the form of grey-water, boreholes, and well points need to be integrated into implementation strategies, along with the use of resilient plants/specialist specimens such as Rhus crenata (or Dune Crownberry), for example. In order to ensure that we build/develop sustainable gardens, we need to prioritise proper maintenance systems which include plants as ground covers as opposed to mulch, succession planning with respect to vegetation, sustainable fire protection solutions, and the height of vegetation adjacent to buildings.

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SEEN AROUND

SEEN AROUND: WORLD OUTDOOR FITNESS™ (WOF) Pro Landscaper takes a look at some of WOF’s latest installations around the country.

Outdoor gyms have swept South Africa by storm since the first outdoor gym in the country was installed in O. R Tambo Narrative Centre in 2011, by World Outdoor Fitness™ World Outdoor Fitness™ is a proudly South African company that specialises in the design, production and installation of play and outdoor fitness equipment and uses a mixture of outdoor gyms, playground series and Boot Camp equipment.

Their vision is simply, to make the outdoor

workout and playground experience accessible to every individual and every family. They also help to uplift communities through assisting companies maximizing their CSI / CSR budgets in a long term, safe and sustainable investment.

Knowing that each facility has unique needs, World Outdoor Fitness™ provides the tools to meet these needs. The aim is to introduce state of the art outdoor exercise equipment for adults and children, while creating and maintaining green environments. World Outdoor Fitness™ provides facility owners and managers with a wide

range of fitness solutions, customizable options and technological advancements, making their outdoor spaces stand out and their businesses thrive.

World Outdoor Fitness™ is not just about fitness hardware, we help facility owners to design and visualise with CAD and 3D illustrations in creating state-of-the-art technology solutions for their respective communities and clients.

World Outdoor Fitness™ is the “The Original Outdoor gym”

WORLD OUTDOOR FITNESS – SA, BEING THE ORIGINAL OUTDOOR GYM PROVIDER, IS ALWAYS ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY AND IMPROVEMENT. WOF’s Research & Development sector have designed a first of its kind skating facility that eliminates the need to build a huge Skate Park.

This is fantastic for limited space and urban environments as well as parks and dedicated facilities. Its great advantage is that the skates come built in and therefore cater for all income brackets and those who don’t have skateboards.

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Pro Landscaper Africa | September 2018

www.prolandscaper.co.za

SEEN AROUNND

ROTUNDA PARK – JOHANNESBURG DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (JDA) AND JOHANNESBURG CITY PARKS & ZOO (JCPZ)

1

World Outdoor Fitness™ worked closely with the clients and supplied two innovative, state of the art play pods, one designed for children aged 2-7 and another for ages 7-15.

These were both added In addition to an outdoor gym circuit, giving the project a well rounded offering.

Play Pod 1, as pictured here, features over and above the able-bodied play equipment, an innovative play section catering for children with disabilities.

2

Play pod 2, as pictured here, includes a never-before-seen in SA play system from the BootCamp™ series, which offers its users a challenging and tactile experience for the more mature children.

There are a lot of climbing, core and balancing activities incorporated into this system – which is a fun way to improve hand and eye coordination & motoric skills.

LIFESTYLE ESTATES – MARINA MARTINIQUE, XAVIER LIFESTYLE ESTATE EXT. WOF created on this facility, a 12-unit, 26 user lifestyle package, designed specifically for estates.

Landscaping isn’t reserved for undulating gardens and the wild countryside, but certainly also includes urban spaces, such as civic squares and the public realm. It is an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of cultural and natural factors.

An Outdoor Fitness System brings the best of the gym to the great outdoors. It is perfect for parks, trails or next to playgrounds. This set is the epitome of sleek, intuitive design which complements any natural setting.

What is also so fantastic about this equipment is that parents and older children are no longer left sitting on the benches while younger children play. Outdoor fitness equipment allows them to get up and get moving! A wide variety of exercise equipment options allow for configurations to fit spaces, both large and small, as means to encourage a diverse audience.

www.prolandscaper.co.za

The social aspect of this new outdoor fitness zone is a driving force behind its growing popularity. Many of the exercise units are designed to accommodate multiple users, creating a space that is fun, social and motivational. The community lifestyle package allows up to 26 people of all ages and fitness levels to exercise simultaneously – encouraging families, friends and neighbours to participate together and encouraging community exchanges.

Pro Landscaper Africa | September 2018

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SEEN AROUND

FIRST NATIONAL BANK (FNB) OUTDOOR GYM – JHB CBD When corporate’s think about their employees wellbeing and modes of motivation, they certainly consider an outdoor gym facility.

AFHCO – ALBRT ST. Property developers find creative ways of adding value to apartment buildings by adding outdoor gym and play equipment to cater for both adults and children.

World Outdoor FitnessTM supplied an outdoor gym circuit and a variety of free standing play like 4 seat swings and slide combo, climbing and balancing apparatus and seesaw.

WOF supplied FNB with a small outdoor gym circuit that covers everything from cardio to core exercise and all fitness levels.

The initial investment and on-going maintenance is a fraction of what an indoor gym would cost.

There is no need for electricity, air conditioning, instructors or any added expense, saving thousands of rands per month. There is zero to minimal maintenance cost with an outdoor gym once installed, which is the appeal.

The corporate medical aid schemes encourage and sometimes offer rebates for these facilities and when it comes to indoor gyms, they can be seen to take up valuable indoor space that could otherwise be used as a rental space or used for added staffing.

It is a clever and responsible way to account for the happiness of your workforce, without compromising space.

In a different AFHCO project where space was limited WOF erected a rooftop outdoor gym to save valuable real-estate space.

ST ANDREWS SCHOOL Here WOF designed a custom made BootCamp system specifically for St. Andrews School for Girls that is colour coded to match their school badge and ethos of blue, red and white. There is even a logo board to tie the aesthetic together.

The system helps promote physical fitness within school children through play and associate’s fun with activity and the outdoors. Here the main elements include climbing, balancing, vertical and horizontal tunnels, upper body strength, swings and slides.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS JOURNAL

Landscape Architect’s Journal: Nekrotopio: Scenery of the dead Kyrstyn Oberholster explores an unconventional landscape approach to designing a burial site that disposes of human remains sustainably, whilst creating a narrated, thought-provoking, and healing landscape for the living visitor Project Awards: ILASA Prize, 2015; Bosun Prize, 2015; Green Inc. Prize, 2015; David Haddon Prize,

We all form part of the greater cosmos.

We are born, we live, we die. Birth and Death are words we chose to describe the doorways in and out of the circle of life. Is death the end or simply a sense of completion?

When I started this thesis in 2015, I knew I wanted to contribute something innovative and evocative to the field of Landscape architecture.

I believed that the landscape could become a vehicle to understand the self, rather than just the place.

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The thesis’ catalyst was the fact that we are globally running out of space to bury the dead. With 78% of Johannesburg’s cemeteries passive, we need to adapt to sustainable corpse disposal methods. Whilst 94% of South African’s are buried, the remaining 6% are cremated.

Cremation is not a viable option to many cultural and religious groups in South Africa due to fire being associated with hell and an undesirable afterlife. It is believed that the body should be returned to the earth. We need to adapt to new corpse disposal methods that respect cultural believes. This thesis proposed the introduction of promession (reducing to ashes via dryfreezing) and green burial to South Africa.

Finally, using the basic principles of thermophilic aerobic composting, reusable concrete composting chambers were designed that speeds up the natural decomposition process.

The second focus point of this thesis was rethinking how and who we design cemeteries

for. Many cemeteries disregard user experience, even though cemeteries are for the living, as well as the deceased. It is said that the relationship between tombs and gardens date back centuries. That the tombstone was as much part of the landscape garden as the meandering path. Places of burial hold the potential to be powerful and meaningful spaces. The landscape is poised between life and death, it is a compassionate and healing world. The intention was to design a meaningful landscaped burial site that acts as a memento mori. Meaning in the landscape can be induced through designing narrated spaces that evoke a predetermined emotion. The sequenced narrative of Nekrotopio is one of mortality and holism.

The three proposed sustainable corpse disposal methods; composting, green burial, and promession, were used as the three events of the narrative. At the first event, the composting www.prolandscaper.co.za

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS JOURNAL

chambers, the user is lead into a semi-enclosed space past protruding concrete chambers. The intention of this is to make one very aware of the temporality of human life, and of one’s own mortality. From this enclosed space the user moves into the second event: the green burial field. The experience of moving from event one to event two can be compared to walking through a dense forest and unexpectedly walking into a glade. The contrast should make the user feel exposed and vulnerable. The absence of markers and tombstones in the field reinforces the notion that we are temporary. Similarly, the absence of vertical structures and trees in this space add to the feeling of empty vastness. The third event takes place in the promession forest.

Here, the ash remains are placed in eco-urns along with compost and tree seeds. As the trees grow, so does the forest and the biodiversity it holds. Walking through the forest, the user should realise that each tree represents a human

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life. Even though we are mortal and our bodies are broken down into basic organic matter, from our death, comes life. This is the notion of holism. After this realization, the narrative leads the user across a stream and to a viewing tower. At the top of the viewing tower, the user has a view of the entire Nekrotopio. The user is able to observe how the narrative events fit into each other and into the landscape. The user should realise, when gazing over this landscape, filled with generation upon generation of people, that every human is an intrinsic part of the universe.

The selected site for Nekrotopio was the Diepsloot Nature Reserve in Johannesburg. This site had already been approved for burial. The mesmerizing and undulating topography and rolling grasslands created a spectacular organic scene. This inspired the idea of Juxtaposing: in order to compliment and celebrate the

site, the intervention needed to be in stark contrast to it. From this, the concept painting developed. It showed a clustered organization of strong geometric shapes, giving the idea that the landscape is shaped though cutting, with moments of intensity.

This brutal stereotomic approach to architectural language reveals the genus loci of Nekrotopio.

The first two events of the narrative are not informal or lighthearted and the architecture needed to reflect this. To achieve this the architecture had to be heavy and formal. As the narrative progresses and the genus loci changes from somber to sanguine, so does the architecture. The viewing tower that overlooks the entire scenery of the dead at the end of the narrative, is a light tectonic structure, revealing the lighthearted nature of the space and the conclusion of the narrative.

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS JOURNAL

Landscape Architect’s Journal:

Guang Ming, Shenzhen, China Sports Park

View along the main promenade

LOLA Landscape Architects 24

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LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS JOURNAL

Birdseye view from central lake towards Guang Ming

Red path and canopy, crossing a big road

View on electricity pylons, equipped with LED strips to become light scultpures

Forest trail

Forest cabin that can be rented for a night

Ecological water edge around the main lake

Each landscape zone accomodates its own selection of sports and activities

LOLA, TALLER and L+CC won the international competition for a 600 hectare forest and sports park in Guang Ming, Shenzhen, China. The other competitors were JCFO, SWA and TCL. The jury praised the winning proposal for its fresh approach and being highly attentive to local ecology, meanwhile incorporating romantic techniques and realistic urban functions.

The forest and sports park is to become a destination for the Big Bay area. As this metropolitan region finds its success in innovative industries, the park focuses on innovation in sports and ecology. Two R&D centers, one for sports, one for botany are www.prolandscaper.co.za

centrally located in the park. From here, a constant evolution and diversification of the park will take place. On the central park loop, a linear plant and tree nursery is integrated.

In a natural forest setting, people will be able to get to know new and ‘forgotten’ sports, as well as the latest techniques used in sports.

A range from open valleys to lower hills and mountain forest offers the natural background for these sports and active leisure.

A series of pavilions, that host functions like restaurant, restroom, viewing platform and forest cabin, is modular an prefabricated, to minimize environmental impact.

Contact: Lola.land Tallerarchitects.com Landandcivilizations.com loes@lola.land, (+31) 10 4141368

An elevated path connects the park to the city and the forest; forming a scenic route that passes by all different types of forest.

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INTERVIEW

Proposed Caledonian Park, Tshwane

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MINUTES WITH GRAHAM YOUNG A published author, a believer in and contributor to community service, a teacher, a researcher and a wellknown name within the South African Landscaping Industry, Pro Landscaper is thrilled to celebrate its 3rd year anniversary interviewing Graham Young.

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INTERVIEW

When did you decide you wanted to pursue a career in landscape architecture?

In my final year of school. I was at the North Toronto Collegiate Institute (NTCI) and we had to select a programme and university at which we wished to further our studies. I selected Architecture, Landscape Architecture and Sports Science at three different university’s thinking that fate would sort out the answer. All three accepted me so I was back to square one. After much thought I chose landscape architecture at the University of Toronto and enrolled in 1972.

What would you describe as the major differences between the way in which the profession is viewed in Canada versus in Africa (based on your experience in each place)?

In South Africa the type of project you could be involved in is broader that in Canada where firms tend to ‘specialize’ in a specific aspect of landscape architecture. i.e. in South Africa I could be involved with a visual impact assessment one day, an urban or township park the next and then a high-profile Government project or even commercial (office park) work. In Canada the opportunity to practice across all aspects of landscape architecture is somewhat limited due to competition and the need to be the best in a specific area of practice. However, in Canada, available project funds are more realistic that what is usually on offer in South Africa.

Residential/ commercial/ public? Which space best suits your aesthetic and why?

I don’t design by ‘aesthetic’. Rather, my approach is to understand that each project presents its own set of circumstances, problems and opportunities along with the Client’s preferences/demands.

Therefore ‘style’ or ‘aesthetic’ do not play an important role in determining a design solution.

However, in terms of preferred project type, I would say that I prefer public work – and most of my projects, particularly in the latter part of my career, have been in the public realm.

Interestingly, I was recently writing for a book that will soon be published to commemorate the Department of Architecture’s 75th Anniversary.

In researching for my chapter, I went back to my early writings and come across the following quote that reinforces my attitude in this regard as well as comments on the projects referred to in the question below.

“When style reigns supreme, the process of design – the solving of problems and developing aesthetic opportunities as we see them, the endeavour to find new more sensitive ways to relate people to nature and buildings, is lost. We become slaves of verbal and visual vocabularies, always working to relate back to some tradition or precedent.

open space planning, particularly in Soweto and then the design and implementation of parks based on these frameworks. In the early days much effort was required by the authorities and designers to convince people that parks are an asset to their neighbourhood, notwithstanding the other very real issues of housing, lack of skills and unemployment. People initially felt that the land should be set aside for housing and not for parks. To a small degree we were able to address two of these issues by including funds in the tender documents for skills training and a requirement that a certain percentage of un-skilled labour is sourced directly from the immediate community. When the Moroko Park Precinct was installed (2002), it soon became evident to the community that their recreation needs and other benefits of the park, were being realized. Once the precedent was set, many parks were ‘rolled out’ in subsequent years.

Moroko Park Precinct, Soweto

Does it really matter whether it is Modern of post-Modern, traditional or avant garde. Can’t we just design and plan! Should we not understand that each design/planning situation is a new and unprecedented combination of people, time and place. To solve the problem with styles which were derived from other circumstances is to evade the responsibility of finding the essence of that situation and then developing its maximum potential for good living and experience”.1 What are some of the most influential projects you have worked on throughout your 30+ years in the industry?

The work I did for the City of Johannesburg in its initial post-Apartheid incarnations. First, with the Southern Metro Local Council (SMLC) and then later with the city. This work involved strategic

End use vision - Coedmore Quarry, Durban 28

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INTERVIEW

Sunken Garden - Riverside Government Office Complex

Riverside Government Office complex is an influential project in that it was one of the first major provincial projects where the Client was striving to create a new identity in its public buildings and places. In 1999, Newtown Landscape Architects (my previous firm) jointly won (with KWP Landscape Architects) a design competition for the project. The landscape design comprised many different layers, which referred to the natural and cultural environment for contextual and narrative clues. Working in close collaboration with the architects2, the design made an important contribution to the ongoing dialogue of how projects should respond to African cultural references in the ‘new’ South Africa and the idea of an African Renaissance in architecture. Architect Bannie Britz, in the May/June 2002 issue of SA Architecture stated, “Something needs to be said about the way in which the work of other disciplines was woven into the texture of the building. Landscaping and artwork are submerged into the fabric of the complex as is seldom seen in South Africa – seamlessly integrated rather than applied.”

The firms won the ILASA Presidential Award for Excellence for its pioneering approach to creating an ‘African landscape’ of ‘international significance’3 along with several other industry awards.

“The complex three-part brief is realised in a ritualistic language of processions – its simplicity overruling parochial connotations. By respecting the subtlety of African symbolism and tactfully realising it on a monumental scale, the project was able to convincingly capture a shared history and a sensitive subject. Perhaps the veneration of landscape – the common bond of all South Africans – is the ultimate vehicle for an African architectural language in the operative sense of the word. By using landscape to encapsulate memory, instead of the reverse, Freedom Park inaugurates the African monument.”

The project gained local and international recognition.

In your capacity as a lecturer what is one prevalent topic you feel your students need to explore on a deeper level?

Understanding the concept of landscape.

‘Landscape’ is part of what we call ourselves, but many of us do not have a clear understanding of what this means in terms of our name and the way we practice our profession. I challenge them to develop their normative position, in part, around their understanding of this concept.

he visited our university). He certainly put modern landscape architecture ‘on the map’, notwithstanding the subsequent debate in the ‘80s and ‘90s between those who thought his approach was too rigid and anti-design and those who still believed implicitly in his methods.

Interestingly, his ‘popularity’ has remerged in the last decade, as the debate has shifted from one of polarisation to an understanding that an ecological approach to design, by definition, must also include the art of design (beauty) – and, given our current environmental crises, is in fact ‘the only way to go’. This new attitude manifests in theories like Landscape Urbanism and Ecological Urbanism, which are being championed by Anne-Whiston Spirn, Elizabeth Meyer, James Corner and many other prominent landscape architects.

What would you describe as a tool you cannot live without?

My laptop and camera … without these I would be lost.

Who has been your biggest professional influence to-date and why?

It is sited that you have a niche area of expertise in “Visual Impact Assessments” – (for which you have won an ILASA Merit for this in 1999) please elaborate on this topic and explain what a visual impact study addresses? Why is it so important in how we design spaces?

It might sound hackneyed, but it would have to be Ian McHarg. When I studied, he was our hero, albeit a chain smoking, gruff, ‘missionary’ of a man, who condemned you if you didn’t see the world as he did (I’m making this statement based on hearing him speak in person when

Visual impact assessment is not so much a tool to enable design, rather it’s a method to ensure, as best as we can, the visual and aesthetic quality of a landscape after development. Just like water, air and soil, which are important natural resources, so too is the beauty of our landscapes.

Perhaps my most significant project was Freedom Park. It is arguably the most important heritage development project in South Africa due to its national importance and that it was mandated by President Nelson Mandela as the natural outcome of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process. The design approach was driven by landscape narrative theory, which focused on the uniqueness of the landscape in facilitating a conversation with African cultural practices that existed in the past.

In Ora Joubert’s book 10 years + 100 Buildings Architecture in a Democratic South Africa (2009), she wrote: www.prolandscaper.co.za

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INTERVIEW

And, as we want to reduce or limit impact on these resources, we also need to limit and reverse the adverse impact that development can have on valued landscapes. This mostly relates to industrial and mining developments but also to valued urban environments.

The assessment of likely effects on a landscape resource and on visual amenity is complex, since it is determined through a combination of quantitative and qualitative evaluations.

Landscape and visual assessments are separate, although linked, procedures. The landscape, its analysis and the assessment of impacts on the landscape all contribute to the baseline for visual impact assessment studies. The assessment of the potential impact on the landscape is carried out as an impact on an environmental resource, i.e. the physical landscape, while visual impacts, on the other hand, are assessed as one of the interrelated effects on people (i.e. the viewers and the impact of an introduced object into a view or scene).

You have also established (and are a director at) Newtown Landscape Architects (NLA) … How do you go about juggling your many responsibilities?

Philosophical as this might be, where do you see Landscape Architecture in the next 5 years….?

Perhaps the best way to answer this is to quote myself from the book that will be published to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Department of Architecture.

Over the past 10 years I’ve been involved in a series of urban projects which were informed by the ideas and concepts behind landscape/ ecological urbanism4 as well as urban ecology5.

I’ve tried to incorporate a way of thinking that introduces landscape in a meaningful way when addressing some of our urban problems. This approach understands landscape “as

Proposed Caledonian Park, Tshwane

I recently sold my shares in Newtown Landscape Architects and now operate as a sole proprietor, Graham A Young Landscape Architect. I have greatly reduced my private work load. In this move I can again concentrate on teaching, perhaps my first love, as I move towards the latter stages of my career, which, by the way, I am thoroughly enjoying. However, having said this, I consider myself extremely privileged to have had the opportunity to teach and practice at the same time for most of my career. Today, it is not possible to do this due to the demands on both sides.

What would you say your firm focuses its energy on in terms of an offering to its clients?

Vision - Johannesburg Inner City Park

I’ve always believed that you must carefully listen to your Client, to clearly understand what is being asked of you and what their expectations is in hiring you. Often, your client has insights that you don’t have, and which can make for exciting projects to emerge. However, we are hired for our expertise and insights. Our role then, is to establish the best design solution for the set of circumstances presented by the project. You can compromise down from this position (as there will always be compromise). It’s difficult to argue in the other direction.

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INTERVIEW

community-based”, and “combines construction with management, development with conservation, and space-based thinking with process-orientated thinking”6. It understands the city as being part of nature and not set outside it. It understands that the new urban landscapes we are developing, must, by necessity be regenerative and look to the natural processes for inspiration. It also recognizes “that there has been a change from landscape as a negotiated condition between ‘natural’ and ‘artificial’, towards landscape as a richer term, embracing urbanism, infrastructure, strategic planning, architecture and speculative ideas; landscape has evolved from the pictorial to the instrumental, strategic and operational”7.

What is the most beneficial book (industry related) you have read in the last few years that you would recommend to our readers?

‘Landscape Urbanism and its Discontents, Dissimulating the Sustainable City’ edited by Duany and Talen is an evocative little book I’ve recently finished reading. It brings together arguments for and against a landscape approach to urbanism. Peter Calthorpe in praise for the book, states, “Herein one can find the most articulate and insightful debate on [issues that landscape architects, architects and urban designers must confront when considering] urbanism …. The issues raised should be at the heart of any serious dialog about the human prospect”. A definite read!

When you aren’t involved in the landscaping community, what are some of your other hobbies?

Tennis is a passion. I love watching professional tennis and playing the game. I am active in league and Seniors competitions. This gets me out of the house, and mostly keeps me fit (although my wife and son might argue this point – about getting fit). Another ‘hobby’ is spending time in the outdoors with my family and friends.

In any given year we organize weekend hikes in the country away from the city. These breaks are essential to my wellbeing and allow me to recuperate in natural environments. I also love to go on ‘safari’, specifically on camping trips to remote parts of Namibia and other southern Africa countries.

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What are we as an industry doing to absorb the ‘young blood’ of the landscaping trade into our firms/practises/ professional circles & how can we, as well as institutes of learning and associations better equip our youngsters for the best chance within our industry?

I like to remind my students that most environmental problems originate in our cities.

Solutions must therefore be sought there.

To reinforce this sentiment and taking two reliable theorists as point of departure, the aim is to create ‘better fitting’ urban environments (McHarg)1 that must be designed and planned to create7 ‘wholeness’ (Alexander)8.

If we assume that sustainability incorporates the survival of humans, we can be confident that both present and future generations will need the vital life support functions of a healthy environment.

These functions are 'critical natural capital’, and they cannot be substituted for human capital.

If we are to achieve a better fit that moves towards wholeness, we must first be sure that the resource consumption and waste generation associated with patterns of urban development do not threaten critical natural capital because current patterns are clearly not sustainable.

Essentially, the model they advocate for developing urban form is this: first understand the processes (natural, cultural and economic) and context, then find the fittest available environment for the given activity(s) and finally, adapt the environment (physically) and the self (behaviourally and culturally).

The process is incremental and integrative.

These are principles that must drive our designs, along with the realization that each situation is a new and unprecedented combination of people, time and place. To solve the problem with styles which were derived from other circumstances is to evade our responsibility of finding the essence of that situation and developing its maximum potential for healthy living and experience.

Plaza water feature - Mpumalanga Legislature Building

Young, G (1987). Landscape Southern Africa, Editorial, Vol. 1 No. 3 Mar/Apr 1987. P 3 1

Designed by MPTS Architects a consortium of Meyer Pienaar and Tayob Schnepel Architects who won the design competition in 1999 2

Comment from ILASA awards committee at the presentation ceremony in 2003.

3

Refer also to the various authors of this way of thinking. Note: whilst my one foot is firmly in the landscape urbanism and ecological urbanism camps, I do not discard other prominent urban theories like New Urbanism. Again, my understanding is to not adhere to ‘style’ or be a slave to any particular method; my attitude towards theory is that there is potential in a number of approaches and these should be pursued in dealing with the various crises that beset our modern cities.

4

'Anne Whiston Spirn in her book 'The Granite Garden' and Michael Hough's book, 'City Form Natural Process' 5

Koh, J. in Duany, A. and Talen, E. (Eds), 2013.

Landscape Urbanism and its Discontents, Dissimulating the Sustainable City. Gabriola Island: New Society Publishers pp 247 6

Shannon, K. 2011. Landscapes. In Crysler, C. G. et al. 2011. The Sage Handbook of Architectural Theory.

London: Sage, pp. 626.

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McHarg, I. (1996). A quest for life. New York: Wiley and Sons.

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Alexander, C., et. al., (1987), A new urban design theory, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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PORTFOLIO

P R O J E C T

O N E

MIRROR IMAGE Gateway West is one of Waterfall City’s newer nodes and offers commercial space to let. Located at the intersection of Lone Creek & Magwa Crescent, this development boasts a prominent positioning at the main entrance to Waterfall City and the Mall of Africa. It has everything that you’d expect from a modern, vibrant destination: locality, amenities, infrastructure, safety, sustainability & vitality. The building consists of three floors. The central piazza between the buildings is designed to be a corporate square showcasing urban green open space for the buildings – ideal for informal discussions or lunch breaks. Daniel Rebel Landscape Architect’s design the exterior of this node to fit their client, ATTACQ Architect’s brief.

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Size: Site area – 3727.3m² Site area (excluding building footprint) – 1676.8m² Footprint of building – 2050.5m² Soft landscaped area – 761.7m² Hard landscaped area – 915.1m² Timeline: Landscape installation period: March 2017 – September 2017 Cost: R1.6 Million

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PORTFOLIO

The Brief: The project brief in short was to provide a water-wise landscape incorporating the natural Highveld into the design. No rehabilitation of the landscape was required because the installation was implemented on a basement structure.

The furniture amenities were designed to fit into the rest of the Waterfall precinct and speak the same language as the already established Mall of Africa and Office blocks adjacent to the site. It is always interesting and somewhat a challenge to design and implement different sections of the Waterfall City precinct in stages as they need

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to relate to the various nodes which have been implemented already as well as set themselves apart to offer diversity and unique offerings to the user.

The Landscape design was presented to the Client along with landscape plans, perspectives, material samples and proposed street furniture for approval. This process is imperative as it provides both parties with valuable feedback and finally brought about the design as it appears currently.

Gateway West is located at the prominent entrance to Mall of Africa just off Allandale Road, with an enlightened statement of modern

architecture creating a sense of space as well as a striking sense of arrival to the precinct. The bermed landscape around the border of the site creates a natural podium from which the building radiates, and with the sky reflections on the glass faรงade, gives a sense of weightlessness to the building. Since the building is located on a fivestorey basement, the berms are predominantly made up of big polystyrene blocks to lessen the load of the soil on the super basement structure.

The planted berms frame the central piazza and reflection pond, creating an open green space which acts as a corporate square adjacent to the high-end restaurants of Mall of Africa.

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PORTFOLIO

The indigenous planting and use of raw materials act as a reflection of the Highveld landscape and lends itself to the notion of a natural setting in an urban environment as the materials used in the landscape installation are sourced from the immediate environment. The application of a dripline irrigation system contributes to the water wise strategies that are put in place, which adds to the Silver LEED rating the building has achieved in addition to the other green elements that are applied, making this site a good example of great design practice and extraordinary landscape architecture.

The Sourcing of Materials: Hard landscape: The paving materials were sourced from local suppliers and matches the Waterfall Precinct to fit like a puzzle piece into the rest of the landscape.

Soft landscape: Indigenous planting was considered, this also had to match the rest of the landscape and to fit into the local plant palette. The plane trees used in front of the building were planted to encourage the idea of the site having a seamless interface between the site and the urban infrastructure.

SUPPLIERS Owner & Developer: ATTACQ Main contractor: Group5 Landscape sub-contractor: Countryline Africa - 011 021 5570/1 Mature Trees: Just Trees - 021 871 1595 Planting: Countryline Africa Lighting: Regent Lighting Solutions- 011 474 0171

The plant palette consisted of the following: • Aloe cooperi • Aristida junciformis • Asparagus densiflorus • Clivia miniata • Crocosmia aurea • Dietes grandiflora • Imperata cylindrical • Juncus effuses • Zantedeschia aethiopica

Pavers:

Trees: • Platanus acerifolia

Countryline Africa

As the construction of the site progressed, so too did challenges arise which had to be overcome. Areas were not available until the end of construction and areas that were completed were damaged. Time constraints as well as the rainy season had a big impact on the construction process too. Late nights and long weekends by the contractor, Countryline Africa, who ensured that the end-product was indeed stunning.

Bosun Brick - 011 310 1176 Cobbles: Smartstone - 011 310 1176 Copings/Cladding: WilsonStone - 011 616 7129 Gabions:

Timber bench: Truestyle Hard Landscape Solutions 011 768 1305 Street Furniture: Igneous Concrete - 011 827 7425 Irrigation: Controlled Irrigation - 011 608 0767 Product- Rainbird Tree Grids: Wilson Street Furniture - 011 616 7129 Litter Bins (custom design): Wilson Street Furniture - 011 616 7129

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PORTFOLIO

ABOUT DANIEL REBEL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS (DRLA) Through a holistic design approach and collaboration with other built environment professionals, DRLA create memorable spaces and environments, designs that are accountable, site specific, environmentally responsive and that are constructed on time, within budget but above expectation.

DRLA is well positioned to render a personalised and professional service of an exceptional high standard, to all its clients.

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 www.prolandscaper.co.za

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Size: Two phases: Phase 1: 90m2 Phase 2: 120m2 Total: 210m2 Timeline: Design Mar - Aug 2017 (6 Months) Build 2.5months Cost: R1.3million Location: Rosebank, Johannesburg

P R O J E C T

T W O

THE KEYES ART MILE THE FUTURE OF URBAN LIVING

PORTFOLIO

SUPPLIERS GroWall Modules Pula Water Systems - 083 629 1653 Planting Wildflower Nursery – 082 801 1741 Turfnet – Soil potting mix suppliers Landscape Contractors: Life Landscapes- 011 959 1000

Keyes Avenue in Rosebank is transforming into an open fusion of arts and architecture – where art, design, life, leisure, luxury, fun, friends and work form one seamless experience. A neighbourhood with art at its heart, it’s a connected way of living right in the heart of Johannesburg.

Keyes Art Mile is not only an assemblage of galleries and showrooms, but also a creative way to connect and share. It is a new approach to living, with vibrant local design happily co-habiting with modern classics from timeless masters such as Le Corbusier and the contemporary genius of global stars that include Philippe Starck and Patricia Urquiola. Its where David Higgs’ world class signature restaurant lives in the best location in town along with interesting side street offerings, a limited- edition sneaker paradise and the MESH club that provides common ground for uncommon people.

It’s Curated Neighbourhood Living, and it is called the Keyes Art Mile. Fieldworks Design Group was commissioned by TomorrowCo to design a veld wall which was implemented with the help of Life Landscapes- recently winning a trophy at the SALI Awards of Excellence for this project. This green wall can be termed a pilot project as it is certainly the pioneer in the field of vertical gardening. This green wall signifies the future of urban living.

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The Brief Fieldworks Design Group was commissioned

by TomorrowCo to design The Veld Wall as part of their green initiative for the Keyes Art Mile precinct. The idea was to design a green wall that will cover the entire façade of St.Teresa’s.

The wall should be lush and green with indigenous plants, even endemic if possible, with seasonal variations. It also needed to incorporate plants that can cover the structural pods and exposed sides of the system. The wall needed to be a living art work that relates to the Keyes Art Mile philosophy.

The Design Fieldworks Design describes the project by explaining that “The Keyes Art Mile development originated as a development centred around art, however, this vision has been extended to create a mixed-use neighbourhood within the heart of Rosebank. The Art Mile presents the opportunity, like art itself, to tell a story with the landscaping and public space components contributing significantly to this narrative. The planting strategy for Keyes probably conveys the development’s sustainability agenda the clearest. Not only does the planting palette aid with carbon sequestration in the urban core; promote biodiversity; contribute to nature conservation efforts; and create a favourable micro climate; but it also endeavours

largely to change social perspectives on locally indigenous planting palettes. Future phases of the spine will showcase planting communities that represent Veldtypes occurring naturally along the Mining Belt of Johannesburg.”

Rosebank, and Johannesburg, largely fall within the Grassland Biome of South Africa - The Keyes ‘Veld Wall’ showcases plants from the highly endangered Egoli Granite Grassland Veldtype.

The wall should be viewed as a pilot project, as it is a pioneer in the field of vertical gardening with a ‘hyper regional’ planting palette from the Highveld. The project was constructed in two phases and uses a sophisticated green wall system, called GroWall Modules, as the structural core for the wall. This system is simply fixed to the existing structure (St Theresa’s North and Western facades) and houses an irrigation system and removable planting pods, which makes maintenance and swapping out of plants fairly easy. Due to its modular nature and adaptability, the expansion from phase one to phase two manifested quite seamlessly. The bulk of the planting comprises grass species, while bulbs, perennials and aloes allow for splashes of colour in the sea of grass. The wall is a dynamic art work – it will change seasonally, but also changes almost on an hourly cycle, as the way light moves through the plants present marvellous colour displays at different times of day.

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BEFORE

PORTFOLIO

GREENWALL ADDITIONAL:

GREENWALL GRASSE: CLIMBERS

GREENWALL MIX B:

GREENWALL MIX C:

PLANT LIST: GREENWALL MIX A:

ST. THERESA'S GREEN WALL

DESIGN ELEMENTS: 1. Grow wall modules (624 modules, 125m²) 2. Art Panels (1 x 4.3m x 4.3m & 1 x 4m x 1.6m) 3. Planting in sidewalk planters 4. Creepers 5. Vine lines 6. St. Theresa's sign

Landscape architectural design and consultation proposal 07/08/2017

Originally the wall looked quite bleak, as the teams planting selection consisted of small planting specimens that had to fit the planting pods, but now that it has reached a level of maturity, it has really started to take on a personality of its own.

It is the hopes of the Fieldworks Design team that the wall will continue to flourish and inspire others to put on the same planting lens - specialists and general public alike. It has been an exciting journey to date, with many lessons learnt and potentially a few more to learn as part of the wall’s reaction to seasonal change, dominant planting species and external forces.

Our task therefore was not only to merely select plants suitable for an aesthetically pleasing green wall or for robust public space planting, but also to contribute to the story that The Keyes Art Mile is about.

Materials The project consists of 3 main components: Structure; GroWall module, housing planters www.prolandscaper.co.za

and irrigation infrastructure – fixed to building façade. Soil; which was sourced by Life Landscapes, a division of LIFE Green Group.

Plants; Supplied by Wildflower Nursery, who specialise in grassland planting and presented as the logical choice for project planting. Dr. Johan Wentzel and his wife Annette were extremely helpful in insuring that plant combinations were achievable and viable as a vertical veld wall. Wildflower specifically propagated higher quantities of some grass species for the project, as the bulk of the wall consists of grass species.

Life Green Group’s Oscar Lockwood explains his view of this project by stating that “this contract has been one of the most fascinating landscapes I have ever been involved with; mainly because it has pushed the envelope to the limit with regard to what we can do on a vertical wall, at the same time remaining pure to the concept of a truly endemic piece of veld that you would have found on and around Johannesburg 100 years ago! The concept of allowing a piece of veld to go to sleep over winter whilst being in a high-profile space is dynamic and special. Lots of

the flowering veld types require this dry period to force the flowering and we are in that process right now.

Just before spring we will go onto a Cherry picker and cut back all the growth from last year and allow the summer growth to occur naturally; together with the summer flowering plants.

It has been a privilege to be part of this special installation and I hope to keep involved in the future.”

ABOUT FIELDWORKS DESIGN GROUP Formed in 2015, Fieldworks Design Group is an ambitious young think-tank for designers eager to explore the possibilities associated with architectural, landscape and urban interventions in the contemporary built environment.

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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

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

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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

Timeline: June 2015-August 2018 Cost: +- R10 million Location: Lourensford Wine Estate, Somerset West, Western Cape

P R O J E C T

T H R E E

LOURENSFORD ESTATE www.prolandscaper.co.za

Nestled in the fertile bowl of the Helderberg mountains in Somerset West, Lourensford Estate was originally part of the Vergelegen farm established in 1709 by Willem Adriaan van der Stel, the then Governor of the Cape.

The estate is a 4500 ha working agricultural farm, however, the emphasis is placed on the conservation of the Estates unique biodiversity and rich floral heritage.

Commissioned by Lournesford’s proud owner, Christo Wiese, Keith Kirsten Horticulture International (KKHI) refurbishes this pristine estate.

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PORTFOLIO

SUPPLIERS Project Information: Keith Kirsten & Raymond Hudson Mature Trees: Habitat Wholesale Tree suppliers – 021 855 4400 Just Trees – 0218711595 Themba Trees – 083 419 0223

The Brief: The brief was simple, the client wanted to make the garden a unique destination.

This required upgrading infrastructure as well as the landscape. The garden was disjointed and needed continuity and flow.

The area adjacent to the Romantic garden was used for overflow parking. It was initially a stressed lawn area which Ray designed to redirect the main flow of traffic from the original Oak Avenue through the exit road and installed a raised bridge with an underpass walkway.

KKHI decided to capitalize on it being an important Biodiversity hotspot and focus on using as much fynbos and indigenous plant material as possible.

This allowed for kids to pass safely from the new circular interactive fountain area with concentric berms to the Buffalo sculpture lawn on the other side.

Although the estate was brimming with exotics such as Viburnums, Cape May, Hydrangeas, Azaleas and Camellias we reasoned that these types of plants could feature mainly in a section of the garden that Keith termed the romantic garden, where most of the Camellias were already thriving under a forest of ancient Oak trees. This is the first area that the team started on and developed a series of paths along a canal with bridges crossing to seating areas for visitors to relax and enjoy the shaded garden.

The next plants to be added were Magnolias, Maples and new generation Azaleas.

Lourensford has always had a series of disjointed office buildings, which were loosely arranged around a lawn with random paths.

This area was formalized focusing on the attractive Cape style building that serves as an office to the Karstens group, who manages the fruit-growing sector on this estate. New formal pathways of herringbone red brick were laid with a central hedged Lippia lawn feature in a lozenge shape. Double paths with Liquidambers between, underplanted with fynbos and perennial colour, strengthen the design of this large courtyard.

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Shrub and ground cover suppliers include: Aboreta Nursery – 021 864 3857 Nonke Nursery – 021 887 6972 Elands – 0419555671 Induli Nursery – 021 785 3581 De Fynne Nursery – 021 869 8467 Irrigation: Contractors Loxton Irrigation- 021 883 9860 Product Netafim- 021 987 0477 Pathway Paving Corobrik - 031 560 3111 Cobbles Cape Cast- 021 845 4189 Paving Contractors: Mellish Paving - 021 855 3488 Water Features: Water in Motion - 083 227 5950 Images Lourensford Estate

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BEFORE

PORTFOLIO

Parking was an issue, but Keith called on the expertise of Hannes Bouwer Architects - who had designed the buildings at Cavalli Stud Farm, to develop a whole new parking area alongside the Winery precinct. The car park garden is a feature with a large selection of trees and carefully thought-out plantings of indigenous plant material.

While this parking was being planned KKHI got stuck in, redesigning the winery garden, which resulted in the team removing the tall enclosure of Cupressus leylandii that were screening the view of the magnificent surrounding mountains. This garden with its existing central pond feature was upgraded and had a whole new paving layout and raised berms installed in the place of the conifers.

These raised berms were planted mainly with fynbos being just high enough to screen the new car park and low enough to capitalize on the panorama of majestic mountains nearby.

ponds and watercourse. Once this was achieved, all exotics and alien vegetation were removed and replaced with Informal fynbos and indigenous plantings. It was then contoured and the lawns were rehabilitated spanning the road to the ponds.

The entire irrigation system needed to be upgraded in the process, so this proved a challenge. It was upgraded largely to a drip system which conserves water.

A Horticultural specialist was appointed to manage the garden once these changes were implemented.

The garden now functions as a cohesive whole.

The flow of the pathways allows for easy access and exploration of the different themed sections of the garden and the wide variety of fynbos and indigenous plant material is a delight to all who visit.

Hannes Bouwer architects redesigned the Farmers market precinct, which KKHI landscaped together with the Aleit Groups’s Office entrance area.

Bouwer Architects also rebuilt the Coffee House building adding a Health Spar and retail shops. Feature paving with a rill and two water features link to the main walk up to the winery.

The low formal hedges enclosing informal fynbos plantings further enhance this walkway.

The Manor house driveway was rebuilt with a camber and repaved allowing the runoff rainwater to access the garden. The avenue of Oaks was given specialist attention, as were all the trees on the estate. The hydrangeas on either side were also composted and mulched to give them a boost and restore them to their former glory.

The wedding venue was given a new car park and landscaped up to and around the main building. New paving installed at the entrance to the facility and trees planted on either side give life to this venue. The terraces were hedged with Syzigium pondoense and planted with perennial colour and fynbos. The Pin Oak Avenue up to the venue was cleaned up and the water channel alongside formalized and stone pitched.

The last point of call was to refurbish the entrance approach road. This involved building a new watercourse with ponds and streams between the in-and-out-roads. Large boulders and rocks were brought in to enhance the 44

Pro Landscaper Africa | September 2018

BEFORE | AFTER

A B O U T K E I T H K I R S T E N H O R T I C U LT U R E I N T E R N AT I O N A L ( K K H I )

KKHI specializes in Horticulture and Landscape Project Management (Local and International). From hotels, wine estates, private estates and large corporate contracts, Keith Kirsten Horticulture International develops, implements and maintains landscape projects for corporate and private clients.

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When you use water Remember the source!

Irrigation ● Residential Pools ● Fluid Handling ● Commercial Pools

Cost: R3 million Location: Bellville, Cape Town Size: 1,500m2 Timeline: August- December 2014 Maintenance: Ongoing by Contours Landscapes

PORTFOLIO

P R O J E C T

F O U R

A BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE, NOW.

THE EDGE is a corporate office building located on Carl Cronje Drive, in the Tyger Valley business district, Bellville, Cape Town. It is perfectly positioned in the heart of the vibrant Tyger Valley Waterfront, with urban village living, an array of shops, bars, restaurants, sports and fitness facilities and near big corporates such as Santam and Glacier. THE EDGE is Built on the philosophy of evolving innovation and is designed to provide the best possible office environment for today’s business professionals. The striking modern architecture contains 10 000m² of exceptional corporate office and retail space. It also enjoys stunning distant views of the Durbanville Hills and Boland mountains from most of its floors and rooftop terrace. This is a building carefully designed to greatly reduce its carbon footprint and is positioned to be awarded a 5 Star Green Building Council of South Africa ‘design’ and ‘as built rating’. OvP Associates designed the exterior of this building with implementation by Contours Landscapes & Contours Gabions. OvP associates earned an ILASA Award of Excellence in 2015 for this project.

The brief from the client was for OvP to create a landscape that complements the architecture of the building and displays the green vision of the building. Furthermore, it was to connect the building to the wider pedestrian network; to aid and display the sustainable systems to increase resource efficiency; to create healthy and comfortable work and people environments; and to anchor the building within the regional context. OvP were included very early on in the process for the concept, design, documentation and implementation supervision.

The two main issues on this project were: 1.

The water used in the heating and cooling systems: Water used in the HVAC systems were drawn from the adjacent quarry, filtered and circulated through the building.

In the summer months water that exit the systems will be a few degrees warmer than at the entry point and too warm to be circulated directly back into the quarry.

The water feature systems were created to oxygenated, cool and circulated the water back to the quarry via a 84m lei voor.

The water flowing back into the quarry is cleaner than what was extracted and at the required temperature.

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PORTFOLIO

2.

Space: the narrow landscape areas within the cadastral boundary had to accommodate footing for columns, anchoring of the boardwalk system, services, bedrock and an open storm water canal 5m wide and 18m long. This multi-layered functionality required careful planning. The canal was covered and paved over and planted in such a way that its existence is completely obscured.

Both these two challenges were solved by working in close collaboration with the consulting engineers.

Landscape Architect’s Motivation: It was the aim of OvP Landscape Architects to accomplish the requirements of the brief as follow: The landscape design approach centred around the ‘opening up’ of the side of the building to the greater pedestrian walkway system. In doing so, the fence was removed to allow for public access directly to the ground floor entrances to shops, but still maintaining security through control gates to the sides of the building. The paved walkways around the building connect to the public walkway in two places. The reinstatement of the council road verge introduced Aptenia cordifolia in lieu of lawn, that reduced the need for maintenance, created more habitat and reduced the water needs. The entire road verge (1300m2) was planted with a mixture of indigenous groundcovers, grasses, bulbs, shrubs and large trees.

This project aims at a 5-star Green Star as built rating from the GBCSA, already having achieved the design rating. The green star systems are displayed in the landscape through the carefully detailed water features, the ventilation openings into the basement and achieving a 90% reduction in water use.

The gardens were developed to encourage people to walk through it, pause and sit in public or private spaces. Extensive planters were added to the 8th floor. Large trees provide windbreaks and contribute to creating comfortable outdoor environments for both pedestrians and those occupying the building towards a healthy work environment.

All the material used in the landscape compliments that of the building in colour and form. Rocks used in walls are the same rock as what has been mined in the quarry and together with the indigenous planting, anchors the landscaping in the regional context.

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PORTFOLIO Contours Landscapes The Edge, a commercial Green Star office development, forms part of the greater Tyger Falls development, was built alongside a waterfilled decommissioned granite quarry. With the western facade of the building fronting onto the water’s edge it made sense to incorporate a cantilevered Balau deck, linking this building to the greater Tygerberg falls development.

With the body of water being central to the development, OVP Associates incorporated many aquatic and river margin plant species into the planting palette and were also able to use dry land species on the high lying areas and on the 8th floor rooftop terrace.

An entirely indigenous plant palette was specified by OVP Associates, with most plants occurring in the locally occurring Fynbos biome.

An unusual plant palette was chosen. Some of the more unusual marginal endemic species used were Brunia nodiflora; Berzelia intermedia; Mimetes argenteus and Gunnera perpensa. To break a dependency on creating impact through flower colour only, a juxtapose of foliage textures was achieved by, for instance, placing cylindrical stemmed sedges and Resions (Restio dispar; R. multiflorus; R. similus; Elegia tectorum var. ‘Vishoek’) alongside bold foliaged Melianthus major, Zantesdeschia aethiopica and Gunnera perpensa, in so doing ensuring year-round textural interest. Careful consideration was given to the use of plants with colourful foliage like the placement of bright red and yellow foliaged Leucadendron hybrids near grey foliaged Helichrysum cymoseum and Helichrysum petiolare.

the soil mixture for all tees, flower beds and plant troughs. The effects on the landscape by the devastating drought that gripped the Western Cape was virtually eliminated through the incorporation of Zeoplant and a thick mulch layer.

Heather Stipinovich, Contours Landscapes maintenance manager, notes that even during the worst period of the drought, the landscape at The Edge displayed remarkable resilience.

The landscape, which is still maintained by Contours Landscapes has matured beautifully.

SUPPLIERS Gabions: Contours Gabions Specialised stone cladding: Contours Gabions Fibre concrete troughs: Igneous Concrete - 011 827 7425 Paving: Revelstone - 021 761 0739 Mature Trees: Just Trees - 0218711595 Groundcovers and shrubs: New plant Nursery - 0448890055 Compost / Topsoil: Reliance compost - 0861 888 784 Mulch Master Organics - 021 396 1066 Irrigation installation Turfmanzi Irrigation - 021 975 5578 Water retaining additives Zeoplant South Africa (Pty) Ltd. (0)21 788 1202 Developer: Cubimanzi Investments (Pty) Ltd Owner: Capitalgro (Pty) Ltd Principle Contractor: WBHO Construction (Cape) (Pty) Ltd Architect: Bam Architects

Flower colour was not overlooked though. Flora with inflorescence colour falling predominantly within the ‘cool’ colour spectrum (white; cream; mauve; pink; purple, blue and pastels) were used.

These included Coleonema alba; Coleonema pulchellum; Crassula multicava; Felicia amelloides; Felcia echinata; Leucadendron spp. and Phylica pubescence. But, what would a landscape be without the odd splash of orange, red and yellow? These colours were provided by using Leucospermums and Aloes, chosen specifically for their winter flowering season. Besides the landscaping at ground level, the roof top terrace was landscaped by incorporating pre-cast troughs (supplied by Igneous Concrete) planted with succulents such as Aloe thraskii; Aloe tenuior; Aloe brevifolia and Aloe plicatilis.

OVP Associates had the foresight to specify a thick mulch layer over landscaped beds and to incorporate Zeoplant moisture retaining medium into the soil. The Zeoplant was incorporated into

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2018 Trials

5 to 9 November (Trade) 10 November open to the public

Join us for a spectacle of colour as we open the Ball Straathof trial greenhouse and gardens to the industry. Growers, landscapers and retailers are all welcome. Hundreds of new and future varieties to be seen. The only display of it’s kind in the country - you can’t afford to miss it.

For more information and to rsvp: 011 794 2316, info@ballstraathof.co.za.

TM

Open Gardens Advert ProLandscaper 186x118.indd 1

2018/08/27 09:28

NURTURE

THE INDIGENOUS VS. EXOTIC MINDSHIFT Lizelle Wolmarans – Senior Landscape Architect with support of Paul Smit – Partner & Senior draftsman, Seas of Green.

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andscaping trends have moved very much into the realm of the conservationist thinking that says indigenous is "good" and exotic species are “bad”. It is now common to see the same sparse plant palette copied across South Africa’s landscapes due to the prejudice against the use of exotic plants. This bias is not necessarily supported by scientific evidence, especially when it comes to parks and gardens in urban areas.

The environment of an urban setting is quite unnatural in many ways. The earth has been scraped and graded with often a total loss of topsoil. There is compaction of the soil by heavy machinery and foot traffic. Buildings are blocking light and creating microclimates that may change rapidly throughout the day.

Impermeable surfaces prevent groundwater replenishment and, in some areas, may cause waterlogged areas. Lime can leach from old concrete surfaces and foundations of buildings thereby raising the pH levels of the soil.

When the urban environments have such altered and so have the variable growing conditions, the selection of plant material out of a pool of indigenous species may or may not be the most suitable for the site’s requirements. The definition of non-indigenous (“exotic” or “alien”) species are typically viewed as human introduced that harm local ecosystems and economies. This is a view that has been adopted by South Africans to an almost xenophobic level.

Can it not be true that certain exotic plants are more desirable in specific situations? (Considering there are no other suitable indigenous species and they are non-invasive). Both species groups supply the ecosystem services we need. It all

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depends on the context, but after weighing the risks and opportunities of a single species in individual cases there may be a place under the sun for both indigenous and exotic species.

It is important to look at what you want to achieve as a result. The current South African landscape’s typical primary requirements are to be low maintenance; drought resistant; as well as the provision of ecosystem services (erosion control, wildlife appeal, etc.). It is therefore significant that sustainability of a landscape should be accomplished above all else. Does that necessarily mean that indigenous plants are to be used exclusively? A mix of indigenous and exotic species may be better suited to the goal.

It is agreed that a plant species should always be non-invasive, but it has been found that indigenous plants can also act as invasive species in certain conditions. The draft National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (No. 10 of 2004) (NEMBA) Alien and Invasive Species (AIS) Regulations recently published updated NEMBA AIS Lists for comment and the indigenous Cynodon dactylon was listed as a Category 2 species. Not surprisingly this has been received with much contempt from the landscaping industry. Even the Vachellia karroo (previously Acacia karroo) can act invasive in disturbed or overgrazed areas (according to PlantZafrica.com).

There is also a deeper level of discrimination between indigenous and endemic plants.

Endemic plants are all indigenous, but they are very specifically adapted to a specific environment.

In some people’s minds some indigenous plants are viewed as “alien-indigenous”. Such an example is the introduction of plants that are not endemic

to the Eastern Cape region such as Gerberas and Bauhinia galpinii from Mpumalanga and Acacia xanthophloea (Fever tree) from the Northern province. Endemic Fynbos are also regularly introduced in Highveld gardens. According to PlantZafrica, the much loved Hermannia hyssopifolia is a native of the Cape but it is known that this plant was grown in famous gardens in Europe more than 200 years ago. It was collected and exported in the very early days of Cape botanical exploration. There are many so-called indigenous species that have been introduced by people many years ago, another such example is the Podranea ricasoliana. Many South African botanists suspect that this climber may not be indigenous to southern Africa and that it was introduced here by slave traders. All the sites where both Podranea ricasoliana and Podranea brycei are found have ancient connections with slave traders who frequented the eastern coast of Africa long before the 1600s. It has become such a widely grown garden plant in all the warmer parts of the world that it may prove difficult to find its real origin. Today the Podranea ricasoliana is assessed as Vulnerable according to the Red List of South African Plants.

The drought-stricken region of California (State of USA on the Mexican border) had to adapt to the sudden limited water scarcity in changing their garden designs and species from previously tropical to xeriscapes and desert gardens.

Many of the plant species they use are borrowed from South Africa such as Agapanthus spp., Dietes grandiflora, Senecio mandraliscae, Asparagus densiflorus, Chondropetalum tectorum, Euphorbia tirucalli, Crassula capitella ’Campfire’ and Dodonea viscosa.

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NURTURE

It is no doubt that indigenous species have a very important role to play in modern landscaping and that our cultural society has adapted well to the fashion of planting indigenous, but is that all there is to landscaping? Are all arguments for indigenous plants accurate considering the current indigenous landscaping movement?

Claim #2: Indigenous species are more drought tolerant The use of drought-tolerant plants is more economical and water-wise. Indigenous species are often considered to be more drought tolerant than exotic landscape plants. However, there are also many exotic plants adapted to use in the xeriscape environment. Many drought-tolerant plants are also tolerant of poor to average soils, some even prefer poor soils. Some examples are Sedum (a European species closely related to Crassula) and Stachys byzantina (Commonly known as Lamb’s ear). Since California is using so many of our indigenous plants to curb their drought problem, should we not also be able to use some species (after proven non-invasive) from their list of successful water wise gardens?

Image 1: Californian landscape designs have changed to become more drought-tolerant California drought-tolerant species that may be useful in South African garden (in order of the images the): Agave spp.; Nepeta cataria; Gaillardia grandiflora; Heuchera spp. Echeveria spp.; Clarkia amoena (Godetia amoena); Lychnis coronaria; Salvia leucantha; Zauschneria californica; Geraniums; Hebe spp. Leucophyllum frutescens and Leucophyllum frutescens ‘Compacta’; Muhlenbergia capillaris; Perovskia atriplicifolia; and Myrtus communis.

Claim #1: Indigenous species increases biodiversity Indigenous flora is equipped to survive in the local climate, soil types and forms a complex network of relationships with the local fauna.

They provide food and shelter for indigenous wild ecosystem, therefore increasing the biodiversity. In addition, biodiversity reduces the occurrence of pests and diseases in vegetation.

Biodiversity also refers to the variety of life and its processes. Biodiversity therefore includes species diversity, habitat diversity, and genetic diversity.

Unfortunately, many landscape projects turn into a canvas of swipes of mass planting containing a limited list of species such as Agapanthus, Dietes, Freylinia, or Barleria. The challenge is the sourcing of a variety of indigenous species and in large quantities (required by Landscape Architects working on large projects). Designers often then turn to the selection of plant species that are available from nurseries. This means that the landscape is essentially not a biodiverse environment anymore.

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NURTURE

Claim #3 Indigenous species are better suited for the job This all depends on the context of the site.

When it comes to urban streetscapes for instance, the indigenous tree selection is lacking in physique and grandiose. You just cannot replace the majestic feel of a boulevard of London plane trees lining the streets of Stellenbosch. Or the magnificence of the purple Jacaranda so famously blooming in early summer in the streets of Tshwane.

You can probably replace those Johannesburg Oak avenues with Celtis africana or Combretum erythrophyllum, but what are the other options available after you ticked the requirement boxes such as non-aggressive root system, frost hardiness, drought hardiness, clean? What you are commonly left with on the indigenous list are small garden trees. Why should we not then consider the use of an exotic tree such as the Gingko biloba for instance? They tolerate drought, heat, pollution, frost and even salt-laden air.

There are some instances where the use of an exotic tree may be more sustainable overall.

According to the Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES; sustainablesites.org), a certification program for landscapes like the Green Star program for buildings, the initiative promotes the use of “appropriate plants” – those that are adapted to or tolerant of the site conditions, are not invasive and meet the design intent.

When these criteria are met, plantings promote a multitude of sustainable ecosystem services, from shade and carbon sequestration to wildlife food and cover.

Image 2: Ginkgo biloba tree boulevard in Autumn and a young tree in summer Another example is the exotic species, Agave americana which originally comes from Central America, southern North and northern South America. The Agave americana has become naturalised in many regions globally, including South Africa. According to PlantZafrica, Agave americana is visited and likely pollinated by birds, bats and insects in its adopted habitats in southern Africa. This plant is almost globally grown as an ornamental. This evergreen species is popular for xeriscaping and is often used as accent plants in desert-themed and other water-wise gardens.

“THERE MAY BE A PLACE UNDER THE SUN FOR BOTH INDIGENOUS AND EXOTIC SPECIES.”

We must take care to not combine the terms “exotics” and harmful “invasive species." Exotic plants can be beneficial by, for example, providing food for endangered indigenous species. Eucalyptus trees in South Africa play a vital role in our country’s food security by providing flowers to bees after which bees go on to pollinate our food crops. South Africa’s honey bees are currently under threat and face diminishing habitat and forage resources.

In South Africa there are about 85 different species of introduced gum trees. Because they flower at various times of the year, they provide a constant and reliable flow of nectar and a source of pollen, making them essential to the beekeeping industry.

Image 3: Agave americana www.prolandscaper.co.za

Both indigenous and exotic species are inseparable components of urban ecosystems.

They should be combined in a creative and functional manner to meet the needs of the various urban environments. Both species groups supply the ecosystem services we need. Exotic species may endanger indigenous biodiversity, but this often depends very much on the context.

It is necessary to analyse the local situation, weighing the risks and opportunities of each case and species for both indigenous and exotic species. A wider variety or interest will be created instead of a monocultured landscape, improving the urban biodiversity and enjoyment by people.

Authors Lizelle Wolmarans and Paul Smit www.seasofgreen.net

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TREE TRANSPLANTING

Picture captured by Trees SA

Top Tips on Transplanting Trees from Trees SA

proper planning and consistent competent after care and monitoring.

To give significant tips and advice, we first have to distinguish between transplanting small juvenile trees as opposed to that of large and mature trees.

However, in terms of some tips, the general concepts remain the same for small and large trees.

Here are the most important guidelines:

Small trees in this context can be referred to as trees that can be transplanted without the assistance of heavy machinery such as cranes.

In this case the need for specialized knowledge and techniques is much less, there is much less at stake in terms of failure, and the period of recovery is much shorter.

In the case of large and mature trees, it not only requires specialized expertise and equipment, but it becomes an art in some instances. The stakes are much higher, and the period of recovery is much longer. In the more extreme cases, it becomes a five-year project requiring

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Best time of the year: Generally cooler times of the year are better, however, there are several exceptions to the rule. All deciduous species are easier to transplant while dormant.

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Crown reduction is undesirable, old school, and should only be considered in very exceptional cases. Do not apply any sealant to any pruning or other wounds.

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Prepare an appropriate size root ball in relation to the size of the tree. A general rule of thumb for the root ball diameter is 10cm for every cm stem diameter.

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NURTURE

•

Excavating and shaping a root ball into a “cup” shape should be done by hand.

Big roots must be severed with a saw.

Indiscriminate use of heavy equipment results in torn roots with lifelong unhealed root wounds.

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The root ball must be bound firmly with hessian and ungalvanized 90mm hole size wire netting (international standards) that can stay on the root ball when the tree is planted in its new position. Plastic wrapping is a cheap and easy alternative, which is not recommended, but is sometimes better than no wrapping at all.

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Except in the case of deciduous trees in full dormancy, trees should never be lifted with straps attached to the stem.

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The most critical and hence the most challenging task is to keep the root ball in tact during the process of lifting transporting and planting in its new planting location.

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During planting and backfilling ensure that there are no underground air cavities and ensure that the root ball cannot move during strong winds, else make sure to stake the tree firmly.

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Water the tree appropriately resulting in the saturation of 100% of the root ball WITHOUT drowning the tree. For large trees it is of critical importance to install a computer controlled multi-drip point irrigation system

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Tree and soil moisture monitoring and corrective adjustments and care for up to five years in the case of the largest trees, is of paramount importance.

Contact us for more info. www.trees-sa.co.za

How NOT to prepare a root ball 56

Pro Landscaper Africa | September 2018

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NURTURE

Top Tips from Divine Landcapes Trees are essential to life, they create the very air we breathe and filter air pollution. Most importantly, trees sequester carbon, helping to remove carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from the air, which cools the earth. In fact, a mature canopy tree absorbs enough carbon and releases enough oxygen to sustain two human beings‌ How to successfully transplant a large tree: Transplanting mature trees allows you to dramatically change a landscape, providing instant shade and a point of visual interest. It is a relatively quick process and does not have to be a nightmare for either yourself, your client or the tree! This being said, there is certainly some planning to consider; such as location, viability and access to planting spot.

When to transplant: It depends on the species as to what season is the best to transplant your tree; For the majority of trees, late winter or early spring are the best times for transplanting. In autumn you need to wait for all the leaves to fall and in spring you need to do so before the bud’s break.

Prepare the hole: Dig the new hole before you dig up the tree that will be relocated, the longer the roots are without a home, the lower your chances for a successfully transplant. The width of the hole must be twice the size of the root ball. When you reach the bottom of the new hole do not break up the soil beneath, it could cause the tree to sink, inviting rot.

successfully transplanting a big tree is to help the tree grow roots once replanted.

The root ball will need to be treated with a fungicide and fertilizer to stimulate root development.

The branches should be tied up to prevent injury, do not tie so tightly that a bend is created. That could compress or break the branches.

Trees are often too tall to be transported in the upright position and are tipped to a horizontal position. When trees are being loaded onto a truck, care must be taken to avoid injuring the tree or breaking the soil ball. The crown of the tree should be carefully wrapped to minimise the risk of drying or branch damage due to excessive movements and wind damage.

When the tree is placed in the new location the top surface of the root ball should not be below the surrounding soil. The back-fill soil should be reinstated and settled in layered sections to limit future settling and prevent air pockets. Do not compact it, as this shall inhibit root growth.

Trees should be secured in position with stakes carefully tied with straps.

Watering your newly transplanted tree: Immediately following planting, a soil saucer can be formed on the soil surface around the edge of the root ball to permit the water being retained.

Your newly planted tree must be watered by hand for the first week; care must be taken not to overwater the tree. Keep a close eye out for any sign that the tree is struggling.

Corne Mare

www.divinelandscapes.co.za

Large trees need bigger root balls to encompass more roots which ensures adequate re-growth, as well as anchorage and stability.

A trench / hole must be dug around the tree to below the root ball; It is best to keep as much of the root ball and soil intact as possible. Cuts must be clean to avoid tearing and breaking of roots. Root cuts must be carefully arranged so that healthy roots can be preserved and no major feeding roots are unnecessarily pruned.

Once the tree is removed the root ball must be covered before transport, a root ball without proper wrapping should not be allowed.

It’s all about the roots: The tree will lose a portion of its roots when removed, this makes it hard for the tree to grow, therefore, it is of the utmost importance to ensure the roots are taken care of. The key to www.prolandscaper.co.za

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Professional Body to the Outdoor Power Equipment Industry The strict quality assurance policies and professional submission to consumer protection together with ongoing accredited staff training makes the oppasa member a leader in performing services and supplying quality products in the outdoor power product arena.

Please search for a professional dealer in your area under the business section of www.oppasa.co.za For more information on the oppasa or to join the association contact 013 665 3192 or visit www.oppasa.co.za

W H Y I L O V E H O R T I C U LT U R E

WHY I

LOVEHORTICULTURE JAMES FISK

THE PINK GERANIUM NURSERY & FISK HORTICULTURE

My grandmother was a keen gardener and she was forever rooting slips from her garden. On Sundays she would visit us for lunch and she would always arrive with a boot filled with plants.

My brothers and I were responsible for planting these new arrivals and after each week’s planting, my grandmother would inspect our work as well as the plants planted in the previous weeks.

My grandmother grew up on a farm along the banks of the Orange River in the 1920’s. Her family grew all their own fruit and vegetables.

I can remember the pomegranate tree we planted at home, from a slip which was taken from the tree on the farm where she lived as a little girl.

It dawned on me then that plants tell a story and that they all have a history. From that day on I have continued to believe that each plant has a story to tell and enriches us with its presence.

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I enjoy sharing all my plant stories and I feel that our stories add value to our gardens. In a way, plants connect the dots and unify us.

Gardeners from all walks of life have a shared love and passion.

I cannot imagine a life without plants. They give us oxygen, they feed us , they cloth us, they give us life. Plants have taken me to exotic and beautiful locations all over the world. Best of all I am able to earn a living from something that gives me so much pleasure.

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Hingham Nursery’s Julia Scragg turns what was originally a cane field & steep site into an indigenous garden at Mount Edgecombe Country Club Estate, KZN

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When the garden was first installed it was a new garden on a building site. Originally a cane field and a steep site, it was important to shape the land to achieve the best for the garden. The Mount Edgecombe Country Club estate insists on a 70% indigenous content, however there was no conflict as the client liked the idea of an indigenous garden. The garden has grown well and fared very well through the recent drought because of it.

The client was and is an absolute pleasure to work for and has maintained an interest in the garden going forward. Plants were chosen and grouped for contrasts in texture and colour

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Senecio azoides

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Agapanthus praecox

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Ruschia lineolata

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Aristida junciformis

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Strelitzia reginae

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Asparagus meyersii

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Dracaena reflexa (exotic)

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Cussonia spicata

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Psychotria capensis

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Chondrapetalum tectorum

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Aloe ferox

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Strelitzia Nicolai

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Phormium williamsii

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Cyathea australis

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Halleria lucida

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Nuxia floribunda

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Bulbine frutescens

with a few structural plants such as Cycads and Tree Aloes to make statements here and there. The steep bank below the pool is not a useable space but has to catch the eye from the patio above and from the golf course, and so a variety of bold plants were required to achieve this. Winter is a picture when all the Aloes come into flower while the Strelitzia and Agapanthus provide colour in the summer months. However it is the texture variations and the colour of the Golden Sedum against the grey Senecio that make it eye catching year round.

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BOOK CLUB

THE

BOOK CLUB The Web of Life: A New Scientific Understanding of Living Systems Author: Fritjof Capra Publisher: Doubleday Books

This book encourages deep thinking and challenges one’s perception of the world and gives insight into the natural foundation to form-making. This book may expand the reader’s worldview by allowing guidance through the development of advancements in science and biology related to systems thinking. The deep ecology paradigm elucidates the world as an integrated whole, whilst recognising the interdependence of all phenomena. It is also explained as “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, which implies that the system would be beneficial if all organisms/components worked together and not as separate entities on their own.

I came across The Web of Life during my Honours studies and it broadened my view in terms of spontaneous, self-regulatory and -organisational systems from the neurons in the brain; informal settlement development to the irregular shape of the coastline. The networks that exists in all living systems is evident of interdependency and mutualism.

Part 3 of the book, Chapters 5 and 6 would be the most captivating for ecological designers.

Self-organising systems Chapter 5 discusses the following topics: Applied systems thinking; Networks – the patterns of life; Emergence of selforganisation concept; dissipative structures; hypercycles; autopoiesis – the organisation of the living; Gaia – the living earth; feedback and iterations.

A commonality exists between all living systems: a pattern of organisation. The most important property thereof would be a network pattern. Networks are nested within www.prolandscaper.co.za

larger networks. The most apparent property of a network is non-linearity – it goes in all directions, thereby a cyclical path which is interlinked (multiple paths) and self-regulatory. The pattern of life is a network pattern with self-organising ability.

to the shape of the whole. Patterns exists within patterns such as a rock resembling the mountain range shape. When the boundary of a coastline is magnified, it looks ‘like a replica of the whole’.

Prigogine explained dissipative structures far from equilibrium such as heat convection studied

by Henry Benard which after “Benard-instability” was named. Liquid is heated from below and when the temperature difference reaches a critical value, the liquid spontaneously forms into an order of hexagonal shapes. The same with warm air that flow into outer space that generates hexagonal vortices on sand dunes.

Topology involves transformation distorted at will of all lengths, angles and areas such as a cube to cylinder to cone to sphere. The Koch or snowflake curve becomes infinitely long if iterations are continued to roughly resemble a coastline. Fractal forgeries of nature can be replicated by simple geometric iterations.

1.

2.

Fig. 1: Liquid heated spontaneously forms into an order of hexagonal shapes. Fig. 2: Warm air that flow into outer space, generates hexagonal vortices on sand dunes.

In a social system far from equilibrium, such as an informal settlement (little formal infrastructure), spontaneous form-making and self-regulation takes place.

The mathematics of complexity The following interesting points are discussed in Chapter 6: feedback and iterations; Poincare and the footprints of chaos; trajectories in abstract spaces; the butterfly effect; fractal geometry by Mandelbrot and patterns within patterns.

Design application Living systems networks have informed various design solutions in contemporary Landscape Architecture. In my own work, Open Narrative theory principles such as multiplicity were portrayed through abstractions of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi. A network of many interlinked paths as part of a mounded pavilion.

This book explains the science, biology and mathematics behind the inherent form-making of nature. This knowledge empowers the designer to design with nature for more resilient and sensible design solutions. Organisms, social systems and ecosystems are now understood in the light of deep ecology. If life is to continue, the web of life should be maintained by means of deep ecology and sustainable development.

Strange attractors involve a path in a 2D phasespace, which produces patterns that nearly repeat themselves. This is characteristic of all chaotic systems. Mandelbrot made the connection between fractal geometry and the ‘chaos theory’.

Geometric forms had a striking common feature, this in turn informed “dynamical systems theory”.

At all levels of scale there is self-similarity Pro Landscaper Africa | September 2018

63

LITTLE INTERVIEWS

LITTLE INTERVIEWS

MENNO KLAPWIJK Landscape architect and owner @ Bapela Cave Klapwijk

K AT H R I N H A M M E L- L O U W Landscape architect @ Outline Landscape Architects

D AV I D G R I E S E L Candidate Landscape Architect @ Uys & White

What is your favourite landscaped area in South Africa?

What is your favourite landscaped area in South Africa?

What is your favourite landscaped area in South Africa?

The South African Reserve Bank in Pretoria as it was when originally designed.

Freedom Park in Pretoria.

Macaranga private botanical gardens. Kloof, Durban.

How is Sustainability embedded into your business practices?

How is Sustainability embedded into your business practices?

We integrate best practice environmental management in terms of water and energy consumption with appropriate biodiversity where possible while promoting endemic rather than indigenous plant selection.

I like to challenge myself to use a variety of indigenous plants in a project, no matter the size of the site. I think it is important to increase bio-diversity on a micro-scale, and not to get stuck with the same planting palette, over and over again.

What is one item you cannot live a day without?

What is one item you cannot live a day without?

Samsung Smart Phone especially the camera facility.

My notebook.

Who/What is your biggest professional influence and why?

Ian McHarg (“Design with Nature”) – made me look at landscapes as an integrated system and Chris Mulder who taught me that if you can imagine it you can achieve it.

What is the moto that you live by?

Have an enquiring mind, simplify.

One piece of advice for the landscaping industry?

Be thorough in your preparation.

Top Plant?

(Cork bush) – a very versatile small tree with texture, colour and a bird and insect attractor.

Who/What is your biggest professional influence and why?

How is Sustainability embedded into your business practices?

Paper recycling, battery backup system for office use.

What is one item you cannot live a day without?

My old Land Rover.

Who/What is your biggest professional influence and why?

Roberto Burle Marx.

What is the moto that you live by?

“Good enough” isn't good enough.

Andy Goldsworthy, the way he subtly works with the landscape to create stunning features.

One piece of advice for the landscaping industry?

What is the moto that you live by?

Do not get completely swept away in an indigenous only whirlwind; some non-invasive exotics are extremely rewarding plants.

Live and let live, this also goes for beautiful large trees on sites…

One piece of advice for the landscaping industry?

Top Plant?

Anselia Africana – Leopard Orchid.

We should strive to leave a legacy, even though landscapes are changing and dynamic. By using plants, especially trees, that can thrive where they are planted, through time, we can make a positive impact on our landscapes for years to come.

Top Plant?

Erythrina lysistemon.

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Pro Landscaper Africa | September 2018

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BIRTHDAY BLURBS

Dear Pro Landscaper All of us at Planning Partners and Planning Partners International would like to wish you a very happy 3rd birthday! Thank you for providing the industry a much needed, exciting, fresh and new publication.

The articles are well written, informative and keeps up to date with current trends.

Always great to receive the magazine that is circulated around between all the staff, the Friday Wrap arrives on a good time when all are a bit gatvol after the week’s hard work. Keep up the good work!

Our very best wishes go to Pro Landscaper Magazine on their 3rd Anniversary. It is believed that the power of three represents the triad nature of the world, i.e. heaven, earth, and waters, and it gives us great pleasure to acknowledge the sterling work that you have done in giving exposure to, and creating awareness of, the elements of nature and the environment over the last three years. We look forward to journeying with you for the next three years, and beyond, as you work tirelessly to promote a culture of caring for, and protecting our environment. With best wishes from the team at AfriLandscapes/AfriServ.

Jaco Jordaan & Anthony Wain

Happy birthday to all of you at Pro Landscaper Three years old! Wow, that is a significant milestone. And like all three-year olds you ladies at Pro Landscaper are full of life and energy, exploring, asking questions and gaining independence. You have certainly made your mark in our industry and wish you all the best! Have a wonderful celebration. From all of us at Just Trees.

Square One Landscape Architects would like to congratulate Pro Landscaper Africa on their 3rd anniversary and thank them for their continued support and promotion of the South African landscape and outdoor design industry. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with them on future projects showcasing the exciting and ground-breaking work happening on our amazing continent. Watch this space!

Ankia Bormans Director @ Terra + Landscape Architects Happy Birthday Pro Landscaper! Thank you for the important contribution you have made in promoting quality outdoor spaces over the last three years. Thank you for promoting good work and providing a platform for professionals to showcase their work.

We wish you all the best for the future and many more years!

Our hearty congratulations to Pro Landscaper on your third birthday.

Karen Marais The Ochre Office (Pty) Ltd Happy 3rd Birthday to Pro Landscaper Africa! You have certainly filled a gaping hole in the industry, transferring critical knowledge, sharing interesting trade news and telling the stories of design and landscape so beautifully.

We wish you every success for many years to come and thank you for the value that you bring.

What a team you are ! You give zest to the landscape industry . Thank you.

We have watched you grow and have grown with you in the landscaping community over the past three years.

It is always a pleasure to deal with you and take part in your publications.

Your energy is contagious and has a ripple effect throughout the industry, bringing so many of us together to create a strong and unified industry.

The Shadowlands Team

Johan van Papendorp & OvP Associates

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