Port’s car handling-building sets garden record
Ports of Auckland (POAL) has installed the world’s largest soil-based vertical garden on its new car-handling building on the city’s waterfront.
Tony Gibson, chief executive at POAL, says the five-storey building’s garden is one of several design features designed to improve the look of the port.
“As it grows, the vertical garden will help turn what could be a boring, functional building into a local landmark which increases biodiversity and greens the central city,” he explains.
“Another great feature of the garden is that its production is a collaboration between Ports of Auckland and a number of fantastic local businesses and organisations.”
The garden system was invented by New Zealand company Hanging Gardens and the components are manufactured in this country as part of a Department of Corrections prisoner rehabilitation programme.
About 40 species of plants are in the garden, of which 75 per cent are New Zealand natives, and they were chosen because they require less water and fewer nutrients.
About 3,800 plants were pre-grown in felt pockets at Pukekohe-based Joy Plants before being used in the installation. A special irrigation system has been put in to ensure plant health and minimal water use.
POAL says it is the only vertical garden product that meets the Living Building Challenge criteria for sustainability, with everything in the garden able to be either re-used or recycled.
It is also the first time the vegetation like this has been allowed inside a New Zealand port and the project required special biosecurity measures approved by the Ministry for Primary Industries. These include the use of plants that do not attract insects and other pests, as well as a comprehensive surveillance programme.
The car-handling building, designed by Plus Architecture, is being built by Hawkins and will also have a 110-metre-long light sculpture on one facade and a public carpark on the roof. It is due to be completed in the second half of 2020.
