The design brief included planting for the front entrance to include feature trees and a raingarden of no less than 8m2. Perimeter carpark planting needed to be tall and narrow to screen out the neighbouring residential property, while being able to cope with limited light and severely reduced garden bed depth. Climbing Ficus pumila (variegated) or creeping fig was used to cover perimeter fences where light and soil were extremely limited.

The site of a proposed childcare centre in Melbourne’s inner north was a tricky town planning exercise. In a commercial zone, and at the confluence of several busy roads, the architects needed to consider family friendly access and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD).

WSUD is an approach to planning and designing urban areas to make use of stormwater and reduce the harm it causes to our rivers and creeks. Areas for planting were dominated by the built form, limited to perimeter planting and subject to heavy shade.