Last Saturday Good Manors celebrated its 25th anniversary in style. The Good Manors team transformed the Cellblock Theatre at The National Art School in Darlinghurst into a striking green oasis.
Guests approached the gathering through a tree lined entrance (courtesy of Alpine Nurseries)where they were welcomed into the courtyard with log burning fires, the smell of Gluhwein and sounds of Spanish guitar music. A feeling of coziness was instantly present. Among the 220 guests were friends, current and former employees, clients, colleagues, suppliers and other valued partners.
When all of the guests had arrived, Master of Ceremonies Robbie McGregor (actor and voice over artist for SBS) announced the entrance to the Cellblock. Here party-goers were welcomed by an impressive ‘upside-down’ garden of wattle foliage hanging from the soaring ceilings of the venue. Altered terracotta pots made tables and generous strips turf on either side of the timber-palette seating completed the setting.
Robbie McGregor put Good Manors founders in the spotlight – testing skills refined over their 25 years with Ron Berkelmans asked to plant a buxus and Raoul van de Laak required to sell the crowd a Good Manors pool and garden on the spot. The party kicked on with DJ John Ferris keeping the crowd dancing through to the early hours.
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Appropriately celebrated as one of the most innovative urban reclamation projects to date – New York City’s recently completed High Line project is an enormous achievement for its founders, designers, contractors and supporters. Built in the 1930’s for freight-trains, the elevated tracks became redundant and overgrown with weeds following the introduction of truck transport. The wild and uninhibited nature of this self-seeded landscape is apparent in today’s primarily native planting of perennials, grasses, trees and shrubs. The great triumphs of this project are in its details – the materials, the meticulous plant palette, the continuous references throughout the walk to its past use and surrounding environment.
In June this year Good Manors Landscape Architect, Hugh Burnett took a trip to New York for a first-hand look at the elevated spread of native plants, formed concrete paths, and thoughtfully framed vistas. Here are a few of Hugh’s photographs from this visit, we look forward to seeing references to this work in his upcoming designs.
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Here is another gem to visit next year – The Nature Garden Festival held at the Domaine de Chaumont-sur-Loire in France. This looks to be an absolute delight for the senses. The diversity and quality of the projects have contributed to the festival’s international reputation. The Nature Garden Festival has become a well-known meeting place for a new generation of landscape gardeners, architects and designers where their work is showcased. This above installation belongs to Artist Francois Mechain called ‘Arbres aux Echelles”, (translated “Trees with Ladders). A beautiful, evocative display inviting visitors ‘to ascend to see the world differently’. The next International Garden Festival will be held from 22 April until 16 October 2011.
Below: “Toit a Terre” by designer Rainer Gross positioned his sculpture as part of the festival against a backdrop of the Loire.
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Music For Trees is a non-profit initiative launched earlier in the year. They put on free live music events that raise money to plant trees in Community Forest Garden programs in Central + South America, Africa and Asia. The purpose of Music For Trees is to make people aware of the positive impact everyday things can have on improving the environment and greater community. In particular – forest garden projects in poverty stricken and environmentally degraded areas encouraging communities to create a more sustainable future. (Read More)
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Inspired by the tent-style accommodation experienced during strips to Africa, Irena and Jeremy Hutchings opened Paperbark Camp almost ten years ago. Set on 100 acres of relatively untouched bushland in jaw-dropping Jervis Bay, Paperbark Camp sets a fine example for Ecotourisim. Options on how to spend your days are endless with walking tracks through the local paperbark, gum and mangrove forests as well as creeks and bays for cooling down. Looking at the accommodation it may be hard to leave the comforts of your solar-powered tent?
Fresh, local produce is said to be at its best at The Gunyah Restaurant, set within the treetops at the heart of the camp. It is inspiring to read the history and sustainable initiatives of the Paperbark Camp – we are again enthused to take a quick break from Sydney for more research on the good life!
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