Photo credit: Marc Sherratt Sustainability Architects

Embarking on Ecological Restoration

The journey of this project began with the intention of reversing local extinction through sustainable architecture. The brief called for a locally indigenous landscape that achieved the GBCSA’s Net Positive Ecology rating for an existing site. As the team at MSSA embarked on their endeavour, they were cognisant that landscaping played a pivotal role in achieving this mission. The project sought to transform the dsm-firmenich headquarters’ landscape into a thriving ecosystem that could help regenerate the endangered Egoli Granite Grassland vegetation type, which once covered substantial portions of Johannesburg’s northern suburbs.

The Egoli Granite Grassland represents a critically endangered ecosystem, a remnant of a once-vast natural landscape that has been dwindling due to urbanisation and human activity. The project’s goal was to revive this ecosystem within the urban fabric, bridging the gap between nature and human development. The rating required that approximately 15% of the site be regenerated, the equivalent of just over 1,500m².

Photo credit: Marc Sherratt Sustainability Architects

Innovative Design and Client Collaboration

The design incorporated over 140 different locally indigenous species, totalling more than 4,000 individual plants. This diversity aimed not only to reverse local extinction but also to create a resilient ecosystem that could provide habitat and sustenance for a variety of local species. The project is testament to the potential of indigenous landscaping, debunking the myth that there are limited options for incorporating native plants in urban settings.

The transformation, however, was not merely aesthetic. South African grasslands, characterised by their unique appearance and seasonal variations, were to be revitalised. The landscape design emphasised diversity over aesthetics, challenging conventional notions of beauty in landscaping.

Photo credit: Marc Sherratt Sustainability Architects

The client’s commitment was important, as maintaining the landscape’s health requires ongoing efforts to prevent invasive species from encroaching on the native vegetation. Aside from aesthetics, with this type of project having very little financial incentive, the human aspect of better health is really the only inspiration, so having an open-minded client was refreshing.

Says Marc Sherratt, Sustainability Architect and Managing Director at MSSA, “One of the project’s highlights was the innovative spirit of the client, dsm-firmenich. Often, sustainability initiatives can be perceived as burdensome, but in this case, the client embraced innovation wholeheartedly. This mindset paved the way for the project’s success, demonstrating that environmentally conscious choices can also be aligned with business goals.”

Photo credit: Marc Sherratt Sustainability Architects

Transforming Urban Spaces with a view to the Future

The project was not without its challenges. As with any ambitious endeavour, obstacles had to be overcome. Weeds posed a threat to the newly established native landscape, necessitating regular maintenance to ensure their control. The process also demanded a delicate balance between respecting the site’s history and transforming it into a thriving habitat.

The certification underscores the value of high diversity, locally indigenous landscaping in urban environments. It challenges the conventional practice of relegating landscaping to leftover spaces and limited budgets, showcasing the potential of cities as sanctuaries for endangered wildlife.

“We are proud to have worked with MSSA in accomplishing this achievement, which has far-reaching implications, not only for the client but for the entire green building industry and the cause of reversing local extinction,” says Marloes Reinink, Director at Solid Green Consulting.

The success of the project, which took approximately 12 months from concept to certification, lays the groundwork for future phases and similar initiatives, demonstrating that even in an urban landscape, a connection to nature can be rekindled. The research and reporting methods employed in this project will be shared in the Ecological Regeneration credit of the Green Star SA New Buildings rating tool, providing guidance for future landscape designers.

Looking ahead, this certification’s impact on the green building industry could be transformative. It accentuates the importance of quantifiable sustainability measures in an era where greenwashing has become a concern. As the private sector takes on a greater role in conservation efforts, this project shows how seemingly simple interventions like urban landscaping can contribute significantly.

Photo credit: Marc Sherratt Sustainability Architects

Fostering a Paradigm Shift through Collective Responsibility

In our endeavours to reverse local extinction, this is an important project. It challenges us to reimagine our cities as interconnected ecosystems, where human progress harmonises with nature’s rhythms. The efforts of MSSA and dsm-firmenich remind us of our collective responsibility not only as Solid Green, but as custodians of the Earth, urging us to create urban environments that not only sustain human life but also celebrate and support the myriad species that share our planet.

Carbon, Water, Waste and Ecology are the four net positive categories that dsm-firmenich is targeting and the fact that this is the first certification for the site makes it special to the team. This is more than a certification; it’s proof of the importance of collaboration, innovation, and commitment to a sustainable future. As it stands, this project has created not just a physical landscape, but an example of how urban ecological regeneration can be achieved.

The post Pioneering Urban Ecological Regeneration appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

Although we were excited to start working from the GBCSA space in April, #lockdownSA came along and we realised that we will be working from home for the foreseeable future. Five weeks of lockdown have been interesting and challenging. On the positive side, we are all learning to have more efficient meetings, and that phone calls and Zoom/Skype/MicrosoftTeams meetings actually work very well and save tremendously on travel time.

To connect with the team during this period we have set up a Work Huddle (WUDDLE) every other day – a short meeting in which everyone gets to express their success, challenge and goal for the day. The Monday and Wednesday WUDDLES are work-related, and the Friday WUDDLE is social. This way, we keep in touch with the team and keep the team spirit going.

In the meantime, as we cannot physically work on further renovating the new office, we are putting some time into the Ecology of Place imperative of the CORE Green Building Certification that we are targeting. The CORE Green Building Certification is:

is a simple framework that outlines the 10 best practice achievements that a building must obtain to be considered a green or sustainable building. It puts the connection to nature, equity and the need for a building to be loved on even footing with the typical water, energy and materials concerns. Core seeks to rapidly diminish the gap between the highest levels of established green building certification programs and the aspirations of the Living Building Challenge.

The Ecology of Place imperative aims to protect ecologically sensitive places and encourages ecological regeneration and enhanced function of the communities of the site. Projects must document site and community conditions prior to the start of work. The landscape design must emulate the original reference habitat, and we need to assess cultural and social equity factors in the community. In addition, the landscape (except for the vegetable garden) must be able to sustain itself without irrigation, fertilisers and pesticides.

A report was commissioned from Marc Sherratt Sustainability Architects to guide the way forward. The indigenous reference habitat of our site sits within a grassland biome – however, due to urban development and exotic landscaping, little to no original species of this biome currently exist in the immediate area of the site.

While all plants found onsite were noted to be exotic to the grassland biome, the exotic trees were seen as an ecological asset that support other indigenous species. These trees are being protected during construction and are being linked to the regenerative adaptive approach of the landscaping. We are trying to emulate the original natural habitat through our selection of plants; and planting has been separated into four categories, linked to seasonal flowering times. All the species that we are considering are historically found in the original Highveld grassland biome and thus their presence should start attracting native fauna back to the garden.

Watch this space for more updates on our move to our new home!

The post Our New Office: Chapter 4 appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.

The Landscape as Client

The design brief required that the project should demonstrate innovation in terms of sustainability and biomimicry, while being contextually relevant. “The area was once dominated by grassland, wetland and koppie,” says Marc Sherratt.

Restoring the indigenous ecology of the site became the starting point and controlling device for the architectural design. We approached the landscape first rather than the buildings, to determine what life we could keep, and which landscape might increase the area’s biodiversity. We decided to treat the landscape as a client.

We underwent an extensive research process into the indigenous landscape of Johannesburg, and consulted with a wetland specialist and an ecologist. Through this process, we decided to re-create a wetland on the site and to develop buildings that would sit sensitively in the landscape. The overarching design concept was informed by a bird’s nest – from how the structures touch the ground and the use of local materials, to the building’s response to climate and ideas around camouflage.

Wetlands provide evaporative cooling of around 2 degrees, thus giving the building resilience and future-proofing. Wetlands are also nature’s way of filtering and purifying water. This type of ecosystem facilitates large volumes of water being stored and recycled on site, which addresses one of the biggest challenges under a Net Zero certification for water by negating the need for large water storage tanks.

The wetland therefore has several uses. It acts as a storage facility; provides a wildlife sanctuary for indigenous wetland species, many of which are threatened; and offers a unique aesthetic value to the development. Water is filtered slowly and naturally using the slight slope of the site, ultimately resulting in potable water for residential use. Marc explains that, when the cost is of the system is shared between five units, it will be amortized relatively quickly.

Solid Green Sustainability Consultant on the project, Annelide Sherratt says, “Rainwater that falls onto the wetland and runoff from the roof is harvested and stored in the wetland. The total collection area on site including the roof and wetland surface area is approximately 960sqm. The average annual rainfall that is predicted to be harvested is estimated to be 655,600 litres. The predicted consumption of the development is 643,100 litres, so the project is expected to achieve a surplus of 12,500 litres of harvested water per year.

The project will have a 3-step filtration system, which catches leaves and plant materials, filters water down to 10 microns through a micron screen filter, and then purified it to drinkable quality. The storage tanks of filtered water will have more than 5 days of water available for use at all times.

In addition, the architect’s research revealed that wetlands in nature are a major source of fresh food for communities providing, among others, fish and fresh water mussels. Marc explains:

Unit owners will be offered the option of an aquaculture system, which, together with the option of an urban farm on the roof, will allow them to produce their own food. This challenges the Western concept of sustainability and proposes a more African approach that embraces practical benefits to the community.

Touching the Earth Lightly

The building itself sits lightly on the earth, touching the ground at two points only, with the rest of the structure floating above the wetland. Each of the five units has its own private view and the primary spaces are north-facing, with open plan kitchen and living areas on the ground floor and bedrooms on the first floor. The roof areas have been designed to accommodate residents’ individual needs such as children’s play areas, urban farming, or outdoor entertainment areas.

“The premise behind this development is that the way we consume is as important as the way in which we build,” Marc says.

To protect the integrity of the site, we are developing strict parameters with regards to how the development will be operated, a process that will be managed by a body corporate. The residents of this development will become stewards who understand that urban growth can help protect threatened biodiversity, in a symbiotic relationship that acts to the benefit of both.

In addition to passive design principles with lightweight, low Portland cement concrete construction providing good thermal mass, each unit will be fitted with Energy Star appliances, a gas stove, a solar hot water heating element and a 3kW solar PV system with 15kWh of storage.

The ground floor spaces have double glazed stacking door systems, allowing seamless integration of interior and exterior spaces; while the upstairs rooms have sliding glass doors with timber screens to minimise solar gain. Skylights bring in additional natural light and illuminate the internal natural textures.

Finishes are as natural as possible, without painting or applied floor finishes which would increase the building’s embodied energy. The intention is to offer clients three options for internal wall cladding, using a system that allows the cladding to be changed or adapted over time – reeds that are commonly used in the African subcontinent, which could potentially be grown on site; recycled timber; or Rhino Wood, which is more expensive but has longevity.

The project is not currently targeting the Net Zero – Waste category, as this option is not open to projects in the design phase, but the developers hope to target this category in the as-built and operational phase of the project.

The Linden Vleihuis embodies an ambitious vision for integrating true sustainability and reintroducing endemic biodiversity into an existing urban context. As such, it raises the bar for residential developments that seek to address the impacts of climate change.

PROFESSIONAL TEAM:

• Architect and Project Manager: Marc Sherratt Sustainability Architects
• Ecologist: Ecology International
• Wetland Specialist: Emifula Riverine Consultants & Associates
• Mechanical Consultant: Drikus van der Walt
• Wet Services: Green Planet Engineering Services
• Quantity Surveyors: Russell Irons & Associates
• Sustainable Building Consultant: Solid Green Consulting

Sustainable building features include:

The Multi-Unit Residential (MUR) development consist of 5 units.

The project has achieved net zero/ net positive ratings for 3 categories that include the following sustainable initiatives:

Carbon/Energy – Net Zero CARBON- Level 2

• Efficient LED lights
• Natural ventilation and double glazing
• Energy Star Appliances and gas stove.
• Solar hot water heating element with 2kw heating capacity.
• Each unit is provided with a 3kW solar PV system, with 15kWh of storage.

 Water: Net Zero WATER – Level 2

• Water efficient sanitary fittings,
• Rainwater harvesting,
• 400 KL created wetland as storage capacity for rainwater and water tanks
• Filtration system to drinkable water quality.

Ecology: Net Positive ECOLOGY – Level 1

• Reusing a brownfield site with existing municipal infrastructure,
• New created wetland,
• Endemic plant species
• 47 % of the site has landscaped areas

More on this project here.

The post Linden Vleihuis: Reintroducing Biodiversity into Urban Living appeared first on Solid Green Consulting.