The Greenwall Company and founder Mark Paul has been announced the winner of The Australian Institute of Horticulture Green Space Residential Award for 2021. The project, Mark’s family home, is a sustainable haven with the ability to be off the grid in the heart of Sydney. 

The home features Mark’s innovative greening designs including greenwalls, greenroofs, Eco Pillows and even removable pond gabions. Mark explains, “When the house was built this garden started with no soil and a sandstone base. Starting at the nature strip the media is the depth of the kerb over sandstone, in fact 200mls is the average soil depth over the entire block. 

“There are 6 large podium planters with one containing a 12,000 litre wetland and pond over the garage. It has greenwalls and greenroofs, rock (lithophytic) and tree plantings (epiphytic). It takes into account amenity, aspect, cultural requirements, view lines and the needs of a family and two boys who need to understand about vegetable gardens, chickens, fish and tadpoles to name a few.” 

The residence houses a collection of plants, either self-grown, collected or received. The front has a nature strip of native grasses and sedges that are cut annually, and the three front planter beds (over rock) have a mainly native planting to blend with the adjacent bushland. In total there are 140 plant species in the greenwall and 240 species on the roof.

The Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH) recognises the commitment, professionalism and excellence of those who have made a significant contribution to the horticultural industry. This year they received a great number of nominations with many coming from outside of their membership base which highlights the many projects going on around Australia and Singapore that people feel should be acknowledged and recognised. 

“We are thrilled to have received this Award and appreciate the recognition of the 30 plus years I have been involved with the AIH, and the work we have undertaken to find new ways to reclaim the built environment by greening spaces,” said Mark.