2024 Gold Award – Design

This large planter is the first thing students and staff see upon entering the Bakke Recreation and Wellbeing Center.  The planter measured 20′ long, 5′ wide on the long end and 2′ wide on the short end.  One side of the planter is curved – this provided a unique design challenge with plant placement. 

The client was looking to mimic the Wisconsin exterior landscape, visible through the large windows beyond the lobby.  Ficus were used to represent the deciduous trees and Aglaonema ‘Spring Snow’ were used to mimic hosta.   Algerian Ivy naturally has it’s place in every Wisconsin landscape.  Natural stone outcroppings and moss clusters were added to bring in more natural elements.

Custom planters in various sizes and depths were provided by the client.  The planters shown here on the 2nd floor overlooking the lobby, are visible from the entry.  Proper staging was crucial when using a combination of grow pot sizes.  In these two planters 10″ D. Warneckii Goldstar Canes and 6″ Jade Pothos were used to give a sense of depth and created a lush planting.

This space was a unique challenge to design.  The client had custom planters built on this wall with supports inside that we needed to place plants around.  Called “The Living Room”, this area is used by students and staff for meetings and studying.  The final design incorporated a more “collected plant” look.  Instead of a more streamlined one plant variety per planter installation.   This is gives a more fluid, natural flow to the wall.  What you can’t see is the wall of curved windows providing a ton of natural light, which will be more than enough for the plantings of Birdsnest Fern, Arboricola, Jade Pothos and Aglonema ‘Spring Snow’.