A demonstration housing and landscape project in North Watson reveals
how Landscape Architects can improve the sustainability of the built
environment.
This ‘eco-living
exhibition’ is jointly sponsored by
Canberra Investment Corporation, ACTEW Corporation and ACTEWAGL.
Three
homes designed by, TT Architecture, Wombey & Godfrey
Architects and Strine Design demonstrate how good design and
environmental initiatives
can reduce the impact on the environment and save money over
time. The gardens complement the strong architectural lines
of the buildings
and illustrate how sustainability principles can be extended
into outdoor spaces.
Two
local landscape architects provided garden designs:
Whilst
MacIntyre was briefed to create a garden with a contemporary
xeriscape feel, the focus for Hug’s garden was one exhibiting predominantly
native plant material. The end result – are gardens that
reflect the realities of our natural environment, are low in
their use of
resources and are a pleasure to spend time in as they mature.
Opposite
the residences, Deverson
Sholtens and Bombardier (DSB) have designed
a wetland site that
has added value to the amenity of the area.
9
Roma / 13 Roma / Wetland
These gardens not only encompass water sensitive urban design (WSUD)
principles, they illustrate how materials can be re-used in the landscape
and the importance that good landscape design plays in modifying
our microclimates.
ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES
Water
Sensitive Urban Design Principles
-
Hardy
plants selected both native and exotic with low water requirements
once established
-
Water
harvesting – dry creek bed & soakage
pond
-
Drip
irrigation
-
Grey
water use
-
Use
of permeable surfaces such as decomposed granite for paths,
driveways and between pavers (allows water to
slowly percolate
into sub-soil)
-
Reduced
lawn areas (no lawn was used at no 9 Roma Mitchell Cres).
No 11 includes a moisture sensor in the lawn.
Materials
- Re-use
of hardwood flooring in timber privacy screens
- Re-use
of railway sleepers to form pedestrian path
- Recycled
mulch (no. 13)
- Quarry
rocks
Microclimate
- Use
of deciduous trees such as Pyrus to the north to provide
Summer shade and Winter sun
- Evergreen
trees to the west such as Eucalyptus mannifera ‘Patches’,
E. pauciflora, E. dwarf ‘Magnet’
- ‘Bio-wall’ – metal
screen with deciduous climbers (Clematis) providing protection
from hot Summer sun to Western
wall
- Deciduous
climbers to north facing pergola
Maintenance
- Once
the gardens are established (around three years) they
will need relatively little maintenance
other than a twice
yearly prune and mulching (min. 75mm depth with coarse mulch)
Australian
Institute of Landscape Architects 