SPATIAL SOLUTION

Indoor landscaping that tells the story of the early French explorers brings a distinctive outdoor element to the Axa offices.

Four wintergardens are planted with Australasian trees and shrubs first documented by the explorers, who played an important role in discovering the continent's plants. Each garden represents a different climatic zone within Australasia, says Michael Wright of Rush Wright Associates.

"Because Axa's parent company is based in France, I was interested in the French explorers. Adapting the European and North American tradition of wintergardens also provides access to nature in an artificial environment," he says.

Wright created four paved wintergardens, two on level five and two on level eight. The wintergardens are positioned to make best use of differing levels of sun, humidity and heat inside the atrium spaces. Plants from the warm temperate zone of Botany Bay form one wintergarden. Others represent the hot desert of The Kimberley in Western Australia, the cool temperate zone of southwest Tasmania and warm tropical New Caledonia.

"Technically, this was a challenge because each area requires different levels of solar access and daylight. We did extensive light modelling to find out where we needed to add artificial lights, then adjusted the wavelengths to provide the full spectrum of visible light.

"We also did a lot of work to determine the right soils, mulches and irrigation for each plant selection, and worked with the structural engineers to make sure that the building could cope with the heavy load of stone, soil and trees."

For more information, contact Rush Wright Associates, Level 4, 105 Queen Street, Melbourne, Vic 3000, phone (03) 9600 4255, fax (03) 9600 4266. Email: inbox@rushwright.com, or visit the website: www.rushwright.com.

Story by: Trendsideas