Terra+ Landscape Architects were tasked with designing and implementing the landscaping for the proposed Tokai Estate Life Retirement Village, working as part of a comprehensive design team. The project required careful consideration of various factors, including site context, accessibility, user needs, and sustainability. Terra+ played a key role not only in soft landscaping but also contributed to hard landscaping and layout decisions.

Pedestrian-Friendly Streets

A core design principle was to create pedestrian-friendly streets throughout the village. Instead of traditional sidewalks, the focus was on allowing pedestrians to dominate vehicular traffic. This approach aimed to soften the street edges by allowing planting to encroach, blurring the defined road edge and creating a slight discomfort for drivers, thus slowing down traffic and ensuring pedestrian safety.

Vibrant Ecosystem

The planting vision aimed to establish a vibrant ecosystem that would offer interest throughout the year while requiring low maintenance. Key principles guiding the planting strategy included biodiversity, seasonality, robustness, ecosystem design, and water efficiency. By carefully selecting plant species, the landscape was designed to support a diverse range of flora and fauna while showcasing seasonal variations.

Tree Selection and Management

Street trees were deliberately limited to three species to maintain consistency and aesthetic coherence. Deciduous and evergreen species were strategically chosen to provide year-round interest and create avenues along main roads. Side roads were planted with deciduous trees to offer shade in summer and sunlight in winter. Additionally, feature trees like Erythrina lysistemon were selected for their striking seasonal flowers.

Stormwater Management and Irrigation

A comprehensive approach to stormwater management and irrigation was adopted, treating them as interconnected systems. Stormwater recharge was prioritized alongside best-practice irrigation techniques to minimize water usage. Rain monitors were installed to adjust irrigation schedules dynamically, preventing overwatering. Regular checks ensured efficient irrigation distribution, and the resilient planting mix minimized water requirements as plants established.

In addition to the main scope of works, Terra+ was also tasked with designing an adjacent biodiversity park, further enhancing the ecological value and recreational opportunities of the retirement village.