Planters, UAE-based interior landscaping company, has won the contract to landscape the interior of the new Times Square Shopping Centre, which opened recently.

Located on the Sheikh Zayed Road, the Mall will cover a floor space of 17,500 sq m, including the largest Sharaf D G store within the region.

Jonathan Pardoe, general manager of Planters Horticulture, said: “This contract includes installing over 7,000 plants ranging from preserved Washingtonia palm trees to live Strelitzia reginae and Cycas palms. All the live plants were imported from Europe specifically for the project. This is an ambitious scheme, with a large amount of planting in an environment where floor space is generally allocated to product displays. One of the most exciting elements of this project is the provision of landscaped gardens within the shop; this is something that has not been done before on this scale in the region.”

Pardoe continued to say, “The aim on the interior landscaping is to produce a relaxed, natural ambience which will create a new style of shopping experience and enhance both sales and customer satisfaction.”

People generally do not realise what goes on behind the scenes when importing plants, which do not originate from this area. Pardoe explains…“plants need to acclimatise to their new home before they are planted in their final destination which is often nothing like their place of origin. For example, tropical palms come from the humid jungles where the temperature is constantly in the region of 30 degrees with 90 per cent humidity. Air-conditioned stores are usually around 25 degrees with 35 per cent – 50 per cent humidity. Therefore we have to work very hard to keep the plants in a good condition.”

One of their biggest challenges they faced was the erection of the preserved palms, which are positioned against a large waterfall. The access and space to conduct the installation was fairly cramped and specifically designed scaffolding was required to allow the Planters team to manoeuvre the trees into their final position.

It took Planters one week to install the trees and plants in the store and surrounding area - with most of the work carried out in the evening hours, when the site was quiet and work could be done with minimum disruption to others.

Pardoe concluded: “We are confident that this addition to our portfolio will increase our profile within the industry and reinforce Planters’ position as the leading interior landscaping company which delivers not only professional and challenging projects on time, but to the very highest standard.”-TradeArabia News Service