Creative turfing wins award for Baylis

Creative turfing makes for an award-winning transformation

By Turf One

Gravesend based Baylis Landscape contractors have received recognition for their hard work and creativity at a former brownfield site after the project was awarded a coveted architectural prize.

As a former industrial area, Baylis had to remove large quantities of contaminated soil to specialist tip sites, at a cost of some £90,000 from the 5,600m2 site before being able to start the construction works. They formed the remaining lightly contaminated soil on site into sculpted mounds to form a "folded landscape" involving steep slopes and valleys of between 30 and 45 degrees. This was then covered by a

The strength of the Grassfelt enabled long runs to be rolled over the banks, without it being stretched, while adding to the soils overall reinforcement. This allowed the accurate creation of stepped seating areas formed in grass to construct two theatre areas. The flat areas around the mounds including the outdoor stage area, emergency vehicle access routes and occasional pedestrian paths were covered in Lindum's "washed" turf. This was laid over layers of compacted basalt stone, mixed with a light soil, then covered with a three dimensional geogrid and a final thin layer of sand-soil root zone before applying the turf itself.

What has been noted as an exceptional feature of the £400,000 project is the creative and innovative use of turf to the exclusion of nearly all other plants and structures. Cleverly routed paths, discrete lighting, and a fully automated pop up irrigation system complete the project. This project specified and installed by Baylis landscapes in close co-operation with ARUP Project Management and the client Laban forms a truly stunning backdrop to this innovative award winning building.

For further information please contact Andrew Baylis on: (+44) 01474 364 320