situation:
Lakewood Health Systems wanted to bring the outdoors in with trees and plants indigenous to its Minnesota location, but the ongoing maintenance costs of live trees were out of budget. The one time investment in decorative artificial Aspen trees and logs became appealing for several reasons, including the elimination of ongoing plant service expenses and the consistently healthy appearance that
artificial trees provide. The project architect contracted Commercial Silk Int’l to design and manufacture the decorative Aspen trees along with artificial vines and grasses to fill planters throughout the healthcare building.
initiatives:
During the design process, it was determined that long, narrow trees in the main entrance could help turn a vast, open lobby area into defined spaces for visitors. Large, black plant containers for housing the decorative Aspen trees were sourced to match other furnishings selected by the architect. After the trees and logs were custom manufactured by Commercial Silk Int’l and placed in the planters, the planters were then filled with stone and concrete, producing an imprinted rock appearance. Holes were drilled in the concrete to allow for the implementation of the artificial grasses and vines, completing the groomed northwoods appearance that brought the outdoors inside.
results:
The decorative Aspen trees and logs created an immediate impact in the facility by establishing the northwoods theme requested by the client and by converting open, unusable spaces into more intimate and functional seating areas. Since artificial plants do not have ongoing service fees to maintain their healthy plant appearance, the Aspen trees for this healthcare facility are expected to make for a wise long term investment.
location:
Staples, MN