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Eco-Conscious Upper East Side Hotel Grows Its Own Greens in Cape Town
Posted By
Tafline Laylin
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Architecture,Design,Urban Farming |
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Assistant Food and Beverage Manager Vamana Roux told Inhabitat that these crates full of herbs and other produce comprise the first step in the hotel’s food plan. They are currently investigating the possibility of buying a nearby plot so that they can start an even larger garden that will be serviced by a local orphanage. In addition to giving them greater control over the quality of their own food, this project would also benefit the local community. In the meantime, we had an opportunity to sample fresh basil and parsley, cut right in front of us and served with a delicious white tomato soup.
Although they have a long way to go before being truly sustainable (given the burgers and tuna served in the Liberty Restaurant), the Upper East Side Hotel has takes numerous strides to reducing its carbon and water footprint. Guests are given the option of reusing their towels, smart keys ensure that all the room’s lights are switched off when vacant, the and the hotel recycles all of its waste, which is not as common as it should be in South Africa. Numerous other eco-controls have been employed and staff are trained to maintain them as well as possible.
+ Upper East Side Hotel
All images by Tafline Laylin for Inhabitat
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The Upper East Side Hotel in Cape Town is growing its own produce on a high terrace just outside of the city center. Eager to serve their clients healthy, fresh greens and reduce their food miles, the contemporary boutique hotel in an emergent creative neighborhood commissioned Urban Harvest to develop a terrace garden that suits their particular needs. Since it wasn’t feasible to build a fully-developed rooftop garden, the urban farming specialists planted everything from lavender to pineapple sage…
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Urban Harvest installed 43 creates full of organic produce on a high terrace at the Upper East Side Hotel in Cape Town
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The hotel is located in Woodstock – an emergent creative district just outside of the city center
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Everything from lavender to pineapple sage has been planted in the crates
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The hotel lobby is just below the terrace garden
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The lavender smelled so lovely!
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Look how healthy this Swiss Chard is – the benefits of organic farming.
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The crates were provided by Urban Harvest and are sustainably-sourced
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There are three different sets of crates. This is the latest batch.
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As the hotel experiments with their new urban garden, they are finding out what changes need to be made
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Fresh basil and parsley adorn this delicious white tomato soup
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The basil crumpet was absolutely scrumptious
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This wasn’t for us, but the chef showed off his freshly cut basil just for us.
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Although the hotel has a long way to go, it has taken enormous strides to “green-up”
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All of the hotel’s waste is recycled
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Energy and water conservation measures reduce their overall footprint
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Unfortunately, although colorful and chic, there’s nothing green about the decor
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The hotel is considering starting a garden on a nearby plot
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The hotel entrance in a small mixed-use development
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This is one of the most reasonably-priced hotels in Cape Town!
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