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Sustainability Statement

‘The sustainability of my design encompassed a maximum reuse of the structures, mechanics and plant materials. Therefore, this design was for hire only. Upon its return to the studio, the process of reuse and repurpose can start in the next design.

The structures which secured the construction consisted of a tall (160 cm) and wide(60 cm) metal stand, the hanging branch of palm inflorescence and a wired basket placed at the base of the palm structure.

The small wired basket was crafted with fibre coated thick wires. It helped hold and secure the living plants an other plant materials. It served as a container and a means of mechanics which can be reused and repurposed.

All the parts of the support system can sustain reuse. The metal stand, as a durable piece of equipment, can serve multiple usage.

The binding (paper coated) wires were the only disposable materials.

The dominant structure featured in the design was 100% organic. It was the branch of palm inflorescence which had been shaped into a cradle (basket like) as it dried. I learnt from my previous practice in using this raw material, its resilience and long lasting quality could enable reuse and repurpose. The other reusable organic materials in the design were the bamboo tubes for water source.

The living plants were the crucial components of this sustainable design. They played a vital role in maintaining a sustainable solution due to their relative longevity, compatibility and reusability. The epiphytic and succulent plants were chosen mainly because of their common characteristics of water storage and similar moisture requirements.

The combined use of whole plants with roots and cuttings had the objective of achieving an open ended cycle within the living plant design where the continual growth of plants and the potential propagation of plant cuttings exemplified sustainability.’

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Planting system / methods used in your Design

1) The roots of the phalaenopsis were kept in moistened spaghnum moss and wrapped in palm fibre. Some of the rhipsalis were treated similarly. These plants were placed and secured into the wired basket within the palm inflorescence.

2)There were numerous pieces of plant cuttings ftom various parent plants which were bromeliads, rhipsalis, kalanchoe, ephiphyllum, euphoria, monsteria and syngonium. The base of each piece of cutting covered in moss and then wrapped in palm fibre. They were tied to various parts of the palm inflorescence cradle.

3)Bamboo tubes were used to hold water for syngonium and monsteria. Two large bamboo tubes on extended wires were positioned to hold and elevate the long stems of rhipsalis from the top and down both sides of the design.

4)These plant cuttings have their unique water storage in their stems, leaves and urns.

5)The compact placement of all the plant materials could create a reasonably humid environment which they shared within the design. A thorough misting over the design would maintain the freshness and growth of the "inhabitants"!