Custom 4.65-Meter Ficus Banyan Tree for a Cafe in Manila
Project Overview
A cafe decoration specialist in Manila, Philippines, needed a large artificial banyan tree for a cafe seating area. The tree had to be 4.65 meters tall, sit inside an existing planter box next to the seating, and still leave enough space for customers to walk underneath.
The Brief
The client had three main requirements:
- 4.65-meter height with walkable clearance — customers needed to walk and sit comfortably beneath the canopy.
- Fit into a small planter box — the planter diameter was only 40cm, which required a custom base design.
- Airy, flowing design — the overall look needed to feel graceful and natural, not stiff or crowded.
Challenges
Three challenges shaped this project:
- Small planter, large tree — the planter diameter was just 40cm, but the tree needed a canopy spread of 3.2 meters. The standard square steel base would not fit, so we had to redesign the base as a circular plate with a diameter under 40cm.
- Thin trunk with a natural look — because the planter was small, the trunk diameter had to stay slim. This meant we needed real wood branches with natural curves to create an airy, flowing silhouette.
- Limited cafe space — the tree could not feel bulky or block customer movement. The branches had to spread outward gracefully without making the space feel cramped.
Our Solution
Circular steel base: Standard artificial trees use a square steel plate (40cm–60cm). For this project, we custom-made a circular base with a diameter under 40cm, so it could fit inside the narrow planter box without any floor drilling.
Hand-selected natural branches: To achieve the airy, flowing look the client wanted, our team selected real wood branches with natural curves and a slim profile. This gave the tree a graceful, organic shape that a machine-made structure could not replicate.
Slim trunk with realistic texture: The trunk was hand-sculpted with realistic bark texture, keeping the diameter slim to match the small planter while still looking natural up close.
Balanced canopy: The branches were arranged to spread outward at 3.2 meters wide, creating enough clearance for customers to walk and sit underneath without feeling crowded.
The Result
The client was very satisfied with the first tree and sent us on-site photos. This was their second order—they came back to us directly for this project because they were happy with the first tree we made for them. Even with the complex requirements, they trusted us to handle it.
Key Takeaways for Similar Projects
- For small planters, a circular base can replace the standard square plate
- Slim trunks with natural wood branches create an airy, flowing look
- Custom sizing is possible—just provide your planter dimensions and clearance needs
- Hand-sculpted fiberglass trunks deliver realistic texture for close-up viewing
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