Roof Terrace Design Canary Wharf

Following on in my series of diverse work of a Cambridge garden designer, this week I will be looking at a project in a growing area for garden designers, Roof Terrace Design.

The project I have chosen is not the largest or most complex roof terrace we have built, but was certainly the most difficult logistically.

The project was a penthouse in Canary Wharf, London, came about through a working relationship with At Home Interior Design Consultants, with whom we have worked on numerous projects.

The penthouse was on the seventh floor of a block surrounded by garden on one side and the dock on the other. A large balcony terrace was on the southerly aspect and a narrow walk around strip surround the remaining side. The outside space however small was made more important by the glass walls of the penthouse and the fantastic views of the O²  and Canary Wharf beyond.

Completion had to be before the start of the London Olympics. Given the commission was only confirmed six weeks before this date this meant design, orders, lead times for bespoke fittings and construction all had to meticulously planned.

The design was kept simple so as to be in harmony with the contemporary interior. Recycled ECOdeck in grey was proposed as the surface, with box hedging in galvanised steel containers would wrap around the building adding much needed green to the urban setting. These hedges were punctuated with Box balls and in one area privet standards emphasised the architectural feel of this scheme.

At night views from the penthouse were spectacular, so an LED based light system was proposed. This would include deck mounted up lighters and LED strips built in to the containers containing the box hedges.

The design finalised, orders were placed and timings set. The immovable deadline of the Olympics drew closer.

Garden Design Cambridge 2012