African Design Magazine November 2016 | Page 24

Six to eight Bidvest employees were required for the Pinehaven installation, under the supervision of Gugu Msezane and Sihle Sithela. Msezane was also responsible for the one year post-construction maintenance period awarded to Bidvest. The erection of the green wall had to be done within seven days using the main contractor Grinaker’s scaffolding prior to its dismantling in readiness for the floor to be tiled. Bidvest TopTurf had just finished Netcare Pholoso hospital’s green wall in Polokwane with the Modiwall components literally “hot off the press”. Click here to read more Judges’ comments The judges found it difficult to fault the green wall and were impressed with Bidvest’s choice of the new South African made product Modiwall vertical garden system. This comprises a closed irrigation system which works very well as exemplified by the good quality of the plants – the water is recycled on a continual basis. The structure itself is strengthened by plastic batons: a large percentage of the structure as a whole is made of recycled plastic. Excellent design and installation of the wall unit system allowed the plants to establish within the period of slightly less than five months after construction. The sump is collecting the water without any spillage...particularly important in a hospital environment. The Bidvest supervisor, Gugu Msezane, who was on site during installation and maintenance, and hosted the judges, gave an excellent presentation explaining every aspect of the green wall, clearly and with great enthusiasm. The SALI regional judges who visited the project were nurseryman Roy Trendler and environmental journalist Carol Knoll.