The 30-acre Natura Gardens incorporates 10 acres of restored wetlands, striking a delicate balance between community needs and environmental responsibility. The restored wetlands became an opportunity to demonstrate how communities can serve as the custodians of scarce environmental resources. The site plan integrates the wetlands so residents can experience the seasonal changes of this essential ecosystem. To pay homage to the cultural history of living around wetlands, the community’s open space features several chickees, the thatched-roof shelters of the indigenous Seminole Tribe.
Aside from the typical challenges of designing a well-rounded community with ample open space, connectivity and walkability, common amenities, and a sense of place, the key issue was to figure out how to integrate the restored wetlands into the fabric of the community. It was important to create a sense of connection between the development and the wetlands. Natura Gardens illustrates how wetlands conservation and cultural heritage can be promoted within the context of market-rate, garden apartment community.
The wetland restoration involved clearing the site to remove all the invasive species, then excavating the mitigated area and filling it with native muck soil collected from the site. The restored wetland includes upland buffer, littoral shelf, and freshwater marsh habitats, each planted with plant species associated with these habitats.
