In just a few months, a green oasis with a Mediterranean flair was created in the commercial yard of Franz Morick GmbH in Düsseldorf. Tita Giese developed a four-part concept for the company, which incorporated both the yard area with a tall maple tree and the south-facing wall and levels to the roof terrace, plus the flat roof itself. She selected a number of different robust plants for the project, such as hardy fan palms and various species of bamboo. The concept was executed in such a way that the commercial yard remained easily accessible for the day-to-day work of Franz Morick GmbH.
Extraordinary plants
Franz Morick GmbH installed three irrigation circuits to ensure that the dwarf bamboo, palms, ivy, maple tree and clematis are watered regularly. Broad-leafed dwarf bamboo was planted on the east-facing side and on the levels of the west-facing side, together with evergreen clematis, which blooms pink as early as February, different blue clematis (which blooms from May to October) and evergreen ivy with different leaf shapes. In autumn, the entire commercial yard, especially on the southern side, becomes a camouflage area comprising ivy in multiple green shades and grape vines in bright scarlet..
Light weight for large plants
To provide a secure place for the large palms on the terrace whilst not overloading the roof's structural integrity, plant boxes that are both stable and have a light self-weight were required. The plant boxes from Richard Brink, which ultimately impressed Uta Meyer-Morick, meet these criteria. A total of nine plant boxes from Richard Brink GmbH & Co. KG made of hot-dip galvanised sheet steel were used on the roof terrace. Thanks to the double-walled construction and the air spaces inside the wall, which have an insulating effect, the plants are protected against frost and dehydration. The custom measurements of the boxes – 2000mm long, 700mm wide and 600mm tall – provide the palms and various species of bamboo sufficient room to grow. The plant boxes that border the roof terrace and lead to the yard are even longer at 2680mm. Both the custom measurements and the material of the plant containers satisfy the high-quality demands of this project.
Successful design implementation with plant boxes
After six months of planning, the plant concept was implemented in just a few weeks on the commercial yard of Franz Morick GmbH. ‘We are really pleased and have received a lot of positive feedback from our employees and customers,’ enthuses Uta Meyer-Morick. Tita Giese adds her summary: ‘We chose the plant containers from Richard Brink because the terrace structure could only support an extremely light additional load and the plant boxes had the lowest weight. What’s more, the material and manufacturing quality of the boxes matched our concept, compared to the usual products on the market.’ Within a short amount of time, the shabby commercial yard was transformed into a pleasant plant oasis from which the residents, employees and visitors benefit.
