WEST COAST GREEN 2009 DISPLAY GARDENS
Design Ecology was thrilled to be selected to provide the Garden Installation for West Coast Green 2009. We knew it was bold when we proposed a 200' bamboo trellis to serve as a connecting walkway between two piers at Fort Mason. The idea was so well received that we thought we'd try our luck and ask for permission to suspend several tons of native plant biofilter over the bay and launch a native grass habitat island! We are pleased to have attracted the attention of some of the most respected on-line green media sources, including InHabitat as well as conventional outlets such as ABC News.
It all came together when we hired the Natural Builders to install the bamboo, and asked Floating Islands Intl to showcase their unique product. To create context for these iconic moves Buckeye Nursery offered to loan us truckloads of native plants and Bertotti Landscaping generously donated time and equipment to get it all completed on time. The demonstration garden is designed to connect the pavilions and provide habitat while modeling three essential stormwater filtration strategies: landscape buffer, hanging gardens as prefiltration, and in-situ water treatment. Fort Mason is an only slightly exaggerated urban condition, in that development has encroached not only to the bay itself, but actually cantilevers over the bay -- displacing naturally occuring wetland and upland vegetation buffers.
All streets and parking areas contribute a variety of pollutants to downstream water bodies via stormwater runoff, including asbestos from brake pads, sediment, animal excrement, and toxins from fluid leaks such as coolant, oil, and gasoline. Plants and associated soils, fungi and microbiotica are surprisingly effective at filtering these elements from runoff, and are in fact a primary strategy for remediating urban runoff.
Our landscape display was comprised of almost entirely native plants; others are drought tolerant and site-appropriate. All grasses on hanging and floating elements are native and recently available as pregrown sod. The hanging prairies are an artistic interpretation of a dropped filtration element capable of receiving runoff from parking lot areas. Synthetic floating islands allow for habitat and in-situ water treatment within the Bay itself.
The strength and beauty of bamboo provide an example of a rapidly renewable resource that can tolerate poor water and soil conditions while alive and posess substantial structural capabilities as lumber. It's also beautiful and fun.
Design Ecology was thrilled to be selected to provide the Garden Installation for West Coast Green 2009. We knew it was bold when we proposed a 200' bamboo trellis to serve as a connecting walkway between two piers at Fort Mason. The idea was so well received that we thought we'd try our luck and ask for permission to suspend several tons of native plant biofilter over the bay and launch a native grass habitat island! We are pleased to have attracted the attention of some of the most respected on-line green media sources, including InHabitat as well as conventional outlets such as ABC News.It all came together when we hired the Natural Builders to install the bamboo, and asked Floating Islands Intl to showcase their unique product. To create context for these iconic moves Buckeye Nursery offered to loan us truckloads of native plants and Bertotti Landscaping generously donated time and equipment to get it all completed on time. The demonstration garden is designed to connect the pavilions and provide habitat while modeling three essential stormwater filtration strategies: landscape buffer, hanging gardens as prefiltration, and in-situ water treatment. Fort Mason is an only slightly exaggerated urban condition, in that development has encroached not only to the bay itself, but actually cantilevers over the bay -- displacing naturally occuring wetland and upland vegetation buffers.
All streets and parking areas contribute a variety of pollutants to downstream water bodies via stormwater runoff, including asbestos from brake pads, sediment, animal excrement, and toxins from fluid leaks such as coolant, oil, and gasoline. Plants and associated soils, fungi and microbiotica are surprisingly effective at filtering these elements from runoff, and are in fact a primary strategy for remediating urban runoff.Our landscape display was comprised of almost entirely native plants; others are drought tolerant and site-appropriate. All grasses on hanging and floating elements are native and recently available as pregrown sod. The hanging prairies are an artistic interpretation of a dropped filtration element capable of receiving runoff from parking lot areas. Synthetic floating islands allow for habitat and in-situ water treatment within the Bay itself.
The strength and beauty of bamboo provide an example of a rapidly renewable resource that can tolerate poor water and soil conditions while alive and posess substantial structural capabilities as lumber. It's also beautiful and fun.
"When are we all going to work on another project? The ecological benefits promoted are of incredible value to our world. The development of an artistic structure using beautiful, sustainable materials encouraged an alternative storm-water treatment technology. The deeper value were the friendships gained, unity in purpose, and encouragement."
-Sean P. Dempsy, Floating Islands West
"This project brought together a great team on short notice, each of whom gave 100%. These efforts were clearly felt by the attendees of the conference. I am honored to work and learn with so many talented artisans."
-Kevin Rowell, The Natural Builders
Many thanks to all of the volunteers for the many hours of hard work and perseverance. Ultimately, three nurseries and a variety of product providers generously donated. Please patronize the good folk who's contributions made this possible:-Sean P. Dempsy, Floating Islands West
"This project brought together a great team on short notice, each of whom gave 100%. These efforts were clearly felt by the attendees of the conference. I am honored to work and learn with so many talented artisans."
-Kevin Rowell, The Natural Builders
View Photo Gallery