Home Green Design Embracing the Power of Rain Gardens in Hotel Architecture

Embracing the Power of Rain Gardens in Hotel Architecture

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NATIONAL REPORT—A rain garden is a great way to make use of natural rainwater to create an eco-friendly, visually spectacular border or flowerbed. Rain gardens are typically created in areas where the landscape naturally dips or receives a large quantity of runoff from hard surfaces like roofs or tarmac.

Rain gardens also have the benefit of being low-maintenance spaces that reduce erosion and attract birds. This combination of innate sustainability and improved biodiversity makes rain gardens perfect for the hotel and hospitality architecture, as gardens that make use of natural resources are usually cheap to maintain and help hotels achieve their commitments to sustainability.

Why Choose a Rain Garden?

There are plenty of garden designs that an eco-conscious architect can choose from, so why go for a rain garden? Well, in addition to being authentically eco-friendly, rain gardens are usually prominent features in a hotel’s landscaping and architecture. This means that hotels can use their garden space to better target their audience based on their shared interest in sustainability and eco-conscious psychographics (values, beliefs, and lifestyle).

A rain garden may also help hotels qualify for eco-friendly tax incentives or grants which aim to support businesses that take their commitment to sustainability seriously. A rain garden is a great way to advertise a hotel’s sustainability goals and may make the difference when applying for funding, grants, or tax rebates.

Rain gardens are also visually attractive and can provide a perfect focal point in underutilized or previously mismanaged green spaces. Once created, rain gardens only need occasional pruning and deadheading, and can usually support perennial planting, meaning that landscaping crews don’t have to constantly touch up rain garden flower beds.

Assessing Space and Soil

Assessing the soil and climate of a hotel’s green space is the first step toward creating a rain garden. Simply put, the same principles that apply to a rain garden in Seattle won’t apply equally to a rain garden in Phoenix.

The EPA provides a detailed list of which plants will thrive in each state based on that state’s typical rainfall, soil types, and wildflowers or natural plants. This guide provides a great starting point for designs and blueprints, but architects should also get their hands dirty and check the following before drawing up designs:

  • Test the soil’s pH level using a pH kit.
  • Assess the rain runoff during dry spells and rainy seasons.
  • Take note of the amount of sunlight the prospective rain garden will receive.

Taking the time to assess the space and soil quality of a prospective rain garden is a fundamental first step in any hotel garden. A little extra effort while planning and preparing the rain garden will give architects direction in drawing up blueprints and designs and help avoid headaches in the future.

Designs and Blueprints

Any good garden starts its life on a sheet of graph paper. Laying out plans before breaking soil ensures that the plants will be happy and that the right kind of wildlife will be encouraged to enjoy the garden space. Creating a rain garden can be a little complex but, fortunately, The Department of Environmental Protection provides a clear, easy-to-follow guide to help first-time rain garden architects create a plan that will work for their space.

Zoning & Planting

Rain gardens naturally accumulate water. Sometimes, this means that a rain garden will capture too much water for delicate plants or shrubs. To overcome this, architects should plant the hardiest, woody wetland shrubs and plants in areas that collect the most rainwater.

Conversely, designers should place more delicate shrubs and perennials away from the center of the rain garden as these areas are less likely to be flooded following heavy rainfall. Rain garden architects can also experiment with multi-level planting to protect delicate plants while creating a stunning display of perennial flowers.

Multi-Level Planting

Multi-level planting is a rain garden architect’s best friend. By planting more delicate flowers on a higher level, garden designers can ensure that the prized plants aren’t flooded during storm seasons.

Typically, architects and landscapers will use a layer of mulch to raise sections of the rain garden. This will ensure that the plants still get enough water to drink but will keep them out of standing water.

Wildlife & Birds

A truly eco-friendly rain garden should encourage wildlife like birds and small animals to rest and take refuge. However, rain gardens are at a particularly high risk of being damaged or destroyed by larger animals like deer.

Deer-resistant planting can help repel unwanted wildlife and protect smaller animals and birds. Plants like New England aster and Black-Eyed Susan are ideal for these purposes, as they look great and produce a scent that deer naturally avoid.

Structures & Sculptures

It’s worth bearing in mind that a rain garden won’t look stunning year-round. Unlike traditional flower beds which incorporate seasonal annuals, rain gardens are composed of perennials and woody plants that have distinct flowering seasons.

To overcome this, hotel architects can make use of structures and sculptures that will look great when perennials bloom in spring or when they die back in the winter months. Ideally, these sculptures should take a leaf from The Lloyd’s playbook and make use of natural materials and harmonious design to create sculptures and structures that look great and provide a home for small animals or birds.

Conclusion

Rain gardens are a great way to create authentically eco-friendly green spaces while advertising a hotel’s commitment to sustainability. When planning a rain garden, architects and designers should assess soil quality, shade, and rainfall. This will ensure that plants take to their new homes and will invite the right kind of wildlife into the rain garden.

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