The overall landscape architecture concept for BMRI was to craft a modern, contemporary landscape, in harmony with Roelof Rabe Argitekte’s new building design, aimed at creating spaces that offer a significant reprise from the intense campus environment.

Further to this concept it is recognized that it is within these outside spaces that social interaction takes place. Our goal was to design welcoming areas where students could gather, unwind, and enjoy one another’s company. The design concentrated on promoting and facilitation positive outdoor space that can be enjoyed by all. Every visitor to these spaces holds significance – even the chickens that reside on campus were thought of as users.

In realising the concept, Terra+ Landscape architects focused on the design of the following areas: East entrance, West entrance, the park, dean’s garden, atrium, courtyard, parking lot – all the spaces in-between the new BMRI building. TERRA+ Landscape Architects were responsible for the layout of the space and the design and detailing of the hard-landscaping elements such as pergolas, paving and other landscape elements.

Through-out the design process there was a focus on allowing the outside spaces to permeate the inside spaces with echoes of the paving patterns reflected in the floor patterns of the atrium space, strengthening the indoor-outdoor connection. Careful selection of trees for the atrium space was considered to ameliorate the space for human comfort.

The planting palette was carefully considered to use endemic species where possible and an overall indigenous plant palette from the rich fynbos floral kingdom of the Western Cape. The diversity of the fynbos biome provides seasonal change and interest which contributes to the sense of place and identity. The selection of plants is also water-wise and resilient to the climatic changes typical of the context.

Project Data

Landscape Architects – Terra+ Landscape Architects

Other designers involved in the design of the landscape:

Information/Project team

Contractor & subcontractors:
Architects – Roelof Rabe Argitekte
Project Managers – Henry Fagan Consulting Engineers & Project managers
Consulting Engineers – EKCON
Main contractor – WHBO
Landscape Contractor – Life Landscapes
QS – Hennie Kleynhans Quantity Surveyors

Major suppliers
Paving – Ubuntu Concrete Works
Gravelfix – Bera
Pergolas – WBHO
Copings – Capecast and Ubuntu Concrete Works

Project location: Cape Town, South Africa

Year completed: February 2023

Photo credits: David Savage – Southland Photography