Dusit unveils Vertical Garden

MANILA, Philippines - Awarded as the Hotel of the Year by Hospitality Asia Platinum Awards, Dusit Thani Manila unveils another enhancement that has never been done before in the history of hospitality in the country.  After launching the state-of-the-art monochromatic beige-colored repainting of Dusit Thani Manila’s façade to complete the final leg of its extensive $20-million renovation, the management continues to endeavor to create new reinventions for its guests. This time, with a Patrick Blanc-inspired vertical garden that does not only bring an aesthetic beauty to the surroundings of the hotel but most importantly, has a significant impact on environment and atmosphere.

“This Vertical Garden design specifically lowers the temperature at the driveway of Dusit Thani Manila, especially when the afternoon sun rays hit the entrance. At the same time, the water feature helps cool the air that passes through the open spaces between walls. I have also taken into great consideration the healing capabilities of plants, the ones that emit more oxygen, take away pollution and reduce carbon monoxide in the air,” shares designer Grace Eleazar.

Having recently received a Silver certification for 2012 by EarthCheck, a globally renowned organization that grades environmental standards, Dusit Thani Manila continuously thrives to save Mother Earth through its green initiatives. This project adapted this design concept that has the same technology used by the green living wall system certified by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

“After being one of the pioneer recipients in the Philippines of this prestigious EarthCheck certification, the Vertical Garden project is another true testament of Dusit Thani Manila’s thrust to always be ahead of the curve in implementing initiatives that adhere to global environmental standards. Other initiatives include the monthly Dusit Green Hour, our Green Meeting Packages and even an Eat Well, Feel Well menu exclusively designed by model cook Daniel Green for Dusit Thani Manila,” says Prateek Kumar, general manager of Dusit Thani Manila.

Creating things that never existed before

Considered an artwork rather than a commercialized landscape, guests will surely be delighted by the hotel driveway’s new feel and look brought about by the 5-piece 8-meter-high green wall. This latest innovation boasts of the use of round gold coin stones found at the core of the black granite frames, a Thai influenced artifact that prefigures prosperity.

The artwork also uses variations of species of plants, sizes of leaves, and colors to form a tapestry that has now become a therapeutic attraction to hotel guests and passers-by.

Although the Vertical Garden concept has already been done in many countries, it has never been done in a hotel in the Philippines. This falls right into one of Dusit Thani Manila’s brand credos which is to create things that never existed before. “Being the first Garden Hotel in the Philippines about three decades ago as reflected in its highly-maintained and beautifully manicured Japanese garden and koi pond, the vertical garden is truly a fitting tribute to a hotel that is already considered a historical landmark in our country,” Eleazar says.

The vertical garden concept was originated by a Frenchman called Patrick Blanc whose visit to Thailand’s tropical forest of Khao Yai National Park led to the genesis of the Vertical Garden.

At the early age of five, he was already fascinated by aquariums and the interaction of plants that filter the water inside the tanks. One thing led to another and soon he found himself in the jungles of Malaysia and Borneo, which began his love story for tropical forests. This is where he discovered that plants have the capacity to grow at any height and without even touching the soil.

Some of his famous early works may be found at the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art, French Embassy New Delhi, Vegetarium Museum in France, 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Japan, Marithe and Francois Girbaud Boutiques in New York, Caixa Museum in Madrid, Phyto Universe Center in New York, Quantas lounges in Melbourne and Sydney, Parliament in Brussels, Nave Italia Aquarium in Italy and Concert Hall in Taipeh, among others.