Bespoke Artificial Olive Tree for Enclave Birmingham City, a Luxury Residential Development
Client: Enclave
Interior Design: Kibre
Project: Enclave Birmingham City
Location: Birmingham, UK
Sector: Luxury residential / Build-to-Rent
Installation: Bespoke 4.5m artificial olive tree
Key requirements: Bespoke design, large-scale artificial tree and integration with the interior scheme
A Statement Tree at the Heart of Enclave Birmingham City
Four and a half metres of olive tree, designed and built specifically for its new home in the heart of Birmingham.
Working alongside interior design studio Kibre, Twilight Trees was commissioned to create a large-scale bespoke artificial olive tree for the lobby and reception area at Enclave Birmingham City, a luxury residential development.
With impressive floor-to-ceiling windows and open architecture, the reception called for a tree with enough scale and character to hold its own within the space, while bringing softness and a natural focal point to the interior.
The Bespoke Artificial Tree Brief
The brief was to create a mature olive tree that would bring height, texture and character to the main reception.
Rather than adding lots of planting at floor level, one large statement tree could work with the generous ceiling height without taking over the space.
It also needed to sit naturally within Kibre’s wider interior scheme, complementing the curved seating, pale finishes and warm, contemporary palette throughout the lobby.
At 4.5 metres tall, this wasn’t something we could simply take off the shelf.
It called for a completely bespoke artificial olive tree, designed specifically around the proportions and architecture of Enclave Birmingham City.
Designing a 4.5m Artificial Olive Tree
The tree began with a characterful natural wood trunk, selected to give it the irregularity and movement you would expect from a mature olive tree.
From there, our Bespoke team built out the canopy using carefully positioned artificial olive foliage, considering the height, spread and density of the tree as a whole.
With a tree of this scale, it’s not simply a case of adding more branches. The proportions have to feel right from ground level, from the surrounding seating and from further across the reception.
And then came the fettling.
The tree was fettled to within an inch of its life by our team, with branches adjusted, foliage repositioned and the overall silhouette refined until it worked beautifully from every angle.
It’s this final stage that makes such a difference to a bespoke artificial tree. Those small adjustments are what make the finished tree feel natural and considered within its surroundings.
Working with the Interior Design
The olive tree was designed as part of the space rather than as an addition to it.
Positioned within Kibre’s integrated curved seating, the trunk rises from the centre of the reception area, with pale pebbles around the base completing the installation.
The canopy spreads above the seating, making use of the generous ceiling height while keeping the floor around it open.
The soft green of the olive foliage works particularly well against the pale interior finishes and blush seating, adding texture and contrast without competing with the wider design.
Installing the Bespoke Olive Tree at Enclave Birmingham City
Once the individual elements had been designed and built at Twilight Trees in Winchester, our team travelled to Birmingham to install and assemble the tree on site.
The final stage was all about shaping.
Branches were positioned, foliage adjusted and the canopy worked on in situ so we could respond to the architecture, sightlines and surrounding furniture.
For a bespoke artificial tree of this size, that on-site attention is particularly important. Small adjustments to the branches and canopy can completely change how the tree sits against the windows, how it looks from the entrance and how it interacts with the furniture beneath it.
The Finished Artificial Olive Tree
Framed by the floor-to-ceiling windows, the finished 4.5m artificial olive tree now forms a focal point at the heart of Enclave Birmingham City’s reception.
Its scale works with the architecture of the lobby, while the olive foliage and natural trunk bring softness, texture and character to the clean, contemporary interior.
For residents and visitors, it’s one of the first things they see when entering the building, but it doesn’t overwhelm the space. Instead, it feels completely at home within the wider interior scheme.
For us, the project is a great example of what can be achieved with bespoke artificial planting in a luxury residential development: the scale and character of a mature tree, designed specifically for its surroundings, without the ongoing maintenance requirements of living planting.
One tree. Quite a lot of impact.
Planning a Bespoke Artificial Tree Project?
Twilight Trees designs, builds and installs bespoke artificial trees and planting for hospitality, retail, workplaces, residential developments and commercial interiors.
From large-scale artificial olive trees and statement trees to completely bespoke planting installations, our team can create something designed specifically for your space.
Talk to our Bespoke team about your project.
