RMIT Dye Garden

Brunswick, Victoria
RMIT - School of Fashion and Textiles
2018
200m² TOTAL SIZE

Builder/Developer

Arete Australia

Design

Evergreen Infrastructure, Etched Projects

Installation

MJC Horticulture

The client expressed a desire for a sustainable food producing garden that could grow plants used for traditional dyeing of clothing. This garden is located at the Brunswick Campus. The aim was to explore the potential of cultivating indigenous and exotic plants for materials and natural colours used in the colouring of clothing

Form

The garden space set out over two areas of the Brunswick Campus uses a mixture of wicking beds made from recycled cypress pine timber sleepers and recycled plastic modular planters (Vegepod Planters). The other section of the garden demonstrates the use and importance of composting with a timber recycled cypress pine composting bin. A hanging rack also sits proud in the garden as a useful place to hang plants once cultivated for drying purposes.

About the project

This garden space has been designed to grow and harvest plants used in the dyeing of clothing. Plants commonly used (both native and exotoc) were used throughout the garden to demonstrate to students and the public what varieties work well and how they can be sustainably grown. The garden also serves as an outdoor education resource along with a working garden for plants used by students and fashion designers.

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Impact

This project creates human and social capital through the correct use of space and plant use. Creates a cooling effect and clean air for users of the building. Creates a relaxed learning environment

Benefits

Environmental
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Biodiversity
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Reducing urban heat
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Connection to surrounding environment
Social
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Wellbeing
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Retreat
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Connection with Nature
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Social Space
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Learning Environment
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Food Security
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Learning Space
Economic
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Cooling Effect
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thermal cooling for building
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Fresh Food for Restaurant and Cafe
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Clean Air
"This was a fantastic project to work on as it explored and highlighted the use of plants commonly used in the fashion industry well before synthetics become mainstream. Not only did it showcase the uses of these species but also highlighted the environmental issues associuated with using synthetic dyes."

Quote from Designer

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