Patrick Blanc visits Central Park

Flamboyant French botanist Patrick Blanc is in Sydney this July for the final inspection of his spectacular vertical gardens now thriving and bursting with colour and vibrancy on the north and east facades of the iconic One Central Park residential development in Chippendale.

The tapestry of unique artistic designs which creatively weave together over 380 exotic and native species is what makes Blanc’s vertical gardens truly remarkable, together with the delicate science of ensuring the plants’ ongoing survival at great heights and under all weather conditions.

One Central Park’s two towers, designed by fellow Frenchman Jean Nouvel (with collaborating architect PTW), house Blanc’s highest-ever vertical gardens. Two of the 21 panels reach a height of 116 metres.

The concept behind Blanc’s vertical gardens is that plants do not need soil to grow provided they have something to attach themselves to, plus well as light, carbon dioxide, water and nutrients, which can be mechanically dispersed to the plants.

This approach eradicates the need for soil entirely and allows the plants to be light enough to grow on any surface, effectively transforming glass facades into a canvas for sustainable, lush, living art.

Having created his vertical gardens all over the world for the past 30 years, Blanc is the pioneer and leading expert on growing plants vertically, a concept he believes is only due to expand with high density accommodation becoming a necessary part of living in large cities.

“One Central Park is only the fourth project Patrick has completed in Australia and we are incredibly pleased to have been able to secure his living artworks for all future residents and visitors to these iconic towers,” said Central Park’s Project Director, Mick Caddey.

“One Central Park’s vertical gardens are one of the most visible expressions of Central Park’s commitment to sustainable urban living,” added Caddey.

Vertical gardens act as a natural air purification system, and may have a cooling effect on the building as a whole. Benefits include a reduction in energy consumption through thermal insulation, providing a natural shield between residents and the elements. Introducing bio- diversity to the heart of a city is another advantage.

One Central Park was recently declared the Best Tall Building in Asia and Australia by the Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH); an honour attributed in part to the remarkably green facades.

Part of the magic of Blanc’s installations is that he has made it possible for plants to grow on buildings without compromising the structural integrity of the building, a problem which has often arisen in the past when plants have attached themselves to buildings.

Throughout his distinguished career, Patrick Blanc has created more than 250 vertical gardens all over the world. Patrick’s first outdoor vegetal wall in Australia commenced in 2009 when Frasers Property Australia commissioned him to design a vertical garden for its award-winning Trio development in Camperdown – which continues to thrive and delight.

His impressive collection of work in Australia includes the Qantas lounges in Sydney and Melbourne, the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA) in Hobart, Trio residential development in Camperdown and, in particular – the striking vertical gardens that adorn the Jean Nouvel designed One Central Park, the landmark building at the $2 billion Central Park development on Sydney’s Broadway.

One Central Park has the largest green façade ever undertaken on a residential tower in Australia comprising almost 1200sqm of vertical gardens.

Blanc has completed installations for the Jean Nouvel–designed Quai Branly Museum in Paris, the Marithé & François Girbaud boutique in Manhattan, Herzog & De Meuron’s Caixa Forum in Madrid, the aquarium in Genoa, the Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok, and the 21st Century Museum of Art in Kanazawa, Japan.

One Central Park comprises 623 apartments in two adjoining towers linked by a recreation podium including a major new urban shopping centre, ‘Central’. Only 8 ‘Sky at One central Park’ penthouse apartments remain for sale, priced from $2.65 million, representing the very last opportunities to buy into this iconic green tower.

Construction of One Central Park commenced in December 2010, with Central Park’s first residents moving in to One Central Park West in May 2013. One Central Park’s final stage – Sky at On Central Park, the uppermost five storeys of the taller East tower – completed in December 2013.