Week 9-12: Design Development

Debbie C,

Flower Containers

I noticed that while the Glasshouses were very colourful, the courtyard in contrast had a more natural colour palette, so I wanted to bring in the exoticness of the glasshouses into the outside of the Wintergardens. I thought that the best way to add flowers was to install them into containers, as opposed to planting them directly on the floor. Containers are more suitable than planters and pots due to the nature and size of my flowers (perennials).

Temperate & Tropicale House Swatches:

Courtyard Swatch:

Due to the purpose of the courtyard, and feedback, I decided to incorporate my grid pattern by creating my containers based on my pattern.

Grid Pattern for reference.

While sketching and doing my research, I found that using fibreglass (GRP: Glass Reinforced Plastic) would be the most suitable material for my containers, as it is weather-proof, water-resistant, UV resistant, affordable, and lightweight, which is necessary for my design to be a temporary intervention into the space.

How to make Fibreglass Planters & Seats

  1. Create a mold for the fibreglass planters with either silicone or wood. Best to use a material that will allow for easy removal when the hardening process is complete
  2. Once the mold is created, cover the walls with a carbon cloth
  3. Pour in resin along the walls of the mold, stippling it using a brush into places that are lacking in resin. This is to make sure the resin penetrates the carbon cloth
  4. Line the walls with fibreglass sheets, making sure every nook and cranny is covered. The resin acts as a “glue” for the sheets
  5. Through natural chemicals the resin hardens, making the mold warm. When done, take the planters out of the mold, and sand it down for a smooth surface
  6. Spray paint the planters white for the finish
  7. For the seats, create an additional mold for the cover to glue above a planter. Stick this cover with Methyl methacrylate adhesive

Design #1

*1700x500mm green scales

I tried the original semi-circle shape I had in my grid pattern, alternating the two containers with a measurement of 1100mm and 600mm. I wondered if the semi-circle cut made the design seem more “closed off”, so I tried to remake the design with a different cut.

Models are created to 1:50 scale.

Design #2

I tried again with a similar shape to a semi-cricle, but made the containers more “open” by cutting them to a 135 degree angle. I think this would make movement around the courtyard less “restricted” and more free flowing as opposed to Design #1.

Models are created to 1:50 scale.

Lasercutting Process

When talking to the 3D lab technician, I told him that I was hoping to create my models with fibreglass, as this is the intended material I wanted my containers to be made out of. He suggested to print my models through lasercutting and assembling, and painting it afterwards to replicate the material to save time and money.

I decided to laser-cut and print both my designs to see how they would look as a physical model. I also took the extra scraps to create some models/patterns I could use as some sort of path when applying this into the courtyard.

Layout

I created some layout ideas I could use to put into the courtyard, thinking about how someone would move through the space:

After some layout experimentation, I came up with this pattern within the courtyard space:

I alternated the patterns by changing the seating/levels and mirrored the pattern to the other side of the courtyard. Because I didn’t want to stick to one type of pattern due to the space provided, I decided to incorporate three different patterns.

Models in the Site

Garden Bed

Due to the difficulty of incorporating my design into a pool, and the technicalities of installing a temporary pool around the courtyard, I decided to scrap the concept of the “documentation of movement through water” and change the design to a garden bed, tying the planters together with the pool. I was inspired to create a “sea of flowers” from Hitachi Seaside Park, and Keukenhof Gardens, where I felt it was more suitable to bring out the colours into the courtyard, while also creating a “sea” through nature. I also felt that using plants would be another method of documentation through wind, as plants are more easily swayed by the environment.

A garden bed would also be easier to install/deconstruct as a temporary installation into the courtyard, as the plants can also be replanted.

How to make a garden bed & plant perennials

  1. Assemble the garden bed with wood planks and deck screws, building a border around the edge of the courtyard landing. Then reinforce the corners using L-shaped brackets
  2. Add planks to support the bottom, leaving a 5cm gap between each plank for drainage
  3. Cover the bottom surface with chicken wire to prevent pests from crawling under and into the garden bed
  4. Then over the top of the chicken wire, add a layer of landscape fabric
  5. Add soil into the bed, with an acidic-neutral pH level between 6-8
  6. Evenly space out perennials with 30-60cm gap between, so that they have space to grow
  7. Make sure the soil is evenly moist when watering

Possible concerns with planting on concrete:

  • Concrete is alkaline. Over time, this may affect the soil in your raised beds. Test periodically with a pH meter and adjust as required
  • Raised beds built on dark pavement will usually have higher moisture needs than those built on a lawn or natural substrate. Keep this in mind when considering watering frequency
  • Consider the amount of space between the bed liner and the concrete floor itself. Make sure the bed does not get waterlogged when installed into the site

Resources

Planters & Fibreglass:

Garden Bed:

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Published by Debbie C

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