Perched on the 6th floor of the Ziggurat Building in Saffron Hill, Central London, this 30-sqm art deco roof garden, photographed by Clive Nichols, is one of the most unique projects we made. Owned by a barrister who’s a keen wildlife enthusiast, ornithologist, pianist & fisherman, we were commissioned to develop his outdoor space in 2013.

Project Name: Farringdon Roof Garden
Studio Name: Mylandscapes LTD

Farringdon Roof Garden by Mylandscapes LTD-Sheet2
©Mylandscapes LTD

We repavded the roof terrace with Balau Decking & Black Granite, detailed with linear LED strip lights. Unique aperture planters designed by us, increase spatial, allow daylight in via the glazed balustrades & are fitted with LED lights which generate hearty ambience.

Farringdon Roof Garden by Mylandscapes LTD-Sheet5
©Mylandscapes LTD

The skyline features prominent buildings such as The Cheese Grater, The Barbican, The Shard & St Paul’s. Over the years, we’ve not only maintained the rooftop, but also replaced the Silver birch trees which were damaged in a storm in 2019. During this overhaul, we installed a living wall with herbs & alpines. In 2023 & 2024, we replaced some of the perennials with grasses, sedges, ferns & meadow plants.

Farringdon Roof Garden by Mylandscapes LTD-Sheet6
©Mylandscapes LTD

A floating circular white planter homes 3 Cotoneaster trees, perfect for wildlife, attracting pollinators in summer & birds in winter. These trees replaced the Betula species. New Zealand plants also cope well in this exposed aspect with a  Astelia (Wharawhara), Carex (Karaihe), Libertia (Mīkoikoi), Muehlenbeckia (Tororaro), Phormium (Harakeke), Pittosporum hedge (Kohuhu) & Uncinia (Watua).

Farringdon Roof Garden by Mylandscapes LTD-Sheet7
©Mylandscapes LTD

To quote the client: “it is an eternal experiment”. 11 years on, this gem of a roof garden continues to evolve through the seasons as we adjust the plants, prune woody plants & practise organic upkeep in line with our sustainability & biodiversity ethos.

Author

Rethinking The Future (RTF) is a Global Platform for Architecture and Design. RTF through more than 100 countries around the world provides an interactive platform of highest standard acknowledging the projects among creative and influential industry professionals.