Gold for going green
Landcare Research´s stunning exhibition at the 2012 Ellerslie International Flower Show that highlights ´green´ elements in the rebuild of earthquake damaged Christchurch has caught the attention of international judges.
Wednesday 07 Mar 2012
The award–winning ´Transitions´ garden at the Ellerslie Show
Landcare Research´s stunning exhibition at the 2012 Ellerslie International Flower Show that highlights ´green´ elements in the rebuild of earthquake damaged Christchurch has caught the attention of international judges.
The Colin Meurk-designed “Transitions” exhibition has been awarded a Gold Medal as well as the Supreme Award for Horticultural Excellence.
Inspiration for the design came from Christchurch residents’ desire for a greener central city, clearly expressed through the Share an Idea programme and translated into a very green inner city draft plan.
The exhibit showcases some of the possibilities and includes green roofs and living walls, natural water treatment, pocket parks, green tram tracks and paths, biodiverse lawn and ‘green rubble’.
Dr Meurk, a Landcare Research ecologist, says that in redeveloping the central city we have a unique opportunity to transition to a new, more confident, multi-layered city that is an attractive, relevant and viable place for people. One of those story layers is our unique natural history.
“It’s great that Christchurch City Council, with its Central City Plan, is embracing concepts like green roofs and living walls, sensitive stormwater treatment trains and pocket parks,” says Colin, who co-authored the urban greening manual, How to put nature into our neighbourhoods.
“We want to show people what’s possible and stimulate some discussion.”
“Transitions” features a shop frontage, with green roof and living wall, looking out onto a pocket park, an attractive way of bringing nature into the confined spaces of a central city.
“A green roof reduces stormwater run-off, provides energy savings through the insulating effect of the growing medium and plants, is unaffected by UV, provides a habitat and food for insects, lizards, plants and birds, moderates the urban heat island effect, and muffles noise within the building.
“With our low rainfall, Christchurch doesn’t have as many green roofs or living walls as some other New Zealand cities. But, we will display examples that stem from our research into appropriate plants and substrates for our local environment.”
A demonstration water treatment train - a scaled down version of what has been proposed for the city - will also be displayed.
“As our city has grown, so has the amount of impervious surface area such as roofs and car parks that channel water straight into our periodically stretched stormwater system. But we can use plants and substrates to detain, filter and reduce the amount of stormwater and suspended contaminants that flow into our drains and waterways.”
Green tram tracks - a concept taking off in Europe and North American cities - will be demonstrated.
“Why do tram or light rail tracks need to be paved or bordered by asphalt or concrete? They can use pervious and interesting waste materials with plant life snaking up through crushed brick - an abundant resource in the city!
“Prior to human settlement, Christchurch had a wealth of native plants and wildlife. We now have the opportunity to restore some of what has been lost so that in future our city attracts eco-tourists as much as enjoyers of our conventionally coloured parks and gardens. Colin hopes that elements like the green tram tracks, biodiverse lawns and piles of heritage rubble forming a substrate for rare riverbed and cliff plants will titillate the senses and attract debate.
“A key question with green rubble is how do we want to commemorate the awful events of the past year - think Athens, Berlin, Coventry and Dunkirk; how do they display their historic tragedies and grief? Seeing what’s possible in sympathetic yet poignant ways will help inform and promote that discussion.
“So be prepared for surprises and challenges; ours won’t be a traditional Ellerslie Flower Show exhibit but we hope to create something of interest and provocative. We’ve got great support from the show organisers, Christchurch City Council and some other enthusiastic supporters, and we’re having a lot of fun pulling this together.”