RESIDENTIAL APARTMENTS FOR LOUIS & ZELLE MARTIN FOUNDATION
COURTYARD DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
The courtyard – for use by the residents of the apartments – is designed to be viewed from both the apartments and the grounds of the Hospice. The long rectangular space over the deck of the underground car park is divided into three smaller spaces by a series of raised planters. As well as providing enough depth of topsoil to enable small trees to grow, they also serve to create three smaller, more intimate spaces opening off each of the main entrances to the blocks. Each of these gardens has seating on all four sides, as well as providing grassy areas for small children to play on.
Towards the western end of the site there is an area of low level linear planting in gravel, with a range of colours, textures and smells designed to appeal to all the senses. Free standing timber seats are scattered through this area for more leisurely appreciation.
The courtyard is lit by combination of wall mounted lights, recessed pavement lights and up-lighters in the planting beds themselves which will pick out the tracery of the winter stems, spring bulbs and blossoms and other seasonal changes.
