This sprawling central London apartment, is arguably the most Prestigious within the Plimsoll Building, London, N1, has some of the most impressive views across the varying London Landscape. The building and apartments are truly a World Class Residential experience.

Emily Erlam Studio planned this penthouse garden to echo the building and apartment. The Garden Builders were awarded the task of facilitating the full construction and planting of this epic Podium garden.

The entire surface was fitted with the Kinley Preventa Joist/pedestal system, which consisted of aluminium pedestals and joists (for anti-fire regulations), this system supported the entire Porcelain tile terrace, the 20mm tiles are then clipped into position on the joist and are held and spaced exactly 3mm apart by the clip system. 

The Raaft bespoke planters were positioned are fixed onto aluminium roof trays that sit on the Preventa joist system. These roof trays allow the planters to be fixed down and secured to them but also became the bottom of the planters and allowed the soil to drain, by way of pre-drilled holes. The planters were designed and then fabricated to suit the curvilinear design, these are bolted together onsite as secified on plan. All the planters are then backfilled with a lightweight substrate, a sandwich layer of geo-textile, washed gritty sand, lightweight drainage material and container soil and organic matter.

New mature and semi-mature plants were chosen and supplied by the designer, The Garden Builders receive, place and plant based on the planting design plan and onsite direction from the designer. A slate, decorative aggregate mulch covers the soil, both as a maintenance aid to prevent weed growth and help with water retention but also to tie together the planting.

Mayfair Roof Terrace Garden Design

Within the planters, a bespoke Iroko bench is integrated which is fabricated locally.

A stunning Cornish Slate ‘Watersphere’ was designed and created by Jeremy Hastings, we commissioned this and then fabricated a bespoke reservoir and pedestal system on which to house the sphere. New pump/filter and pipework integrated to result in a unique water feature becoming both a working feature and sculpture centre-point.

Hunza lighting / linear LED strips were  intertwined into all the  planters and the water feature reservoir carcasses to allow illumination of the feature Pines and topiary and the sphere, allowing these to emerge against the outer landscape. A Tap mounted irrigation cleverly services the planting, allowing the homeowner time to just sit and enjoy this roof-top Oasis.

All the above elements had to be meticulously managed in terms of scheduling, site  storage, crane lifts and weight loading constraints. Alongside a separate, huge refurbishment of the building. So a tight schedule of works with limited times and dates had to be worked out and strictly adhered to and adjusted when required.

The Garden Builders, in close consultation with The Kings Cross Partnership, site security/administration, Emily Erlam, the Main Contractor 8 Build and the homeowner collaborated to get this project delivered.

Our clients are elated with the outcome. They now have an external roof garden that reflects their impressive interior residence.