A re-energising patch of green offers lucky staff a calm space amid a bustling city, writes Kim Kind.
The bustling chaos at street level reveals no hint of the sunny secret garden above but five floors up, behind the shiny facade of 420 George Street in Sydney’s central business district, lies a leafy little oasis.
The 900 lucky employees of global technical and management support company AECOM have exclusive access to the 300-square-metre terrace garden in the new 28-storey, five-Green-Star-rated office tower and they are making the most of it.
A member of the AECOM Green Office team, horticulturalist Andrew Derkatch, led a group of 20 volunteers to turn the precious outdoor space into a herb garden of rosemary, mint, thyme, coriander, chives and parsley, as well as chilli plants and passionfruit vines.
Workers from all sectors of the business toiled during their lunch breaks over several days to prepare the beds and plant the herbs and now take turns to water, feed and weed their patch.
Derkatch says the experience has brought everyone together. ‘‘People from every bit of the company were involved,’’ he says. ‘‘It shows there is something in common between all of us.’’
In the coming weeks the herbs will be ready to harvest and distributed free to staff. Derkatch is sourcing recipes to help people make the most of their produce.
‘‘Everyone’s really excited,’’ he says. ‘‘They’re asking for tips on how to grow [the herbs] at home. There’s lots of knowledge sharing.’’
The organic garden is irrigated with recycled rainwater and is next to the AECOM staff hub, a huge, modern kitchen and eating area. The space is used for large functions and by the many staff who eat at the terrace’s recycled timber tables. Derkatch likes to go out there to gather his thoughts.
‘‘The other day I needed a break so I went down and watered some of the garden with a watering can,’’ he says. ‘‘It was quite therapeutic. You can have a bit of a breather.’’
And that’s the idea, says the AECOM technical director and manager of the office fitout, Stuart Bowden. ‘‘We want to provide options for staff not to be tied to their desk all day every day for their own well-being,’’ he says. ‘‘It’s a healthier alternative to provide people with the opportunity to break out of indoor environments and it works.’’
Bowden’s view is backed by evidence. A Swedish researcher, Dr Ulrika Stigsdotter, found that access to a garden at work reduced stress and improved well-being, even if the garden was only viewed through a window. The authors of The Experience of
Nature – A Psychological Perspective, professors Rachel and Stephen Kaplan, found that people with access to nature in the workplace reported higher levels of job satisfaction and fewer illnesses.
Indoor plants have been proved to boost workplace health by absorbing pollutants known as volatile organic compounds that leach from building materials, computers and equipment. Research cited by an Australian environmental scientist, Ronald Wood, suggests better indoor air quality can increase productivity and reduce absenteeism and staff turnover.
About 3000 plants make up the interior ‘‘plantscape’’ of AECOM’s nine floors. All are chosen for their air-filtering properties, aesthetics and ability to thrive in low light. There is no escaping the greenery.
‘‘The plants do improve people’s opinion of the environment,’’ Derkatch says.
And five floors up, there’s not a snail or aphid in sight.
Garden Guide
Landscape architect Andrew Leuchars says a garden can grow anywhere with the right plants and a little loving care.
■ Green roofs Hardy, short-root plants such as succulents are planted in a ‘‘mattress’’ that contains soil and a drainage layer to provide environmentally friendly building insulation.
■ Green walls Plants grow through a vertical soil ‘‘mattress’’ and can be irrigated from above using recycled water.
■ Free-standing planters Use inside and out. Ensure sufficient catchment for drainage runoff and locate plants away from airconditioning and heating. Grow lights can improve conditions.
■ Self-contained water features A low-maintenance way to enhance any space.
■ Fail-safe indoor and outdoor plants Ficus, soft-leaf yucca, umbrella tree, peace lily.