Virens Studio: "At its core AI is a tool, it’s only as good as the data that it is fed"
A conversation about sustainability and innovation with Canadians landscape designers and eco-planting professionals, Sara-Jane and Alicia at Virens Studio
From the urban scenes of Vancouver to the lush landscapes of British Columbia, where nature's canvas meets the creativity of landscape designers, technology is weaving a new narrative. In this exclusive interview, we explore the digital practices of Virens Studio, a professional partnership specializing in Planting Design and led by experts Sara-Jane and Alicia.
In this new issue of This Is Horticulture, sustainability meets innovation, and every design tells a digital story. Discover how Virens Studio seamlessly integrate technology into their design processes, envision the future of AI in Landscape Architecture, and navigate the dynamic intersection of nature and innovation.
Hello Sara-Jane and Alicia. For both newcomers to your work and those familiar with your expertise, could you reveal some lesser-known aspects of your professional journey?
We both started out in fairly standard ways, university education followed by careers in the municipal parks system. It was just a few years ago that we decided it was time to shed that hierarchy and all the roadblocks that come with it. We began Virens Studio as a way to reduce unneeded stresses and increase our creative freedom. Now, with great flexibility and resilience, we can gather new ideas and integrate them rapidly. The transition hasn’t been without its struggles, but we both enjoy the challenges and learning involved in horticultural design. It’s been very rewarding and shown us the value that we can add to all kinds of projects.
How do you currently integrate technology into your design and planning processes? Are there specific software or tools that you find essential for streamlining your workflow?
The digital world has been instrumental in helping us to communicate and connect with others across the globe (like you, Eduardo). Staying informed on the latest research, from entomology to plant sociability, which is constantly being updated. It’s never been easier to attend meetings and share information than it is right now. With tools like Zoom, we can attend a seminar in Germany and still get our day-to-day tasks done at home. We also use things like Morpholio and excel for concepts and drawing, plus organizing plant lists and research. It makes things so much more efficient.
Have you explored or considered using artificial intelligence or machine learning in your planting projects? How do you envision AI impacting the landscaping industry in the near future?
Yes, we can’t wait to see the new programs that evolve out of AI. For example, being able to run our designs through simulations for a huge variety of conditions and events could help inform our decisions greatly. Everything from weather events to the therapeutic qualities of a space could be explored in minutes. It takes the advantage away from those that have the most resources and could truly level the playing field, while expanding it all at the same time.
However, at its core AI is a tool, it’s only as good as the data that it is fed. As with all of our practices we’re constantly questioning, what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and whether there’s a better way? AI will be no different. A garden or landscape will always be a uniquely human experience that requires human creativity at its heart.
In what ways do you leverage digital collaboration tools to coordinate with your collaborators and clients, especially in today's remote work environment? Have you encountered any challenges or successes in adopting collaborative technologies?
It’s what makes our work possible. We don’t have a bricks and mortar location or set hours. Instead, we can schedule work when it suits us and our clients. Digitally, we can communicate across large distances and multiple time zones with relative ease, it sounds cliched, but it is revolutionary. We can leverage the resources that might otherwise be eaten up by that infrastructure in exchange for better educational and research capabilities and faster response to client needs. Hopefully it means that Virens will be able to adapt and grow with resilience, for many years to come (regardless of industry ups and downs).
Finding the best programs for your needs and matching those up with collaborators can be challenging. There are a lot of expensive systems out there, particularly in this industry but that’s changing rapidly. We’ve had some great success with apps like Morpholio, that are affordable and easily accessible.
How do you utilize or would you use in the future, 3D visualization or virtual reality technologies to enhance the presentation of your designs? Do you see these technologies becoming more prevalent in the industry?
3D has been used in the industry for decades now, going back to programs like SketchUp Pro, but many of those systems are cost prohibitive for a business like ours. They are very useful for people that have a hard time visualizing the space. It can help to open their eyes to all the possibilities for a design. 3D is a wonderful tool for building excitement, aiding fundraising and encouraging engagement in projects.
Where we really see room for expansion with VR systems is in Horticultural Therapy. The possibilities are endless. Imagine being housebound and yet, able to visit and experience a walk through an ancient forest. All while, knowing that you’re physically in a safe space, without a great deal of expense. It could have huge implications for the treatment of everything from PTSD to depression.
With the rise of smart homes, how do you incorporate smart technologies into your projects, such as automated irrigation systems or outdoor lighting?
These have been available as sensory (and mechanical) systems for some time now. They’re used extensively for greenhouse monitoring, lighting programs and irrigation work. I remember a time when growers lived onsite at greenhouses and rarely left. They were expected to be always available to monitor and adjust conditions, because they were personally responsible for crop survival. Now you can control it all from a cell phone or an ipad.
Most smart systems are easily installed, especially in the initial building phases. It’s ultimately up to the project stake holders and what their priorities are. Although, we tend to emphasize the importance of long-term maintenance for successful green spaces, and these can help simplify things a great deal. Like most things, it’s about showing the value of various elements in a design and then encouraging informed decisions.
How do you use your website and online platforms to showcase your portfolio and engage with potential clients?
Having a solid digital prescience (we’re on Instagram and Substack plus our own site) is a necessity these days. It’s a fantastic tool to make connections and build an audience for your work. Also, to share ideas and educational information. We’d like to think that we can offer some new perspectives on urban landscapes through our writing.
It’s a work in progress though, we’re always looking for new ways to monetize our talents and funnel traffic in a productive direction. Plus, we do it all in house, in addition to our design and consultation work. So, it’s a balancing act, we work to maintain strong ethics and privacy, while still having fun and not being too calculated about it.
In terms of sustainable practices, do you integrate specific technologies to reduce environmental impact, such as rainwater harvesting or eco-friendly materials?
The short answer is, yes. The longer one, is that we start with a list of priorities and existing conditions that are unique to each project. And right now, sustainability is always part of it.
One of the ethos of Virens, is creating circular systems whenever possible. So, the biggest challenge is finding technologies that are not only easily integrated into our designs, but also fit whatever the budget may be. We’re continually on the lookout for new products that we can access locally, which is where digital networking comes in handy. And often, we combine multiple smaller systems that can add up to greater overall sustainability. We believe that diversity builds resilience and longevity on many levels.
How do you stay updated on the latest technologies in the horticulture industry? Do you look for training opportunities or pursue continuous learning?
Horticulture is an industry that is constantly changing and growing, so we have to keep learning in order to stay relevant. Both of us spend time exploring everything from books to social media for new ideas. We also attend industry conferences and seminars, when possible, either in-person or via zoom/recordings. Visiting suppliers, public gardens and joining community groups is another great avenue to build a strong local community as well. Sometimes the hardest part is deciding where your time and effort is best spent.
Given the diverse flora in British Columbia, do you prioritize the use of native plant species in your designs? How does this impact the biodiversity of your projects Considering Vancouver's rainfall patterns, how do you approach rainwater management in your landscaping projects? Are there specific technologies or techniques you find effective?
We prefer to take a science-based approach when making decisions about the functional aspects of a designed plant community. So, although you’ll see that our plant pallets always have some native species, they aren’t limited to them (unless it’s a reclamation project).
Most of our projects take place within urban development, where the native ecosystems aren’t viable (ie it’s hard to build a temperate rainforest in someone’s yard). They just won’t function properly without all of the elements, including the wildlife and open space required.
Instead, we lean towards a right-plant, right-place philosophy. We gather as much information as we can on the past, current and possible future conditions of the land, and then design a novel ecosystem. One that will be diverse, functional (with very few addition inputs) and resilient.
The hydrology of sites is always a priority. Right now, we’re still seeing wet mild weather but it’s becoming peppered more and more by extreme events. We need to plan not only for rain and storm water flooding, but also extended summer drought conditions, plus the highest and lowest temperatures ever seen here.
The integration of natural systems can be helped along by newer technology. For instance, we might look to slow water down, while encouraging infiltration and storage. And while nature does this through, meandering streams, wetlands and ponds, we look to bioswales, permeable hardscape and hidden water storage tanks. You must find creative solutions, that fit within the limitations of each project. It’s like a giant 3D puzzle. You’re trying to work with nature but also fill all the stake holders needs as well.
Good Design can help future proof our cities and green spaces. And digital technology could be just the tool that we’ve been waiting for to make it happen in time to effect real change on a worldwide scale.
As I wrap up my chat with Sara-Jane and Alicia from Virens Studio, it's clear their journey from urban Vancouver to British Columbia's lush landscapes is nothing short of fascinating. Picture this: nature's canvas meets tech-savvy landscape designers weaving a story of sustainability and innovation.
They know the ropes, having kicked off their venture for more creative freedom, and hey, are they rocking it. From digital collaborations to diving into the potential of AI, Virens Studio seamlessly blends tech into their designs.
At the heart of it, they're all about sustainability. Constantly learning, staying on top of trends, and playing with diverse plant species, their approach is as holistic as it gets. They're like plant matchmakers, choosing the right ones for the right spots.
Cheers to Sara-Jane and Alicia for making landscapes cooler and greener!
See you next time,
Eduardo
Thank you for talking with us! It’s been a great pleasure and very thought provoking 💚