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Hume Global Learning Centre - Sunbury

The Hume Global Learning Centre is located very close to the Sunbury Central Activity District and nearby retail stores, as well as a handy public transportation hub. It is easily accessible through the Tullamarine freeway from Melbourne Airport and the Melbourne CBD.

The Hume Global Learning Centre is designed to make a significant and memorable contribution to the Sunbury region. The facility is dynamic, progressive and considered, and this will act as a powerful signifier of community values and aspirations at the gateway to the Sunbury town centre.

Hume Global Learning Centre-Sunbury. Commercial Landscaping - Reds Landscaping & Design — *Hume Global Learning Centre-Sunbury. Commercial Landscaping.*

Around 30,000 people currently use the centre each month to participate in several community and business learning programs and activities.

Opening of Hume Global Learning - Reds Landscaping & Design — *Opening of Hume Global Learning Centre - Sunbury.*

The three-level development is based on the plan for a lifelong learning centre that the City of Hume has successfully implemented on three other sites.

Opening - Hume Global Learning centre - Sunbury - Reds Landscaping & Design — *Opening - Hume Global Learning Centre - Sunbury*

In addition to offering conventional library facilities, the building contributes to the delivery of both academic and vocational education programmes. The centre includes:

A library.
A teaching space.
A business hub.
Flexible multi-use meeting and activity rooms.
Conference/events spaces.
A gallery/museum/exhibition space.
A customer service centre.
A visiting/hot desk.
Staff offices.

2D Landscape Design - Hume Global Learning Centre - Sunbury - Reds Landscaping & Design — *2D Landscape Design - Hume Global Learning Centre - Sunbury. Landscape Design by ACLA Consultants.*

Public Spaces and Commercial Landscaping

Commercial landscaping of public spaces offers high-quality open green spaces that are easily accessible to the community. From walking down shady streets to commercial landscaping around libraries, museums, and community centres, landscaped spaces are local communities' hearts.

Concrete Pathway - Reds Landscaping & Design — *Broad concrete pathways for community access at Hume Global Learning Centre - Sunbury.*

Through these places, a large number of community members connect, play, stroll, and bicycle. In this manner, commercial landscaping contributes to the health and well-being of local inhabitants. The landscape design of Hume Global Learning Centre Sunbury, by ACLA Consultants, certainly meets all of these aims.

Hume Global Learning Centre Commercial Landscaping - Reds Landscaping & Design — *Hume Global Learning Centre Commercial Landscaping.*

Quality commercial landscape design also provides essential habitats for native species. The landscape design of commercial buildings also greatly affects the success of these public spaces.

Hume Global Learning Centre - Sunbury. Concrete Pathways - Reds Landscaping & Design — *Hume Global Learning Centre- Sunbury. Concrete Pathways of public spaces.*

Public places such as the Hume Global Learning Centre-Sunbury contribute to a high level of public amenity, particularly when linked with effective landscape design. The result is an accessible public place for the people of Sunbury.

Garden by the Window - Reds Landscaping & Design — *Lomandra native grasses with a mudstone boulder in a garden by a window.*

Contribution of Red Landscaping In Constructing The Hume Global Learning Centre - Sunbury

Red's landscaping was proud to be part of this significant place making project for the community of Sunbury. Our tasks included the following;

The construction and framework of a large staircase are finished in black.
Black and white exposed concrete.
Earthmoving and excavation.
Large turf area in which a fully controlled Wi-Fi irrigation system installed for all new softscaping.
Concrete sleepers retaining walls.
Mass planting of native trees and shrubs on green lands.
Soil pumping for rooftop planting.

The Red's landscaping team was excited to work on this project with the Hume City Council and acknowledged the continued support and business with the council and contractors to make areas like this possible.

Landscaping Of Hume Global Learning Centre Sunbury

The staff of red’s landscaping and civil worked on softscaping (living component) and hardscaping (non-living component) of landscaping. They worked hard to complete this project.

SOFTSCAPING

Softscaping (the plant component of landscaping) is one of the many specialties of Red's Landscaping and Design. Years of study, research, and experience in Australia's diverse climates have resulted in expert horticultural methods.

The team has been working on sustainable softscapes that can resist the subtropical climate produced by the harsh weather of Melbourne. Our creative softscaping methods may build fertile gardens that are not only environmentally beneficial but also produce fruit, vegetables, and cut flowers.

During the landscape design of Hume Global Learning Centre, we focused on drought-resistant native trees, shrubs, grasses, and groundcovers, which are easy to maintain and attract birds, insects, and mammals. But the question is, why native plants? Because

The Australian climate is harsh, hot, and dry. Most foreign plants are not well adjusted to our conditions and may struggle. Australian natives have all the features that make them ideal low-maintenance garden plants. They are always resistant to drought, tolerant to harsh conditions, and not harmed by various native insects that might damage typical garden plants. Here are some of the native plants we include in our landscape designs.

EUCALYPTUS TREE

Eucalyptus is a dominant Australian tree genus with over 800 species inhabiting many diverse ecosystems throughout Australia. Eucalyptus is generally well adapted to drought. Eucalyptus from the drier environment is also often inherently more drought tolerant. Eucalyptus trees are appreciated for their landscaping uses. Many eucalyptus species have beautiful forms and textures. Some of the flowers are striking in shape and brilliant colours. For these reasons, eucalyptus trees are often used widely in commercial landscaping. This was also the case for the landscaping of Hume Global Learning Centre-Sunbury. Eucalyptus trees planted include "euky dwarf", "leucoxylon rosea", and "eucalyptus scentuous" (lemon scented gum).

Eucalyptus leucoxylon 'Euky Dwarf' - Reds Landscaping & Design — Eucalyptus leucoxylon 'Euky Dwarf' Dwarf SA Blue Gum Notes Uses: For use in smaller gardens where standard SA Blue gum is too large. Flowers appear in large clusters from Autumn through to Spring. Flowers especially attract bees which make excellent honey.

The eucalyptus leaves are the main source of a koala’s diet. Koalas also rely on the moisture in eucalyptus leaves for most of their hydration needs. They also sleep in the eucalyptus tree. Therefore eucalyptus trees are very important for conserving koalas in the urban environment. Due to these qualities, eucalyptus is always on the favourite list of landscape designers.

The eucalyptus trees were planted in the planter pots and vases, which helped to soften the new brick walls of the Hume Global Learning centre.

WESTRINGIA

Westringia is a perennial shrub with dense blue-grey foliage that resembles rosemary. It is an easy care plant with a tidy habit. It has masses of vivid bluish purple flowers. It flowers profusely in spring and regularly at other times of the year. It is a heat-, humidity-, and highly frost tolerant shrub and is well suited to the native flower garden.

Westringia blue gem has a naturally attractive bushy growth habit and responds well to pruning. It is fast growing and does well in a wide range of conditions. It is used for hedging and bordering. It is also suited for containers.

ANIGOZANTHOS BUSH DIAMOND

Anigozanthos bush diamond, commonly known as Kangaroo Paws, is a flower native to Australia. Bush diamond is a compact, off-white flowered kangaroo paw that acts as a great colour contrast in multiple plantings.

This native plant is naturally heat and drought tolerant and enjoys full sun in well-drained soil. However, extra irrigation during flower bud formation will benefit flowering performance.

Anigozanthos are extensively used in commercial landscapes and home gardens. It flourishes best in warm and sunny places, such as balconies, terraces, and courtyards. This plant will be conspicuous and enjoyable in decorative pots, jars, and freely planted in beds in the garden. It will attract the native birds and bees to feed on the nectar.

LOMANDRA

Lomandra, more popularly known as mat rushes, is an Australian perennial herbaceous plant genus. They spread in big, open, spherical tufts, resembling green fountains or fireworks. This spherical, symmetrical form makes them perfect for solitary plantings, such as in the centre of a bed or lawn as a display plant. The clean shape of Lomandra is also maintained without the need for trimming or clipping. They make an impressive impact when used in mass plantings for extremely low-maintenance gardening.

You can place Lomandra pretty much anywhere in your garden. They will grow in wet areas like the garden pond's damp edge and dry ones like a dry herbaceous border. We plant the drought tolerant lomandra along the walls of the Global Learning Centre. This plant provides a fascinating green space between the exposed aggregate footpaths and the walls.

Banksia Birthday Candles

Banksia birthday candles are a dwarf cultivar of Banksia spinulosa and are the highest-selling native plant in Australia. It is a tough, evergreen, low-spreading small shrub with dense, dark green foliage and spectacular golden yellow flowers in autumn and winter that resemble upright candles.

Its mounded shape makes it a great border plant or a miniature hedge. It is also well suited for general landscaping, mass planting, and pots. This plant is also drought and frost tolerant once established. The flowers are outstanding and can attract native wildlife like bees and nectar-eating birds and butterflies into the garden. We used this plant as the ground cover plant in designing the Hume Global Learning Centre.

GREVILLEA BRONZE RAMBLER

Grevilleas are stunning floral Australian species that thrive freely as groundcovers in huge and dry areas. The Grevillea bronze rambler has a dense, spreading habit with thin, smooth, reddish-brown stems decorated with divided bronze-green leaves. It features deep purple-red nectar-rich toothbrush flowers that bloom all year.

It is generally fast-growing, which helps to prevent weed growth and makes for low-maintenance landscaping. It works as a ground cover in large gardens and is well-suited for slopes. It provides an excellent habitat for wildlife, such as small birds. It was also used as a ground cover in the Hume Global Learning Centre landscape design, giving a stunning and pleasing appearance.

HARDSCAPING

The design, planning, and implementation stages of any hardscape project require careful attention. At the same time, there are several important things to consider, and space utilisation is the most important. At Red's Landscaping and Design, hardscaping optimises usable space while creating an attractive garden. Red's Landscaping and Design Gardening uses only licensed and qualified tradespeople to design durable hardscapes that can be enjoyed for decades. Here are some hardscaping areas where we worked in the Hume Global Learning Centre.

CONCRETE STEPS

Concrete steps are usually the focal point of most entryways of homes and public buildings. Elevating concrete steps from bland to grand makes them the dramatic focal point of any front entrance. The concrete steps in exposed aggregate create a stunning feature in the landscape.

Concrete is a very stable construction material, which means it will not decompose or emit any toxic fumes, gases, or harmful components. This makes concrete steps ideal for hot and cold climates, as they will not quickly erode. The concrete steps are cost-efficient, use fewer labour resources, and give the construction worker several custom options. The Red's Landscaping crew in Melbourne used concrete formwork to handle the challenges of constructing long flights of stairs.

EXPOSED AGGREGATE PATHS

Exposed aggregate concrete is a great design solution for public spaces. The attractive, durable, non-slip surface makes it an ideal choice for a landscape architect. High traffic areas around public buildings often use this type of concrete path. The aggregate concrete is available in various colours to suit the landscape design. The aggregate paths are just as durable as any plain concrete surface and handle heavy traffic better than natural stone.

Concrete Path in Exposed Aggregate Concrete - Reds Landscaping & Design — *Concrete Path in Exposed Aggregate Concrete.*

The Red’s Landscaping crew installed the exposed aggregate paths at the entrance and all around the Hume Global Learning Centre, which look outstanding compared to old concrete footpaths. We use alternative colours of concrete in the exposed aggregate pathway. The mulched garden bed also softens the appearance with the planting of native grasses, which increases the aesthetic appeal of the building.

More Information on Hume Global Learning Centre - Sunbury.

Landscape Designer ACLA Consultants.

by Reds Incorporated

Concrete Steps in Commercial Landscaping

Concrete Steps are a vital part of hard landscaping or hardscaping on sloping or uneven commercial landscapes.

Concrete, being one of the most used construction materials, has taken over the construction industry not only as a structural material but also as a commercial landscaping material for the versatility it provides. It is easy to pour into any shape, size, or aesthetic.

Commercial Concrete Steps

Commercial concrete steps are no different for they can be made—in-situ concrete steps or pre-cast—in any form. For these reasons, concrete has proved itself commonplace in the area of commercial public spaces, not only because of the afore-mentioned reasons, but also because of how cheap it can be as compared to other materials.

Commercial Concreting Project - Reds Landscaping & Design — *Commercial Landscaping at Balwyn community centre. Commercial Concrete Steps use safety hand rails and anti-slip studs to ensure a safe public space is maintained.*

Standards and Specifications for Concrete Steps

Now that we have already talked about how marvellous concrete is, let’s dive into the technicalities that come along with it. Concrete, unlike any other construction material that can be easily bought and installed, has to be designed for its strength. If it is poured insitu concrete, it can be designed using different standards and procedures that differ slightly from country to country—the BS method and the ACI method being the most famous ones around the globe. However, if you are planning to order pre-mixed concrete from a concrete batching plant, mentioning the strength and workability you require would be enough — the experts there would do the rest. The strength shall again be prescribed by the designer, but to have a rough idea, 30 MPa would suffice for concrete steps. The 30 MPa concrete would perform better if reinforced with steel or CFRP.

Removing Formwork for a curved insitu concrete seat - Reds Landscaping & Design — *Removing Formwork for a curved insitu concrete steps.*

One can make the strongest concrete yet fail to make a meagrely standing concrete step flight if it isn’t resting on a proper foundation. The ultimate load goes to the soil underneath, and therefore a proper foundation which transmits the load to the soil is always needed. It's best if it’s left to the engineers, for they would calculate the weight of the concrete steps and see which footing would work the best.

Hanson Bokhara Exposed Aggregate Concrete - Reds Landscaping & Design — *Exposed aggregate concrete is ideal for garden steps and stairs to help maintain grip. Recent sealing of the concrete makes it appear slightly darker.*

Construction of Concrete Steps

Once you have sorted out the footing and the strength of concrete, it is now time to start the construction.

The site shall be dug out and the footings shall then be poured—this would require steel as reinforcement.
After the footings are hard and cured, the form work for concrete steps shall be placed—formwork for landings shall be placed accordingly, for they are supposed to be placed after a flight of steps.
Form work for access ramps for wheel chairs shall also be placed as per the architectural design requirements, which usually takes care of the legal considerations as well in that area.
Steel bars as reinforcement – if designed in steps – shall then be placed and held via concrete biscuits/spacers.
The concrete will then be poured.
1. How to pour? Well, the answer to this isn’t simple because there are multiple techniques. The easiest one would be using a chute or a pipe, but care has to be taken. Concrete can segregate if it is dropped from higher heights.
2. When pouring, the concrete should be compacted using a vibrator. This compacts the concrete, resulting in fewer voids and higher strength. It also ensures lower permeability, which makes concrete durable and avoids the ingress of different chemicals.
3. Additionally, one should make sure that a sufficient quantity of concrete is present on site for the pouring to be done well in one go. Pouring concrete in batches can result in cold joints, which would not only affect the aesthetics but would also affect the quality of concrete as it allows water to seep in that takes other chemicals that are usually detrimental to the concrete. This includes multiple salts and acids.

After pouring, the surface is finished off either plain or in an exposed aggregate style.
It is then left to harden for 24 hours—sometimes covered with plastic so it can cure.
Curing is then done for 7 to 28 days to allow the concrete to gain strength.

For safety reasons (unless avoided in architectural design for aesthetic reasons), hand rails should also be installed. This can be done by installing balusters when pouring concrete. Metal plates or other nosing covers can be used in order to highlight steps and in order to improve friction between the shoes and concrete steps.

In-situ retaining wall and steps - Reds Landscaping & Design — *In-situ retaining wall and steps*

Apart from this method, there are other construction techniques too, which are usually chosen based on the complexity of the construction site—its soil conditions, access, etc. A civil engineer or commercial landscaping company should be hired in order to suggest, design, and execute complex concrete steps.

https://youtu.be/z5mDdOi-3sc

Concrete steps landscaping can be further improved by using aesthetic tactics such as lighting, which shall be installed after the pouring. The electrical connections can be made in advance in order to hide wiring under concrete. Furthermore, exposed aggregate concrete can also be used—made using different techniques—to enhance the look even further. Exposed aggregate concrete improves friction and, ultimately, safety in rainy seasons, apart from adding to the aesthetics. Similarly, moulds can be used to give concrete a natural stone-like aesthetic. Pigmented cements are another option to create your desired concrete step look.