by SARAH COSGROVE, Hosticulture Week, May 2, 2014
Battersea Power Station office and residential roof gardens
Image: Andy Sturgeon
Source: www.hortweek.com
Benefits of green roofs increasingly recognised by developers reinvigorating dead spaces, say leading garden designers.
Businesses are increasingly investing in roof gardens on top of corporate buildings to boost their business and benefit staff.
John Lewis opens a roof garden on its Oxford Street store on 3 May to celebrate its 150th anniversary, while garden designer Andy Sturgeon has revealed his designs for three Battersea Power Station office and residential roof gardens.
Construction is underway for the Gillespies-designed Sky Garden on top of London’s “Walkie Talkie” building (20 Fenchurch Street) and at a public roof garden on the new Canary Wharf Crossrail station.
RHS young designer of the year 2013 Tony Woods designed the John Lewis garden, with his company Garden Club London building it. The garden will be open to the public for 15 weeks for a series of events including a World Cup party.
Woods designed around a pop-up juice bar, restaurants and a kitchen and toilet block that had been airlifted onto the roof, where schoolchildren will grow vegetables and salads. Home-grown strawberries, rosemary and lavender will go to the caterers.
