eco design

The Container Connection believes that now and in the future, Designers and Builders must be able to demonstrate how their work contributes to ecological improvements in our global environment.

A wide range of our products are EcoSpecified to ensure we are sustainable in our approach to production and manufacture. Our range of CottaPot is manufactured in a recycleable material that is lightweight, VOC free and is also available in a 100% recycled material on request. Use of EcoSpecified product will assist in achiving Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) Green Star credits, to signify environmentally sustainable design and construction.

Container Connection is actively invoved from all stages of building and design process with architects and interior landscapers to help deliver customised environmental solutions for Green star rated buildings. A recent example is Brisbane ENERGEX building in Newstead, QLD. The Container Connection was contacted by Bligh Voller Nield Architects (BVN) to expand on the needs of the fit-out for Brisbane’s new Energex workplace. Featuring an extensive internal/external plantscape, the BVN fit-out used several thousand plants in a number of different ways. Referring to The Container Connection’s catalogue, hundreds of large and small stand alone planter boxes would be required. In addition, a unique self-watering planter would need to be custom designed and manufactured to achieve a large feature element. Meeting the architect’s expectations and demands of the schedule would require a team effort.

The new six level corporate Newstead headquarters brings together a number of divisions and groups, which were dispersed throughout Brisbane. Accommodating 1,300 staff, including conference, boardroom and training facilities, a gym, credit union, library and control room, the new facility spearheads a move for cultural change within the workplace culture at Energex.

Extending their much publicised environment policy to the design and construction of their new Brisbane headquarters, Energex engaged Bligh Voller Nield to develop the design brief for a 6 Star Green Building. Energex’s vision was to build a workplace that was unique to the region with good levels of fresh air and natural light for all employees. Energex imagined an architectural outcome capable of enhancing their employee’s quality of life. With BVN’s design brief encapsulating the functional and environmental objectives of the building.

For the Energex fit-out, BVN devised a room divider / screen system for the interweaving of plants through the workplace. Forming a critical component in the fit-out, it partitions workspaces from communal areas and thoroughfares.

For the architects, collaborating with The Container Connection Queensland to deliver this ambitious plantscape was logical. With an existing capacity for delivering special projects,

Described as a 'pressure cooker' of a project, The Container Connection negotiated a tight delivery schedule for both the stock and custom-designed planters. The project required a substantial amount of planters within a nine month period. The research and development of the "Urban 12" planter box (specifically for the divider / screen system) required extensive liaison between the parties. Entrusted with the final design and manufacture of the Urban 12, The Container Connection produced detailed shop drawings and samples for BVN’s approval. Assessing the planter’s mechanism for self-watering and water tight design ensured adjacent joinery and spaces would not incur damage from water leakage.

There are several contingencies for manufacturing a successful planter box. Rotational moulding is a versatile process because it can achieve design, engineering and cost factors for the client. However, manufacturing large volumes requires time. The process starts with the assembly of a metal mould on a rotating arm, polymer powder is placed into the mould and then tightly clamped together. The mould is transferred to a heating chamber and rotated constantly for a period of 25-30 minutes. As the mould heats up, the powder melts coating the inside surface. Out of the oven the mould moves to a cooling chamber for a further 30 minutes and continues to rotate to ensure even distribution of air flow over the mould. Once cooled, the mould is released to extract the moulded unit and further surface finishing is often required. All this for one planter and BVN required many!

Delivering the Energex project was indeed a team effort. In addition to the many planter boxes manufactured by the Melbourne and Queensland factories, The Container Connection NSW manufactured 25 large stand-alone fibreglass containers.

Installation was difficult because the fit-out was proceeding at the same time. Many different trades were all-vying for lift use and floor space in the loading dock area where space was limited. However, Custom Tropical overcame these difficulties by working from 4.00pm onwards to avoid other trades and managed to install all plants in accordance with the Brookfield Multiplex programme.

Plantscaper, Ian Barnes, commented "The completed interior plantscape is a very impressive open office environment."