Green buildings and eco-conscious design is increasingly taking center stage in the design world. I find that many green designs take a less is more approach that can sometimes leave me feeling a longing for abundance and over the top exuberance. That is why I have to share with you the mother of all green hospitality gardens. There is nothing spare about this design, it is over the top, abundant, and I think amazing.
Cloudland in Brisbane Australia is a relatively new nightclub (opening earlier this year) that completely rethinks nightclub design. Spanning four levels, it has a retractable glass roof that opens with the touch of a button – so it is like a beer garden of sorts except that Cloudland is designed to be a true ‘urban oasis’.
Designer Nic Brunner’s creation has been compared to a film set for a futuristic Garden of Eden. Over 5,000 plants climb and sprawl over a 45 ft interior wall, there is a 30 ft waterfall and a glass bar made from 19,000 glass balls threaded by hand.
The whole ground floor of Cloudland has a garden theme which continues with planters linking the floors, vertical gardens and water features. All the plants were chosen for their ability to survive unaided by soil. Instead they live off mineral stones and are fed nutrients through an irrigation system.
Plants are everywhere, they spill out of galvanized metal troughs mounted on the walls, they run along the back of the bar and even inside the men’s toilets.
Cloudland’s green wall and was developed by Pete Shields, Director of PJS Plantscape and the person who developed the specifications for the Green Building Council of Australia’s Design Ratings Tools that recognizes & rewards the use of
Indoor Plants in Office environments.
What do you think of this design? Personally, I think I need to make a pilgrimage to have myself some sort of cool aussie cocktail. (what would constitute a cool aussie cocktail? I have no idea!) but I can’t wait for this level of green design to find it’s way around the world.
p.s. thanks Pete for emailing me about this….
It’s a very interesting and lively design, but I don’t think I would call it eco-conscious.
Love it.
Definitely a fun place to hang with friends and enjoy a high octane drink.
Looks like it could be my shout for that cocktail!!!
Wow! I’ll join you for a cosmo! I don’t think I’ll be able to hold a conversation as I’ll be busy checking out the details of this place!
Exhuberant it is! Almost reminds me of Gaudi if he did wirey interiors??or Modern Baroque?
I am in for that great conversation and drink with you all.
It’s definitely super eye-catching. Just the way they have the lights shining on it at night makes it look amazing.