Since opening in February, students, staff and community visiting the University of Tasmania’s newest building have been welcomed into an environment designed to support learning and connection.
Among its most distinctive features are living landscapes that bring nature into its heart.
A rainforest known as the Winter Garden has been reinstated beneath the heritage-listed glass dome at the main Melville Street entrance.
And its design theme extends further throughout the building by way of a series of raised garden beds comprising individually potted plants.
“We’ve been delighted to see how strongly people are connecting with The Forest’s plants,” Director, Facilities Management Michael Bird said.
“The aim was to create welcoming, comfortable environments for work, study and connection, with greenery embedded into the everyday experience of the campus.”
With more than 3000 plants positioned throughout The Forest, there’s a dedicated care program supporting the extensive collection.
The Winter Garden has an integrated watering, misting and fogging system which recreates rainforest-like growing conditions and can activate at any time.
“The health and wellbeing of the plants within the dome are our priority so the conditions are carefully managed there to ensure they continue to establish, grow and thrive,” Michael said.
Throughout the rest of the building, plants have been selected for their suitability to the indoor conditions and are regularly monitored by specialists to ensure they continue to thrive.
Snake plants and peace lilies are among the most recent additions, with the collection adapting and evolving in response to the building’s unique environment.
“Horticulturalists visit regularly to monitor plant health, manage watering and pruning, and adjust plant locations where needed to support appropriate light levels,” Michael said.
In some cases, plants may be temporarily relocated off-site to receive specialised care before being returned.
“The program is holistic and adaptive, covering routine health checks, pest prevention and environmentally sensitive treatments if intervention is required.”
Caring for more than 3,000 plants is no small task, but the result is a flourishing living environment bringing nature into a campus heart.
“We regularly receive feedback, questions and observations which we really appreciate. The interior gardens were created for everyone to enjoy, and it has been rewarding to see how much people value them.”
The Forest’s living landscapes have been delivered in collaboration with Specialised Landscaping Services, Westland Nurseries and landscape architects REALM Studios.
Have a question about the plants? Email: Facilities.Management@utas.edu.au.