28 July, 2016

Leading the way for a greener city

The newly created green wall on Council’s Customer Centre building on Pirie Street showcases City of Adelaide’s commitment to creating a greener, more liveable city

With a lush cascading wall of over 2,300 plants including Columnea and Nandina, and a redesigned plaza providing integrated bike racks, landscaping and improved access to Council’s plaza area, the new space will provide greater pedestrian movement and an opportunity for events and food vendors.

The project is part of Council’s commitment in the City of Adelaide 2016-2020 Strategic Plan and 2016-2017 Integrated Business Plan to increase greenery in built up areas of the city, and Council’s $1 million Greening Program.

Lord Mayor Martin Haese said the green wall was created as a demonstration project to showcase the importance of greening all aspects of the city, not just streets.

“The green wall was designed to showcase to developers and building owners how green infrastructure can be incorporated into building façades,” said Martin.

“City greening has the potential to extend beyond planting street trees, and living walls have countless benefits not just for buildings but the city as whole, helping to cool the environment, improve air quality and add vibrancy and interest to public spaces.”

Daniel Bennett, Associate Director of Council’s Design and Strategy team, said the green wall showcases how green infrastructure can be used in all types of spaces.

“We have many spaces on existing buildings across the city that are often bare, blank and not performing environmentally. Green walls provide opportunities for adapting harsh and often hot surfaces, into a more eco-friendly environment,” said Daniel.

“Maximising the space we have and using it to beautify the city also provides real environmental benefits and allows us to think beyond street trees when implementing greening.”

Included in the plaza design is an integrated public artwork to commemorate Council’s 175 year anniversary in local government, which complements the plaza’s greening elements and the rich history of civic commitment by Council over the last 175 years.

The commissioned artists, Deb Jones and Christine Cholewa of CHEB Art and Design said the resemblance of the artwork to a family tree had many meanings for them.

“It was impossible to think of a specific event or person that would truly capture Council’s civic commitment over the last 175 years, as we have been a city of many important firsts,” said Deb.

“Council has grown and evolved due to the efforts of many and our artwork represents a timeline or family tree depicting the moments, people and events that led Council to where it is today.”

“Our tree design includes 175 branch ends, one for each year of Councils existence and the tree motif incorporates the commitment Council has made to build a greener city.”

Council’s commitment to a greener city has been outlined in the 2016-2017 Integrated Business Plan with a further $2.4 million towards the Greener Streets Program.

An official launch of the redesigned plaza, green wall and 175 Years of Council commemorative public artwork will be held today at 25 Pirie Street at 11:00am.

Everyone is welcome, with 100 complimentary succulents being handed out at the event.

Matt Halliwell