L-shaped and 50 sqm in breadth, enveloping a modern wharf penthouse, this roof garden is secluded & private, located above the Thames near Tower Bridge. Neglected for aeons, we took on the renovation of the terrace, led by a creative & supportive client. 5 different zones provide year-round usage, demarcated by transitions in planting, surfaces, & lighting features.
Project Name: Wapping Roof Garden
Studio Name: Mylandscapes LTD
Having a powder-coating facility available for our bespoke planters, we coated the existing frames of the glass balustrade. With a palette of purple & mauve, the cool turquoise troughs contrast these warm tones. Other existing details such as drain pipes & doors were also painted turquoise to create a cohesive finish.
A living wall scales a bespoke Cedar frame, with Jasmine, Hosta, Ferns & Daylilies. A telescopic ladder leads to an upper den, taking advantage of the scenic location, with city vistas, bathed in Lavenders.
A unique modern sculpture by Julian Wild features on a bespoke plinth with lighting in an alcove above the seating. The spherical artwork is made from recycled copper tubes, creating silhouettes onto the screen behind. The copper pots mimic this form in colour, contours & texture. Personal artefacts feature in shelving units throughout the terrace, softening the space with homeliness.
Elegant trees create key focal points, provided by Sacred Bamboo, Silver Birch & an Olive tree. While the Nandina & Olea are evergreen, the white Birch trunks add winter focus with its milky-white wood. To contrast our bespoke planters & elevate the sculpture, we used round, grooved pots from Holland for the Bamboo & Birch adding variety.
Repurposing existing tubs laid across the parapet wall, we power-coated them turquoise to match the scheme, planted with culinary herbs & floated atop LED strip lights. Sage, Hyssop, Marjoram, Rosemary, Oregano, Thyme, Chives, Tarragon, Winter Savory & Chamomile benefit our client’s kitchen – she’s a keen cook.
The hardwood decking features an angular step down from the living room into the roof garden, detailed in sandstone & Balau, floating on an LED light. The boards’ direction leads the eye towards the sculpture, changing into sandstone past the L-shape juncture. Recessed turquoise troughs appear floating, lit beneath by LED’s, planted with tall Verbena veiling the Shard. An Olive tree is planted in a tapered floating planter within a brick bay. The planter features a circular top & LED bottom light & pebble.