Eco-restoration is about activites that replace, rejuvenate, or rebuild the natural ecology that may have existed before the bricks and mortar of a building replaced the natural elements. Adding green elements like vertical gardens, green roofs, biowalls, and planting trees are adding elements that are eco-restorative. We have a section of our website dedicated to the roof gardens at 401 that you can see by clicking here.
In the spring of 2008 we undertook a large tree planting project at 401 Richmond. We planted 15 trees around the perimetre of the parking lots at 401 Richmond. There were some existing trees in place that we preserved as they provided a good older growth canopy in the back of the building. These trees provided the only shade and protection to the southern face of the building doing their part to reduce heat gain in that area but they needed some help. Parking lots, and other large concrete or asphalt areas, contribute to a condition known as "urban heat island effect." In urban areas that are dominated by roads, parking lots, and rooftops, heat from the sun is absorbed into these dark surfaces and then radiated out into the atmosphere raising the temperature. Our primary way of combatting this is to turn up our air-conditioning, which then also contributes to the amount of heat being released into the atmosphere. By greening these surfaces, we reduce this effect and essentially cool the surrounding area considerably. Not only does this mean potential energy savings in the reduction of air-conditioning but just generally a more pleasant environment for people and animals.
Our trees are doing very well given the fairly harsh conditions in which they were planted. Getting the trees established was the tricky part and they received lots of care, attention, and water in the first months of their planting. As the tree canopy grows and provides increased shade to the area surrounding the trees roots, the better, and stronger the tree will grow. The trees begin to create the conditions in which they will thrive.
In July of 2003 we hosted a unique installation of ‘vertical gardens’ or perpendicular hydroponic planting systems in our roof garden. These hand shaped, vertically styled, vertical planters provided a visually stimulating experience for visitors and guests during an open-house hosted by chief designer, Brad Peterson , of Environmental Management and Landscape Architecture in Guelph. Guests included landscape architects, horticulturalists, sustainable building designers and other interested persons wishing to buy, build or learn more about vertical garden systems. Vertical garden systems can support both flowers and vegetables including lettuces, kale, cabbage, and cherry tomatoes to name but a few. The vegetables can be interspersed between species of flowering plants including ferns, spider plants, lilies, palms, ficus, nicotiana, or even strawberries.
One of the vertical gardens remains at 401 Richmond. It is made of four white rows of tubular shaped PVC hang on a wooden frame holding colourful tropical plants. The plants themselves are supported in small cavities drilled into the PVC tubes filled with a synthetic pebbled medium that offers an anchor for the plants roots. The plants are fed a steady supply of circulating water from a submersible pump located in a water reservoir below.
Vertical gardens are gaining interest in urban areas where ground level property for planting is diminshing. 401 Richmond, like many historic urban buildings, is covered in ancient vertical gardens in the form of lush climbing vines. 401 Richmond is essentially wrapped in a bounty of “living” aesthetic charm that complements the exterior of the building and provides energy benefits to the building in both summer and winter. Vine leaves provide a natural plant layer for summer shading of the bricks beneath and act to reduce the solar gain or high temperatures that normally flow through the wall into a tenant space. Conversely, in winter, remaining stems and twigs after autumn leaf fall serve to break direct wind patterns and redistribute cold air away from small cracks in the brick’s mortar.
Vines are not only environmentally beneficial, but also provide close contact for people with the natural world. E.O. Wilson, suggests that ‘biophillia’ – or proximity to nature - is part of our human need for natural affiliation.
For more information on vertical gardens: www.sentex.net/~edc or email edc@sentex.net
At 401 Richmond we make every effort to apply eco-restorative principles to any renovations or changes that are made to the building and constantly try to find ways to incorporate green elements into all spaces. We also have an extensive recylcling program for our tenants, which includes the opportunity to compost, and are committed to using green products for the cleaning and maintenance of the building.
Our recyling program manages the standard items like paper, cardboard, plastic, and cans but also includes specialized programs for printer cartridges, batteries, cell phones and other electronics, and two e-waste collection weeks held annually.
