The landscape was designed alongside hospital staff, the City of Karratha, and the traditional ‘Ngarluma’ landowners to create a civic place where the whole community feels comfortable and protected, says Natalie Busch, Principal at Hassell.
But designing a sustainable landscape for Karratha was particularly challenging, says Busch; as the town experiences, all extremes in weather and conditions. From high temperatures, humidity and at times torrential rains, to bonedry soil, and even cyclones.
“With these impacts in mind, we designed a hospital campus that’s ‘bulletproof’ and self-sufficient in terms of essential services and maintenance. A landscape that can not only survive fluctuating conditions but – through its strategic design – actually helps protect this vital community asset during extreme weather events.”
“One year since completion, and having endured category five Cyclone Veronica, the landscape continues to thrive,” Busch said. Innovating to sustain plant life in a water-scarce environment. In the semi-arid Pilbara, any civic landscape lacking sufficient planting and shade is destined to fail, but water for irrigation isn’t readily available. Karratha’s groundwater is brackish, the rainfall’s unreliable – essentially the site pre-development was a baron sandpit.
This story is from the December 2019 edition of Landscape Middle East.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2019 edition of Landscape Middle East.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Minor Paradises
Reinterpreting the possibilities of garden design in a world with limited water
Karratha Health Campus From Baron Sandpit To Restorative Oasis
Resourceful planting and irrigation are helping this new civic landscape thrive in the harsh climate of Australia’s Pilbara region.
Recreating The Magic Of Expo 67
Once home to the 1967 Expo world fair, Montreal’s iconic Parc Jean-Drapeau is transformed by designer Lemay
Designing Open Spaces
Turkish company, Orientalis Landscaping shares their insight from a recent residential project in Sharjah.
Interview With Sajid Kagadi
Business Development Manager GreenKeeper Landscaping & Irrigation Works LLC. Dubai, UAE.
A Pakistani Family Home That Blends And Ages With The Landscape
This is the dream home for Mr. Y K and his family, he has fairly traditional tastes but was open to new ideas for the design.
Wasit Wetland Centre Is A Beacon Of Conservation
A former waste dumping ground in Sharjah has had its indigenous ecosystem restored and is proving popular with visitors who come to learn about their natural environment.
Sustainable Landscape Refurbishment – A Change Initiative
Landscape refurbishment is a sustainable solution to save environmental pollution by reducing waste and conserving material by maintaining them with eco – friendly practices.
Save The Trees
John A. Davies, an avid Landscape reader, explains his love for trees and how we can save them with various case studies
Why Heirloom Tomatoes Are Trending
Heirloom vegetables, herbs, and flowers are having a moment right now! You’ll find them in most top restaurants and sitting supreme in your local market but they’re not a new thing- in fact they’ve come to us from the past. What are they and what do they mean for our health?