Plants Growing On Buildings: The Story of Sydney’s One Central Park

Ideas are born in the minds of every human being, but it takes courage, relentless determination and execution that makes that one idea change everything in the world.

One such idea birthed in the mind of a child when he was about 13, an idea that he believed had the power to change the way humans think and perceive things. Sadly, the idea stayed in the mind of that young mastermind for many years until finally, it no longer could. It had to be implemented for the world to see and it did in the form of Sydney’s One Central Park building, a residential building in the heart of Sydney which recently received the title of being the tallest vertical garden in the world.

But, what’s so special about this building? It isn’t its height or the conveniences it offers; it is its vertical gardens that stop every Sydneysider to wonder, “Who could have thought of that!”

Those who don’t know Patrick Blanc, they should know that he is a botanist and an inimitable artist who came up with the idea of hanging buildings. The building was originally designed by French design group, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, and was submitted as an entry to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat for its green design, which It won.

In the ceremony, the competition juror and the council’s executive director, Anthony Wood, made the following remarks, “Seeing this project for the first time stopped me dead. One Central Park strongly points the way forward, not only for an essential naturalization of our built environment, but for a new aesthetic for our cities – an aesthetic entirely appropriate to the environmental challenges of our age.”

One Central Park is covered with vertical hanging gardens on the north and east façades, having over 38,000 native and exotic plants of about 383 different species. It gives off an effect of a giant tree house that is marvellously organic.

The development director of Central Park, Mick Caddey, believes that the vertical gardens have given the whole world something to talk about. If anything, Sydney will always be remembered for this artwork.

 “If you take a walk down Broadway and see people stopping to wonder at the vertical gardens, or talk with the locals whose sense of Chippendale has been transformed and enriched by this surprisingly organic building, it’s clear that One Central Park has not only won international acclaim but it has also found its way into the hearts of Sydneysiders – and that’s something we’re all very proud of,” he said.

Lastly, how can one forget praising the genius artist for his masterpiece? Blanc always wanted to imagine a building that grew, sprouted and blossomed with flowers. He wanted a building that would change colours as the seasons come and go by shedding leaves which magically come back to life as the first winds of spring approach.

Today, his masterpiece stands tall and high with pride in the heart of Sydney, visible to every passerby. It is a living tapestry that stretches over 150 meters high, transforming the Sydney skyline.  Now that every big company is striving to go green, One Central Park building serves as a true inspiration for others to follow suit.

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This is a sponsored article written for Whim Magazine.