Main image: FSG Property services recreated House Richard Maree, complete with chipping and putting course at the back

The South African Landscapers Institute (SALI) Trophy Awards gala event took place recently in KZN.

The following gold winners deserve a mention for their achievements in various aspects of landscaping over the past year.

Perfect Bounce gold-winning project: Indoor cricket facility at Grey College

Category: Specialised construction

Project description: Installation of indoor cricket facility

Company: Perfect Bounce Consultants

More about the project:

Perfect Bounce was contracted by Grey College to build an indoor cricket facility. The indoor design was done to enable as many teams as possible to practise at the same time, and all the nets can be moved away to practice fieldwork indoors as well. They also constructed six fully enclosed 24m x 6m x 3m turf cricket nets just outside the indoor building and upgraded the A cricket pitch.

The project took approximately two years from start to finish because of Covid regulations/lockdown. Grey College arranged a construction team to build the building in a way that let in the most natural sunlight. Perfect Bounce only supplied and installed the indoor nets and carpets.

For the batting surface, an oval carpet with silica sand was used and for the bowling area 45mm artificial grass with rubber infill.

Judge’s Comments

Great installation of artificial turf, got good lines that are almost invisible to the naked eye. Good attention to detail that suits the needs of the client. With the traffic the turf is exposed to, the quality of the construction is exposed in a manner that makes the pitch still look new.

The different volumes of silica sand deposition on the different batting patches makes for a variety of bounce to replica different cricket conditions. This is a great project, and the client is extremely happy.

Libra Landscape gold-winning project: Twistdraai

Category: Specialised construction

Project description: Installation of gabions

Company: Libra Landscape and Facilities Management

More about the project:

The Twistdraai export plant project was awarded to Libra Landscape and Facilities Management by Sasol. The purpose of this project was for the installation of gabions to protect eroded embankments, soil establishment, and covering the wall. During this project, they had to overcome challenges such as machinery breaking and ensuring there is no deviation from the scope.

The gabions took almost two months. During the construction of the gabions, there were some influences on the whole outcome of the gabions. Firstly, the height difference was influenced by the shape of the embankment, the colour needed to accommodate nature and the stone sizing is usually 100-500mm which is the standard gabion stone size. Secondly, pricing was influenced by the market prices which often fluctuate. Therefore, there is no ideal rate per square meter.

However, they are confident to say that the durability of the wire is good and can be strong for more than ten years, holding the stones together whilst still archiving its desired outcome.

The judge commented that the gabions were effective and he liked the way they were merged so seamlessly and the packing sequence was good.

FSG Property Services gold-winning projects:

Category: Landscape construction with design by others

Project description: University of Pretoria – Onderstepoort Residence Refurb

Awards – Gold

Water Wise – Gold

More about the project:

A residence refurb at the Faculty of Veterinary Science was undertaken on the existing buildings as well as the landscaping of outdoor activities such as gyms and large chess boards.

FSG installed irrigation, levelled areas, imported 300mm G6 compact material, screed and paving. Rubber flooring, gym equipment and a rainwater harvesting system were installed to water a newly planted landscape.

Special mention must be made of the rainwater harvesting system which is backed up by borehole water, so municipal water is no longer used for the 3500 square metre landscape on this property.

FSG Property Services gold-winning projects:

Category: Landscape Construction with design by others 

Project description: House Richard Maree

Awards – Gold

Water Wise – Gold

More about the project:

Client requirements:

The client requested a garden with uninterrupted views of the surrounding golf course and natural common areas. As an avid golfing family, the decision was made to remove the boundary walls and recreate and reshape the entire 2400 square metre back garden into a chipping and putting space for kids and adults to enjoy. An elevated green, 3 bunkers, berms and boulders flow seamlessly with the surrounding gardens and trees. Shaping was done to add interest to the space but also to remove storm water from the site to the dam in the common areas.

The plant palette was kept very simple using a play on grasses to create a combined garden, golfing and gathering effect, accentuated by the trees, cycads, boulders and a rock-based fire pit. The swimming pool was designed to incorporate a Jacuzzi, tanning ledge and swimming area flanked by a sunken fire pit/boma leading to an outdoor pizza oven. Gas/fire elements and lighting were added to create ambiance while looking across the property to the golf course.

Full acknowledgement and thanks go to https://www.sali.co.za/; www.libralandscape.co.za; www.perfectbounce.co.za and www.fsgroup.co.za for the information in this editorial.

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