by Shane Henson — March 12, 2012—Facilities managers looking for an elegant but durable way to display plants within and outside buildings can take advantage of a new offering by Landscape Forms, a respected designer and developer of integrated collections of products that address emerging needs and help create a sense of place. The company recently made available Larkspur, a planter in three variations designed by Larry Kornegay, acknowledged master in the design and production of cast concrete planters for outdoor environments.
Larkspur expands Landscape Forms’ offering of planters to include cast concrete, a planter material popular among landscape architects. In three sizes and shapes—a 24″ tall by 36″ rounded square; a 30″ tall by 48″ rounded square; and a 48″ tall by 32″ rounded square—Larkspur planters are elegant in proportion, subtle in contour and commanding in presence. Like their namesake flower, these planters are products of nature and no two are exactly the same. Unlike synthetic materials, the surface of cast concrete responds to qualities inherent in the natural materials of which it is composed, imparting individuality in surface qualities that give each Larkspur planter its own character and visual interest.
Larkspur is designed and manufactured to perform in all climates and seasons. When appropriate, additives are incorporated into the concrete mix to enhance durability under cold weather conditions, ensuring reliable performance in Chicago winters as well as Tucson summers. Cast concrete is an inherently strong material and Larkspur planters are tested to measure 5000-6000psi (pounds per square inch). Weather and age impart a patina that adds to the beauty of the material and attests to its timelessness, adds the company.
Larkspur planters are also large and architectural in their mass, making them useful as design elements in outdoor spaces. They have the capacity to hold very large plants or a large variety of smaller plants. Used singly or in groupings, they bring greenery and color to outdoor settings and also serve to physically and visually separate space. In their size and heft they offer a design-friendly security feature that contrasts favorably to the Jersey barrier. Landscape Forms offers Larkspur in a variety of color choices and with a gloss exterior sealer. Designer Larry Kornegay, who has provided cast concrete planters to the design community for many years, will oversee manufacturing.
