PORTFOLIO
The brief The client wanted to create a park that caters to a diverse range of residents, from first time homeowners to retirement age. Thus, there needed to be aspects of play catering for all ages, like shallow river areas for young children, jungle gyms, a trampoline, places to climb, crawl and roll, trees to climb, and a bowling green for the over 50s. They wanted to create a space for unwinding and to feel ‘in nature’ in a densely populated estate, but also a place to exercise on outdoor gym equipment. Vistas to the beautiful mountains and connections to the other housing precincts were important, as well as having entrances from all sides and wheelchair access. The ability to host functions in the heart of the development was also required, so the need for adequate power and certain car accessibility were elements and needs that helped to create the final design. Dennis Moss Partnership initiated the liaison with the Wirth family for the master planning of the estate and its public open spaces, along with landscape designer Otilia Gericke, who worked
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on the original park design. Landscape Architect, Vikki Crawley of Verdigris Consulting has worked in conjunction with Dennis Moss Partnership since then, developing the design concept with a range of consultants and experts. Initially, the client, Werner Wirth went through a tendering process with Urban Landscape Solutions in 2015 as preferred choice for design and installation. This was paused towards the end 2015 due to time and cash flow constraints, as well as the natural effect of the oncoming drought. In early 2016, the approach to the park was revised in conjunction with Style Council’s exterior designer, Quentin Mostyn-Owen to a humancentric and ecological approach, which has led to the present design. The site is ideally situated with views towards Table Mountain in the west, and the Simonsberg and Stellenbosch mountain peaks in vistas to the east, so therefore has spectacular sunrises and sunsets. The important focus has been on the ecological
aspects of the park driven by Quentin who has designed the river systems and water features. Due to the fact, the site was originally a quarry, it was then filled with in situ material and rubble leaving a difficult site to create the extraordinary water features and river systems there are today. The soil is extremely high in clay content, making the excavation work sensitive due to its high water absorption quality in winter and tendency to be rock hard in summer. There is no naturally occurring stream in this area. The illusion has been created through skillful manipulation of the existing topography and artful creation of a closed system of running streams, reusing borehole water in a constant cycle from top to bottom of the slope. Eventually, as the riparian zone grows and develops, the park will require very little irrigation, as the evaporation and condensation – due to the large waterbodies and running water – will keep the surrounding vegetation cooler and more water-wise.