Podium Landscapes 2019

I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

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WELCOME TO

PODIUM LANDSCAPES I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H

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odium landscapes are a growing part of the industry. The green roof market alone is now worth over £30m and is showing no signs of slowing down.

With a wealth of incredible podium landscapes now appearing across the UK, it seems only right there should be an awards ceremony dedicated solely to these aweinspiring projects. So, we created one!

The inaugural Pro Landscaper Podium Awards took place in March at FutureScape Spring, which also made its debut this year.

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All of the entries were outstanding and varied, from rooftops in the city to a large scheme installed above a superstore.

Marvel over Elite Landscape’s Fulham Riverside project, which won the Commercial Build category, on page 21, and take inspiration from Stefano Marinaz Landscape Architecture’s beautiful project Holland Green Place on page 27 which was shortlisted for the Domestic Design award.

You can also discover more about the landscape at the Barbican which scooped the top prize for Podium Planting Design on

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page 6 and read how Aralia – which won the Domestic Design award – first got involved in rooftop gardens on page 14.

All of the winners are revealed on page 32 so take a look and enjoy the supplement!

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MANAGEMENT Managing Director Jim Wilkinson Director Lisa Wilkinson Business Development Manager Jamie Wilkinson

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PORTFOLIO CONTENTS

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CONTENTS

F E AT U R E S 0 6 F O RWA R D T H I N K I N G NIGEL DUNNETT

1 0 PODIUMS PERFECTED JOHN WYER, BOWLES & WYER

1 2 PODIUM TRAINING CHRIS BRIDGMAN

1 4 AHEAD OF THE CURVE PAT R I C I A F O X , A R A L I A

1 6 GROUNDED GUIDANCE TIM O’HARE

1 8 TOP TIPS D A N F LY N N A N D C H A R L O T T E R O W E

1 9 PA P E R P O R T F O L I O S B AT T E R S E A R O O F G A R D E N S A N D T H E G R E E N S P I N E , AUST R A L I A

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2 1 EXPERT ELEGANCE ELITE LANDSCAPES

2 4 C O SY R E F U G E K AT E G O U L D G A R D E N S

2 7 V E R D A N T H I D E A W AY S T E FA N O M A R I N A Z LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

AWA R DS

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3 2 PRO LANDSCAPER P O D I U M AWA R D S THE WINNERS

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THINKING

PRO LANDSCAPER SPEAKS TO NIGEL DUNNETT ABOUT M A I N TA I N I N G THE BARBICAN AND WORKING WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND

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RH Queen Elizabeth II declared it one of the modern wonders of the world in the eighties. The same venue, where the London Symphony Orchestra is now based, was the first in London to host a silent disco and celebrated its 30th anniversary with a concert by American rock band The Jayhawks. This diverse and multi-faceted complex is the Barbican.

With an array of buildings from concert halls to several theatres, the performing arts centre is the largest of its kind in Europe. Its conservatory boasts over 2,000 tropical plants and trees which form an unexpected, vibrant green oasis in the City of London.

The Brutalist architecture has been the main talking point since the building was opened in 1982, and the site became Grade II listed in 2001. Now, though, it’s the podium-based landscape surrounding the Barbican stealing the show.

There are around 4,000 residents of the Barbican Estate where the centre dwells, and the original landscape was to provide green spaces for these residents, along with areas for the public to enjoy. These were high maintenance, though, and needed frequent irrigation. When the roof gardens were re-waterproofed between 2012-2014 after leaks were discovered, the opportunity was grasped by the City of London

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KNIPHOFIA ’TAWNEY KING’ IS A FEATURE PLANT IN JULY

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FEATURES

AT THE HEIGHT OF SUMMER, THE DIVERSE PLANT MIXES ARE NOT ONLY ATTRACTIVE, BUT ALSO SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY IN THIS VERY URBAN CONTEXT

Corporation to overhaul the planting and change the maintenance drastically.

Now, the landscape is “low-input, high impact”, a trait of the plantsman who was brought in to create it. “I always use droughttolerant plants,” explains world-renowned planting designer Nigel Dunnett, who worked alongside landscape architects The Landscape Agency to redesign the planting at the Barbican. “The need for additional irrigation is then minimised, though there will often be a need in extreme conditions.

“In general, I aim to create a long succession of flowering or visual interest by having two or three species that are flowering at any one time or creating the visual display.

A few weeks later, two or three different species will take over, and so on.”

It’s this expertise and ingenuity which cements Nigel as the perfect choice to revamp The Barbican. As well as being an ambassador for the Royal Horticultural Society’s Greening

THE ORIGINAL BRIEF ASKED FOR A LANDSCAPE WHICH COULD ADAPT TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

DRAMATIC SCENES IN NOVEMBER WITH MISCANTHUS ʻUNDINEʼ AND THE AUTUMN COLOUR OF AMELANCHIERS AND PRUNUS

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KNIPHOFIA ʻGREEN JADEʼ IS PROMINENT IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER

Grey Britain campaign, Nigel has authored and co-authored a plethora of books, the latest of which – ‘The Essential Guide to Naturalistic Planting Design’ – will be out this spring.

He also spearheaded the planting design for the prestigious Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park with James Hitchmough, who he works alongside at the University of Sheffield. Nigel is the professor of Planting Design and Urban Horticulture at the university’s illustrious department of landscape architecture, which has become one of the leading places in the world to study the topic. It has its own Green Roof Research and Demonstration Centre, which Nigel says is currently focusing on “plant mixes for podium landscapes that do not require an automatic irrigation system for their survival and which create visual interest for most or all of the year.”

Podium landscapes are becoming a lot more common than people realise, says Nigel. “In many cases where there’s a high-density urban area, what most people would think of as a landscape on the ground is usually a podium landscape in reality because there is always something underneath it.

“In the future, the only way that we will be able to achieve urban greening, with all the human and environmental benefits that it brings, is to work with podium landscapes – they are going to be the most common type of landscape context.”

The Barbican is an exemplar of how podium landscapes can thrive in an urban environment,

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PORTFOLIO FEATURES

NOW, THE LANDSCAPE IS “LOW-INPUT, HIGH IMPACT”, A TRAIT OF THE PLANTSMAN WHO WAS BROUGHT IN TO CREATE IT too. The multi-award-winning project – which received two prizes at the Landscape Institute Awards, including the highly coveted Fellows Prize for Most Outstanding Project – features a unique planting design which is both random and carefully planned.

“A lot of naturalistic planting is ‘random’ in that the design is made up of carefully worked out mixes of plants, with each species or cultivar having its own percentage contribution to the mix, but the plants are then randomly set out over an area, according to a set planting density,” explains Nigel. “This means that the end result is very spontaneous, and it can be done quickly and cheaply.

“But I also believe in a more artful approach to designing with plants, where there are definite plant combinations that I want to achieve, rather than leaving everything to chance. So, I do have a method that means certain specific combinations definitely occur, even though a lot of the planting is random – so it’s a combination of both approaches.”

Three core ‘designed planting communities’ were used across the Barbican site, each based on the varying microclimates.

The first, ‘steppe plantings’, was a blend of

THE NATURALISTIC PLANTINGS MAKE A STRONG CONTRAST WITH THE BOLD ARCHITECTURE OF THE BARBICAN

grasses and perennials suitable for full sun with plenty of colour. The second, ‘shrub steppe plantings’, were similar to the first but multistemmed trees were used to create year-round interest alongside low-density shrubs. For the third – IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DELIVER A GREEN AND FRESH APPEARANCE IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER ‘light woodland plantings’ – shrubs and perennials were planted beneath multi-stem trees. ecological, but it has also been designed for Sustainability was crucial to the project. dramatic visual impressions and a long season The original brief asked for a landscape which of flowering interest. A lot of eco or sustainable could adapt to the effects of climate change, landscapes lack that visual drama and can be such as the extraordinary heatwave last quite dull.” summer, without depending on an irrigation The Barbican also heavily incorporates system. The final planting scheme created by biodiversity, and Nigel says this does not have Nigel did not include irrigation at all, an to be achieved through using native species impressive feat. “The unique thing about the alone. “To incorporate biodiversity onto Barbican is that it is very sustainable and podiums you need diversity of planting types and diverse plantings. This is why it is such an exciting field to me – the emphasis has to be on planting design. The key thing is that in most locations there is absolutely no need to be purist and say that you must use native plants to incorporate biodiversity. This is becoming a real straitjacket in terms of planning policies and we need to resist hard-liners who insist that only native plants should be used. The science doesn’t support this.”

Podium landscapes are becoming increasingly popular and climate change is a all-encompassing concern. Successful projects such as the Barbican will be crucial EUPHORBIA CHARACIAS SSP. WULFENII IS AN IMPORTANT for greening the grey areas of the UK’s cities PLANT FOR EVERGREEN TEXTURE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE and beyond. There’s little doubt Nigel will be at YEAR, CONTRASTING HERE WITH MISCANTHUS ‘UNDINE’ the forefront of this change.

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AWARDS For the UK’s domestic and commercial rooftop projects

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2019 WINNERS! With thanks to our headline and category sponsors

If you would like to be involved in 2020, please contact Jessica McCabe: Tel: 01903 777 587 Email: jessica.mccabe@eljays44.com

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PORTFOLIO FEATURES

ONE PALACE STREET

PODIUMS PERFECTED © Charlie Hopkinson

THE PAVILION

THE PAVILION IN CONSTRUCTION

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BOUNDARY ROAD

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PRO LANDSCAPER TA L K S T O J O H N WYER, OF BOWLES & WYER ABOUT BECOMING A CRUCIAL NAME IN PODIUM LANDSCAPING

uxurious roof terraces with breath-taking cityscape views.

That’s what usually comes to mind when podium landscapes are mentioned. But the definition of a podium landscape extends beyond this, says John Wyer, director of multi-award-winning design and build company Bowles & Wyer. It includes “any landscape built over a basement structure or a raised deck near ground level,” and as such makes up a huge amount of the projects Bowles & Wyer undertakes.

Whereas most people also think of podium landscapes as being public or commercial, a large part of the work Bowles & Wyer is involved in is private gardens which are podium landscapes, says John. And it’s these projects which are increasing. “Since the (Brexit) referendum, with growing

uncertainty, the work we’re doing which is development based is shrinking and the amount of work we’re doing for private clients is increasing,” says John.

It’s a market Bowles & Wyer has been involved in for over 20 years, taking on its first podium project in 1995 – Earls Terrace. The line of Grade II-listed terraced houses which overlook Kensington High Street were revitalised by British property developer Northacre. An underground car park was added, along with areas for the residents to relax – including a 10m

IT’S A MARKET BOWLES & WYER HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN FOR OVER 20 YEARS, TAKING ON ITS FIRST PODIUM PROJECT IN 1995 swimming pool – all created below a large communal garden which stretched 160m in length and 23 rear gardens.

As the first project of its kind for Bowles & Wyer, it was “without a doubt the most challenging podium project that we’ve been involved in,” says John. “It totalled about £1m

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FEATURES

THE LANCASTERS

worth of work, which in those days was quite a lot, and it was challenging for all sorts of reasons – the phasing, the legal and political implications, the technical and historical aspects.”

Despite the challenges, though, it was the first of many podium projects for Bowles & Wyer, and the firm has since become an expert in this field.

“We learnt the hard way. When we first got involved, the industry didn’t have as much expertise in soils and drainage, it was a relatively new area. We had some quite significant issues and we learnt from these.”

Actually achieving a garden is the main achievement with podium projects, says John.

“Anything you can do beyond that is a significant achievement. Challenges such as drainage and soil are significant and we have developed a whole strategy around how we approach the issue of soils, working with Tim O’Hare on projects such as The Lancasters.”

The Lancasters, a challenging residential development project, consists of 77 luxury apartments converted from 15 Grade II-listed houses built in the 19th century. Bowles & Wyer was brought in to create the gardens for these stucco-fronted houses which look out onto Hyde Park, and has won multiple awards for the design, including a Design Excellence Award at the BALI National Landscape Awards in 2011 and an SGD Award in 2015.

It is a great example, says John, of how important flexibility is when designing podium landscapes. “The concept was a series of swirling shapes in box hedge, with the patterns taken from Victorian motifs. But how big these were, where they were situated, and the orientation could all be adjusted. The design

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DESIGNING THE LANDSCAPE AROUND SUCH FEATURES IS A CHALLENGE, BUT JOHN AND HIS TEAM HAVE COME UP WITH SOME CREATIVE IDEAS TO HELP BLEND THESE INTO THEIR SURROUNDINGS didn’t end up getting fixed until other items were incorporated, such as escape stairs and vents that went down into the car park.”

Designing the landscape around such features is a challenge, but John and his team have come up with some creative ideas to help blend these into their surroundings.

A Victorian building in Chelsea, for instance, had a large underground car park which needed extract vents incorporated. “The

KINGS ROAD

landscape we were implementing needed to have a Victorian feel to it, and we went to great lengths to do that, but we needed to include fire extract vents. So, we built a clock tower which was essentially one vent, able to withstand 300⁰C, so if there were to be a fire this is where the smoke would come out, but it didn’t look like a vent at all.”

To mask the noise of mechanical vents, John regularly uses water features. “You have to be quite creative in how you handle things, but the key is understanding what is going to be needed and anticipating these.

“On another site, we put a bandstand with a raised floor and vents underneath around the edge. And with escape stairs, we try to make these come up surreptitiously into the landscape, normally behind hedges, as we don’t want them to dominate. They’re hardly ever used but they’re critical in the event of a fire, so it requires a lot of careful thought.”

Bowles & Wyer is now working on a large project on the King’s Road for Cadogan Estates. “The design has actually changed three times, but it’s still recognisable from the original because it relies on the same concept of asymmetry. In the end, this project is not about delivering the landscape, it’s about delivering what the client wants – the sellable asset. The landscape is a part of that, but it can’t be the sole driver.”

Understanding this, along with the wealth of other expertise Bowles & Wyer has collated over the years, is how the company has become such a popular choice for podium projects, and its flexible approach is certainly one to be admired.

REGENTS CRESCENT

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PORTFOLIO FEATURES

PRO LANDSCAPER SPEAKS TO CHRIS BRIDGMAN OF BRIDGMAN & BRIDGMAN AND THE GREEN ROOF O R G A N I S AT I O N T O L E A R N A B O U T T H E R O U T E S T H AT C A N TA K E W O R K E R S I N T O THIS GROWING INDUSTRY

PODIUM TRAINING

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reen roofs have soared in popularity over recent years.

The market grew by an impressive 17.1% in 2016 from the previous year, bringing its value to a whopping £30.7m, according to the UK Green Roof Market Report in 2017.

It’s set to grow further still. Some cities are now going so far as to stipulate living roofs as part of planning conditions, says Chris Bridgman, managing partner of green roof specialists Bridgman & Bridgman. “Recent warnings of a rapid decline in the world’s insect population – with pesticides, urbanisation and climate change – reinforce the argument for re-creating the habitats that are lost by urbanisation, especially in cities.”

London is seemingly leading the drive in the UK, installing 42% of all green roofs. Chris says the Mayor of London’s plans to make more than half of the city green by 2050 are aiding this growth. “The creation of the Greener City Fund provides capital for strategic green infrastructure projects. Plans for London becoming a National Park City also specifically reference green roofs and green walls.”

The Mayor’s London Environment Strategy, published in May last year, says the capital has seen a “major increase” in green roof installations since 2008 when “urban greening policies were first included in the London plan”. It estimates green roofs occupy 100ha across London and at least 700 green roofs in London’s Central Activities Zone alone, totalling 20ha.

With an increased focus on green roofs and their benefits, Chris says it is “paramount that the workforce is competent and

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EMBANKMENT PENTHOUSE, LONDON

IT IS PARAMOUNT THAT THE WORKFORCE IS COMPETENT AND ADEQUATELY TRAINED adequately trained to meet this demand”. To ensure this happens, Bridgman & Bridgman, along with other members of the Green Roof Organisation and training provider Lantra, has developed a certification which Chris says “recognises the required level of learning and skills for the rapidly growing market in the UK”.

“It is estimated that over 1,300 green roof installers who currently possess Construction

Related Occupation skills cards – available to people working in construction-related occupations not covered by other CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) cards – now require a skills card that reflects their specific trade when the current cards expire this year,” says Chris.

“Other occupations and trades traditionally obtain a National Vocation Qualification (NVQ) in their specialist area but such a qualification is no longer available to green roofers having been withdrawn due to lack of uptake, primarily because of cost and the 1-2-year assessment. However, there is now an urgent need for trained and certificated operatives in

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IKEA GREENWICH

SOME CITIES ARE NOW GOING SO FAR AS TO STIPULATE LIVING ROOFS AS PART OF PLANNING CONDITIONS the green roofing industry. Until 2018, there has been nothing to fill this training gap.”

Now available for registration, ‘The Introduction to Installing and Maintaining Green Roofs’ is a one-day course covering everything from the history of green roofs to health and safety to equipment and aftercare.

Every member of staff at Bridgman & Bridgman – “from apprentices to estimators, office managers to site-based staff and partners” – has undertaken the training and received the first-ever issued LISS/CSCS Green Roofing competency cards.

It’s perhaps unsurprising that Bridgman & Bridgman would be the first fully trained green roof workforce in the UK. Not only is the company keen to offer training and education, providing work placements and apprenticeships since it was founded in 2006, it is also on target to concentrate solely on green roofing by 2020, withdrawing from its landscape-based services in a series of stages.

“Over the last six months, Bridgman & Bridgman has seen a significant increase in

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forward orders for green roofs,” says Chris.

“We have also seen a steady increase in our green roof maintenance portfolio and projects as new and existing clients want to further develop the biodiversity offerings of their roofs, to encourage more birds and insects to their rooftops using more log piles, sand and rock formations.”

Earlier in the year, IKEA opened its most sustainable store yet with the largest accessible roof garden in London. Bridgman & Bridgman installed the 3,500m² space, with raised planters for urban farming, biodiverse and wildflower areas, as well as seating. It helped the store to achieve a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ environmental assessment rating, the highest certification awarded by the international scheme.

“Other retailers and developers may follow suit and realise they could potentially increase the footprint of their building by utilising the roof area for intensive and extensive greening and landscapes,” says Chris.

“Rooftop gardens are very on-trend and green roofs are essential for building insulation, carbon capture, habitat recreation and water attenuation. Around 70% of the entire area of London is roof space that could be greened.”

Noah’s Ark , a new children’s hospice being constructed in London, is set to benefit from a BioSolar roof with vegetation and PV panels installed by Bridgman & Bridgman. “The energy from the PV panels will power the building and the vegetation around the panels will reduce the temperature to an ambient level, creating more power,” says Chris.

Volunteers and families of the unwell children will help to plant the roof at the hospice, which is set in a large nature reserve.

It’s one of the many green roof projects being undertaken in London and across the UK, and with initiatives such as the Greener City Fund and companies such as Bridgman & Bridgman pushing their importance, the green roof market seems unlikely to slow down any time soon.

To find out more and to register for green roofing certification visit www.lantra.co.uk or www.bali.org.uk

PRIVATE HOUSE, BUCKINGHAM

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AHEAD OF

PORTFOLIO FEATURES

THE CURVE ARALIA GARDEN DESIGN’S FOUNDER PAT R I C I A F OX REFLECTS ON LEARNING AND I N N OVAT I N G THROUGH PODIUM LANDSCAPING

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FULHAM REACH, LONDON

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rom having never designed a rooftop terrace to being commissioned to design 11 by one of the largest property developers in the UK, Aralia’s foray into podium landscapes started firmly in the deep end. Fortunately, managing director Patricia Fox enjoys a challenge.

At the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2012, Aralia showcased the ‘Rooftop Workplace of Tomorrow’, a show garden designed as a roof terrace for a corporate office where staff could go to relax or hold small meetings. With a large LCD outdoor sports screen, bamboo decking and upcycled furniture, this garden was ahead of the curve, “before roof terraces really became popular”, says Patricia.

“I wanted a huge screen with not just PowerPoint presentations but videos of someone walking through a forest or waves crashing on a beach, taking people completely outside of the corporate office into something quite different. I was also insistent that birdsong be piped through the garden, creating an ambience so that people wouldn’t feel they were in central London, they would feel they were out in the country somewhere.”

Sustainability was also key to the design.

Aralia used bamboo decking, for instance, which Patricia points out only launched in the UK at Ecobuild that year, and had to be brought in from an American supplier. This is what sets Aralia apart, says Patricia. “We always like to use something in a project that’s a first, whether it’s a new material or a new way of using an old material. We’re experimental and inquisitive.”

Aralia also used upcycled furniture from Thomas Bramwell. “Everybody thought the planters and the sofas were made of a granite-type stone, but they were actually made from upcycled black plastic plant pots which would usually end up in landfill.

“The garden was all about connectivity and was quite technology-driven. We wanted everything to be related to the iPod shape, with rounded squares, and we spent ages trying to find a furniture company that would work for us on designing something for Chelsea.”

It was worth it, though. Patricia received a call after the show that would kick off Aralia’s illustrious roof terrace portfolio. Berkeley Group’s chairman Tony Pidgley had been at Chelsea and insisted on talking with the team behind the rooftop garden.

KNIGHTSBRIDGE

“It was just coming up to the height of the recession and St George (PLC, part of the Berkeley Group) was concerned about how it was going to sell its penthouses. So, Tony Pidgley wanted to do something amazing with them.

“My brief was fantastic. It was pretty much ‘do what you want’ but every garden must have a green wall, for instance, and an outdoor kitchen. We were given a really open brief.”

Aralia completed two phases for St George’s penthouse apartments at Dockside House in Chelsea Creek, London. “It was quite a steep learning curve for us,” says Patricia. “We were really fortunate that we worked with a multidisciplinary team of consultants and it was a really good experience for us.”

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RHS CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW GARDEN 2012 ʻROOFTOP WORKPLACE OF TOMORROWʼ

© Benjamin Wetherall

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WE ALWAYS LIKE TO USE SOMETHING IN A PROJECT THAT’S A FIRST, WHETHER IT’S A NEW MATERIAL OR A NEW WAY OF USING AN OLD MATERIAL. WE’RE EXPERIMENTAL AND INQUISITIVE Roof terraces have now become a specialism of Aralia. “We now have a whole area on our website for roof terraces, and it’s something we feel very well positioned to offer out to clients. We always make them aware of all the things that can go wrong. If they decide not to choose us, we suggest they go with someone who has experience with roof terraces because there are so many pitfalls.”

One of the biggest problem areas, Patricia warns, is health and safety, along with drainage and weight loading. Creation of a microclimate can also be somewhat overlooked. “This can often get forgotten.

Everything is intensified on a roof terrace, so you need to do your research. Look at the placement of other buildings in close proximity and regular wind patterns.

“Once you go above the sixth floor, wind studies also become necessary. These inform where wind funnelling effects will happen.

“There’s a lot to think about,” adds Patricia.

“But one of the most exciting things about roof terraces is that you have a whole different boundary scape. On a roof terrace you have a different light, a different perspective on shadows and patterns. You have the cityscape so you have something different to link the terrace to and in a very different way to how you would on the ground.

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“I’ve seen roof terraces that haven’t tackled that issue, that have not been cognisant of its environment. For me, it’s one of the most fundamental things about working on a roof terrace.”

So, what’s next for podium landscapes?

According to Patricia, wellness gardens are growing in popularity. “The whole wellness aspect of gardens is becoming more important and more clients are looking for a reprieve from the daily grind.” With Aralia’s track record of trendsetting, we have every reason to believe Patricia and her team will be at the forefront.

NOVI CAMBRIDGE COCKTAIL BAR AND RESTAURANT

CHELSEA CREEK

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PORTFOLIO FEATURES

GROUNDED

GUIDANCE

AS PODIUM LANDSCAPES MOVE FORWARD, TIM O’HARE ADVISES ON THE CRUCIAL QUESTIONS AND CHOICES REGARDING SOIL

C

hoosing the right soil for a ‘podium landscape’ is in many ways the same as for any landscape scheme. The soil must be able to support the plants grown in it by offering the correct levels of aeration, drainage, water attenuation, nutrient supply and soil microbes. However, the ‘urban environment’ of podium landscapes creates its own set of additional challenges that need to be considered.

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RAISED PLANTERS

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FEATURES

SOIL PROFILE

Checklist When advising on soils for podium schemes, the first thing we do is ask a lot of questions.

This is so that we can fully understand how the soil is to be used and what properties and performance criteria the soil is going to need.

What are the proposed soil depths? If it’s shallow then only one soil type is probably required, but if there are deeper soil profiles to install then a topsoil and a subsoil will be required. ● Are there any weight restrictions? This will determine whether the soil can be ‘normal weight’, or whether a ‘lightweight’ soil is required. There is no point spending the extra money on a lightweight soil if it’s not necessary. ● What sort of drainage system will be used?

Podiums by their very nature must have a drainage system to remove surplus water.

The soil placed over this system needs to interface properly so that there are no hydraulic anomalies that will prevent drainage and cause waterlogging. ● Do the plants have any specific soil requirements or constraints? For example, pH tolerances, drainage performance, fertility levels. ● What level of irrigation will be available during establishment and thereafter? This has a huge bearing on the choice of soil selected and many schemes these days are opting for far less reliance on irrigation to reduce water usage. ● Are there any specific site constraints?

Given the location of most podium schemes, there usually are many constraints – access restrictions, crane availability, programming, interaction with other trades leading to high compaction risk.

CHAVASSE PARK

●

hat level of on-going maintenance will the W soils receive? Some projects expect soils to keep performing at the same level with minimal maintenance.

●

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SOIL ARRIVES BY CRANE

Off-the-shelf or bespoke The answers to these questions will dictate how many soil types the project needs and what qualities each soil must have. These qualities can be formulated into a soil specification that designers and contractors can issue out to soil companies. If the soil requirements are fairly ‘normal’, there is a good chance that an ‘off-the-shelf’ soil product will suffice. If more unusual soil characteristics are needed, then a bespoke soil mix can be produced. These days the soil industry is set up to offer ‘designer soils’ that can meet virtually all soil requirements.

British Standard soils Very often podium soil specifications simply refer to the British Standards for topsoil and

subsoil. This is wholly inappropriate as these standards were never intended for use in such an ‘artificial’ environment, and many of the values set do not consider the constraints and specific requirements of a podium scheme.

As such, many soils that are ‘BS compliant’ are completely unacceptable.

Quality control Once you know what soil you need, how can you ensure this is what you will end up with?

The soil industry has transformed over the last 10-15 years and there are now many dedicated soil manufacturers or suppliers out there. However, there are also many waste recycling operators that know little about soil and pedal inferior quality soils onto the market.

Reputable soil companies usually have a mountain of test data about their soils to demonstrate that they are fit for purpose.

Review this first and if the soil results look okay, have a fresh soil sample independently tested against all the criteria in the soil specification to confirm its compliance and suitability.

Getting the wrong soil in any landscape scheme is bad enough, but when the scheme is ten floors up or within an enclosed podium courtyard, the consequences can be far worse.

About Tim O’Hare Tim O’Hare, principal consultant of Tim O’Hare Associates, has designed, specified and tested soils for numerous podium landscape projects throughout the UK, including the Athletes Village, Crossrail Park, Chavasse Park and Battersea Power Station.

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PORTFOLIO FEATURES

TOP TIPS

©Gardenlink Ltd

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© Charlie Hopkinson

“My first tip to designers is to see what is already there, what’s been loaded on it from a weight perspective and what other surrounding terraces have achieved. If there is not a lot of weight on the terrace, then there is likely to be a limit. It is very hard to get an engineer DAN FLYNN to approve large loadings on any terrace and putting in strengthening beams DIRECTOR, retrospectively is extremely costly.

GARDENLINK “Next step is waterproofing. Any water ingress is always blamed on a new roof terrace, even if it’s an old problem. So, limit your exposure on this issue by placing self-contained planters on top of the existing waterproofing. Try to use lightweight planters, such as fibreglass or powder-coated galvanised ones. Also, use lightweight soil which can weigh up to 25% less than normal soil.

“Irrigation is a must. Clients say they will water but it’s easy to forget and a week of sun and wind can kill off any new plant stock.

“Watch out for balustrade heights, which must be 1100mm.

Increasingly, building control officers are becoming aware of ‘fixed step ups’ which may be a trough placed next to the balustrade that could allow someone to step up and potentially fall over the edge.

“Finally, make sure everything which is designed can fit in the lift or stairway as a crane can cost anything between £2.5K to £7K.”

©Charlotte Rowe and Light IQ

P R O L A N D S C A P E R S P E A K S T O D A N F LY N N A N D C H A R L O T T E R O W E A B O U T T H E E S S E N T I A L I N F O R M AT I O N T O CONSIDER BEFORE WORKING ON PODIUM LANDSCAPES

“Make sure any planning issues are looked at well in advance of starting on a design.

Some roof spaces which may appear to be ‘legal’ are not and have simply been used without permission. If a client has just bought the property, they may not know for sure. Also, be very careful to check CHARLOTTE ROWE what ‘structures’ are allowed – some local OWNER, authorities will not even allow trellis, let CHARLOTTE ROWE alone arbours and storage units.

“One of the trickiest issues is explaining GARDEN DESIGN to a client that even though the roof terrace may already have decking and pots or something similar, any new space being specified and built by you and your contractor will need to be checked and approved by a structural engineer to ensure that the loadings on the roof structure are acceptable. Trees on roof terraces are inordinately heavy, so this is always a key issue for us.

The engineer should also be involved if any structures are built to check that they can withstand any climatic issues, such as high wind.

“Cost can also be an issue for some clients – unlike a garden, everything for a roof terrace, including soil and compost, needs to be imported which makes them up to 20% more expensive than a simple garden at ground level. Simply getting the plants, trees, decking and stone paving up to the space can be a logistical nightmare, particularly if the roof terrace is anything over six floors up. And once you start getting into the hire of cranes and road closures, the cost will rocket.”

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©Battersea Power Station

FEATURES

PA P E R PORTFOLIOS ©Battersea Power Station

BATTERSEA ROOF GARDENS The redevelopment of the iconic Battersea Power Station has been gradual and substantial.

With 18ha of open space, including a series of spectacular roof gardens, the masterplan is breathtaking. LDA Design was appointed to lead the landscape architecture of all external spaces in phases one and two, and landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, the company behind New York’s High Line, is leading the design of the open space which gives the building its name. This podium landscape will stretch 1.2 acres across the flats, designed by Foster + Partners, and will include a fitness area, a pool and a kitchen area with a herb garden. Andy Sturgeon Landscape and Garden Design has also designed three roof gardens atop the power station as part of the redevelopment of this historic site.

THE GREEN SPINE, AUSTRALIA

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stand at 356.2m, making it the tallest building in the country. Connecting the two towers will be a podium topped by a terraced landscape space.

A ‘green spine’ will be created through planted facades and outdoor spaces, connecting with the public realm and stretching from the street to the top of the buildings.

“Our aim is for Green Spine to contribute to people’s sense of wellbeing by providing a series of innovative, planted terraces and spaces that allow a connection with nature, promote biodiversity and establish a unique urban ecosystem,” says Keith French, director at Grant Associates.

©UNStudio

©UNStudio

The Bosco Verticale in Milan is majestic.

Eight hundred trees cover the two residential towers, along with 4,500 shrubs and 15,000 plants.

This vertical forest, which would equate to 20,000m2 of the ground, has been an inspiration across the globe and the Southbank by Beulah International in Australia seems to have taken note.

Known as the Green Spine, the two twisting skyscrapers – designed

by UNStudio, Cox Architecture and landscape architect Grant Associates – will be an AUS$2bn mixed-use development in Melbourne.

The highest of the two skyscrapers would

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EXPERT

ELEGANCE FULHAM RIVERSIDE ELITE LANDSCAPES

PORTFOLIOS

PROJECT D E TA I L S Project value £4.5m Build time Two years Size of project 3.2ha Awards Winner of the Commercial Build category at the Pro Landscape Podium Awards

WINNER OF THE

COMMERCIAL BUILD

CATEGORY

AWARDS For the UK’s domestic and commercial rooftop projects

E

lite Landscapes was contracted by Barratt London to undertake the hard and soft landscaping of this prestigious riverfront development.

The project is one of the largest roof gardens in London. It enhances the surrounding housing scheme by being the central focus for the whole complex.

Once a coal-fired power station and then a brewery, Barratt London is transforming the derelict warehouses and disused jetty into a thriving new community. Set above a 120,000ft2 Sainsbury’s superstore, the

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tranquil landscape is providing an opportunity to create an exciting space for residents. It was envisioned that the landscape should provide a unique opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. A series of ‘gardens within the garden’ were created to help achieve this and create a sanctuary for the residents to relax and enjoy either with friends or on their own.

The soft landscaping is an integral part of the landscape creating a contemporary twist on formal parterre gardens. To produce the green oasis in the centre of the development, 108 trees, 6,636 ornamental plants, 920m of

hedging and 1,145m2 of lawn were lifted onto the roof level. All the planting was carefully selected to compliment the landscape during all months of the year so the area can be enjoyed year-round. For example, groups of table-top Platanus x acerifolia (London plane) combine to create a canopy over seating areas during the summer months and reveal their intricate branch structure during the winter.

The hard landscaping was designed to complement the soft and create a tranquil area for the residents. The water features are one of the focal points. The water flows

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PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIOS

through the gardens towards the river, creating a flow within the gardens. This then cascades down a 3m high wall, with the textured granite emphasising the movement and sound of the water. Bespoke items such as benches and the pergolas give the scheme a personal feel.

Products were selected for long life and easy maintenance due to the difficulties of getting to the areas to undertake any remedial replacement works. The difficulties of construction in this location required high quality materials from concept.

Construction of the gardens at a raised height, surrounded by the newly constructed buildings, provided a logistical challenge.

Specialist details including lightweight materials, roof drainage systems and irrigation were installed to ensure establishment of the landscape.

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There were many construction challenges which had to be overcome, including transporting all the materials needed up three floors to the roof deck before work could even begin. Every delivery had to be booked in with lifting plans days in advance to move all the material to the rooftop. In particular, the semi-mature trees required careful planning and installation. The success achieved by this project is even more impressive when one begins to realise what has gone into the logistics and the movement of material required before the proper landscaping works could even begin.

This scheme is outstanding in design and shows what can be achieved with external spaces, which may get overlooked. It also exemplifies the benefit of an urban landscapes in the heart of the development for residential communities.

A B O U T E L I T E L A N DSCA P ES Founded in 1999, Elite Landscapes has become an established company with a wealth of experience. The core business is high quality commercial landscape construction and maintenance, primarily in the south-east of England.

Its wide range of in-house skills and long-term relationships with related specialists enables it to undertake all aspects of landscaping and external works construction. Elite Landscapes has also won a BALI National Landscape Award in the following years: 2007, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. www.elitelandscapes.co.uk

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PORTFOLIOS

DURING WORKS

THE BUILD

REFERENCES Paving and stone Hardscape www.hardscape.co.uk CED Stone Group www.cedstone.co.uk Marshalls via George Lines www.georgelines.co.uk www.marshalls.co.uk Ashfield Stone www.ashfieldgroup.com Topsoil Sivyer www.hsivyer.com Planting AHS Ltd www.ahs-ltd.co.uk Crowders Nurseries www.crowdersnurseries.co.uk Folia Europe www.folia-europe.com Van den Berk www.vdberk.co.uk Street Furniture Bramhall 1840 Ltd www.bramhall1840.co.uk

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Concrete Sports www.concretesports.co.uk Furnitubes www.furnitubes.com Architectural Street Furnishings (ASF) www.asfco.co.uk Fresh Air Fitness www.freshairfitness.co.uk Broxap Ltd www.broxap.com Decking Concrete & Timber Services www.ctsbridges.co.uk Void Former S and B Eps Ltd www.sandbeps.com Water Feature Fountains and Features www.fountainsandfeatures.co.uk Irrigation Waterwise Solutions www.waterwisesolutions.co.uk

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PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIOS

COSY

REFUGE H A M PST E A D R O O F T E R R AC E K AT E G O U L D G A R D E N S

O

utdoor space in the city is highly coveted and as such these spaces have to work very hard for their owners, ensuring they are versatile throughout the seasons.

This tiny roof terrace in Hampstead has been specifically designed for family use.

When designing urban and rooftop gardens, Kate always tries to ensure that the project has a strong evergreen backbone to provide continual interest regardless of season or weather. This style of garden is often overlooked by neighbours, therefore ways to create privacy must be considered

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beforehand. Any drainage concerns also need to be assessed as well as whether any additional waterproofing might be needed, along with the weight restrictions such a space might have.

It is also essential when working with these spaces that the planting scheme is carefully considered beforehand as what works on one level will categorically not work on another. The aim of any planting scheme is for the plants to thrive, therefore varieties and species must be selected for their individual situation and especially so for a roof terrace or balcony.

The unused terrace was converted into an extension of the house, an extra outdoor room.

The family use it for lounging and entertaining as well as social cooking and dining. Integrated bench seating doubles as storage for soft furnishings utilising all available space.

The bespoke tiled bioethanol fireplace creates a stunning focal feature for the garden and extends the possibilities of those dry autumn evenings as well as the infamous long summer nights. It was essential for the client that the roof terrace still looked like a garden with lots of visible greenery and they also required increased privacy from the

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PROJECT D E TA I L S

PORTFOLIOS

neighbours. Kate introduced wooden screening with evergreen climbers which will in time make this area even more secluded.

The client specifically wanted a set of tall obelisk planters from their previous home to be utilised in the design. Kate used these to create height around the edge of the garden combined with olive trees which do well with the drier conditions often found in an elevated garden.

Low maintenance and shade tolerant plants were used in the lower level planting to cope with the shadows created by surrounding houses. The garden has been fitted with an off tap irrigation system and a timer simplifying

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Photographs Š Helen Fickling

Build time 4-6 weeks Size of project 6m x 3m

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PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIOS

upkeep for the owners, who are often travelling abroad.

Materials sourced for the project were quite varied. The bespoke clay blue glazed tiles on the fireplace were made in France and a number of samples were created in a bid to get the perfect colour to complement the scheme. It was a ‘labour of love’ fitting these as there were slight variations in size which complicated installation.

The artificial wood decking from Millboard was an easy choice as it offers a contemporary feel with much lower maintenance than traditional timber decking. Both the stone surround on the fireplace and the deck were sourced from London Stone.

The garden lighting was designed to be versatile with various settings allowing for different moods and to highlight different aspects of the design. This included uplights in the deck area, spot lighting mounted on the screening and an eclectic mix of candles and lanterns to suit the interior of the house, bringing the indoors outdoors.

The Teamlandscapers implemented the hard landscaping on behalf of Kate Gould Gardens whilst the team at KGG installed all soft landscaping as well as dressing the garden.

The biggest challenge this garden faced during the build was that it had no rear access. This meant that all materials and tools had to be taken up two flights of stairs and very carefully through the family home before reaching the roof.

A B O U T K AT E G O U L D

BEFORE

REFERENCES

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Hard landscaping The Teamlandscapers www.theteamlandscapers.co.uk

Composite decking Millboard www.millboard.co.uk

Plants Europlants UK Ltd www.europlants.net

Seating The Teamlandscapers www.theteamlandscapers.co.uk

Irrigation Landscapeplus www.landscapeplus.com

Stone London Stone www.londonstone.co.uk

Screening The Teamlandscapers www.theteamlandscapers.co.uk

Lighting Collingwood www.collingwoodlighting.com

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Kate Gould Gardens was founded over 20 years ago. The business has grown organically from a one-woman design studio to a full-service design and build company. Kate has gradually built a tight-knit and talented team around her that shares her passion, values and commitment to high standards. Known for her innovative and fearless yet practical designs, she is the first to say that she could never see these ambitious designs through without her highly-skilled build team.

From city gardens to country estates, the focus is always on balancing hard and soft landscaping as well as functionality. Kate has just created her first book, a guide for gardeners keen to transform small and awkward outdoor spaces. Urban Garden Design will be published on May 9 2019. www.kategouldgardens.com

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PORTFOLIOS

PROJECT D E TA I L S Project value £45K Build time Two months Size of project 7m x 7m Awards Shortlisted for the Pro Landscaper Podium Awards

VERDANT

H I D E AW AY HOLLAND GREEN PLACE STEFANO MARINA Z L ANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

S

ituated between Kensington High Street and Holland Park in West London, Holland Green Place is a bold apartment block. It forms part of the development of the new Design Museum, which was relocated from Shad Thames in late 2016 to a larger building, and has since won the European Museum of the Year Award.

Stefano Marinaz Landscape Architecture was given the opportunity to design one of the apartment’s terraces. It needed to be an entertainment space for family and friends, with comfortable seating. The client also

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wanted year-round colour through the planting and for the spectacular views of the inner city to be unobstructed.

Where the building is contemporary and somewhat harsh, the client wanted the new landscape to soften the architecture but also to be a continuation of the modern and minimalistic apartment. For this, project collaborators Marcia Tucker Interiors chose elegant but comfortable furniture in neutral colours designed and made by Summit.

Sleek Sandy White porcelain paving supplied

by London Stone was selected to sit on Bauder

adjustable pedestals, and the planters from Capital Garden Products followed the same greyscale scheme.

To create colour through each of the seasons, Stefano Marinaz used a plethora of perennials in long, narrow planters. Gaura lindheimeri, Centranthus ruber, Echinacea purpurea ‘Magnus’ were planted alongside Agapanthus ‘Peter Pan’, Verbena bonariensis ‘Lollipop’, Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’, and Hakonechloa macra.

Evergreen shrubs were mixed in with these, such as Pittosporum tobira, Convolvulus

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PORTFOLIO PORTFOLIOS

cneorum, Lavandula angustifolia, and Callicarpa bodinieri. Each plant was carefully chosen to be suitable for full sunlight on the terrace and multi-stem Amelanchier lamarckii were placed in the corners to frame the cityscape views. Lighting was incorporated into the scheme through one uplight being installed under each of these trees.

Compost and topsoil were mixed together in a 1:1 ratio to provide structure for the roots, as well as nutrients to give the plants a strong start.

A layer of expanded clay was used at the bottom of the planters to allow drainage and was separated from the soil by a permeable membrane.

Before any of the planting could begin, Stefano Marinaz had to work with a structural engineer to ensure the loading proposed for the pots was in line with the allowance of the building.

The scheme also had to be approved by the freeholder ahead of the client.

As the terrace is located on the eighth floor, a crane had to be used to lift the furniture. Other elements of the garden – such as the plants, planters and the soil – were carried up using the building’s internal lift.

Now installed and thriving, the terrace is maintained by Stefano Marinaz’s in-house team every two weeks from March to November and once a month from December to February.

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Photographs ŠDaniel K Clarke

PORTFOLIOS

A B O U T S T E FA N O MARINAZ LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

BEFORE

REFERENCES Furniture Summit www.summitfurniture.com

Pedestals Bauder www.bauder.co.uk

Lighting Hunza www.hunzalighting.com

Plants Hortus Loci www.hortusloci.co.uk

Paving London Stone www.londonstone.co.uk

Planters Capital Garden Products www.capital-garden.com

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London-based Stefano Marinaz Landscape Architecture works alongside international architects and designers on projects ranging from small private gardens to larger landscapes and historical restorations to garden festival installations. The studio’s mission is to create naturalistic gardens which enhance the spirit of place, taking inspiration from both the past and from their context and the ecology of the site. An expert plantsman, Stefano draws on a rich palette for his planting plans, personally supervising soil preparation and planting, and offering an ongoing maintenance service. Stefano Marinaz is a Kew Patron, actively supporting the work of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. www.stefanomarinaz.com

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BA-Podium Ad 420x265.pdf

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HEADLINE SPONSOR

C

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CM

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Bo Po pl ra th an de po

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Congratulations to all shortlisted projects and products.

Bourne Amenity Limited are proud to headline sponsor the Inaugural Pro Landscaper Podium Awards. Elevated planting schemes are now an integral part of modern urban planning, and as a company we have been working with architects and contractors on a range of lightweight substrates and related SuDS growing media for almost 10 years. Over the course of this period we have we have seen the rise in popularity of Podium schemes and have evolved our ranges of products to match the imagination and ambition of designers. We look forward to seeing the entries of all our clients, pushing the boundaries of podium design, and continuing the drive towards greener and healthier living spaces.

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PORTFOLIO AWARDS

HEADLINE SPONSOR

AWARDS For the UK’s domestic and commercial rooftop projects THE WINNERS Supreme Winner

Sponsored by Bourne Amenity

• fabrik Ltd

Commercial Build

Sponsored by Medite Smartply

• Elite Landscapes: Fulham Riverside

Commercial Design

T

he winners have been revealed for the first Pro Landscaper Podium Awards. The event took place at FutureScape Spring on 12 March at Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher, Surrey.

Sponsored by Bourne Amenity, leaders in the industry attended the awards – the only ones of their kind that recognise the phenomenal podium landscapes being created across the UK. Landscape architect firm fabrik was announced as the Supreme Winner for the its impressive Fulham Riverside

project, which also won the Commercial Design category.

Pro Landscaper’s Jim Wilkinson said: “We are delighted with the quality of entries for our inaugural Podium Awards. The projects are excellent and really show the quality of the UK landscaping sector.

Podiums will continue to grow and play a more important role in the industry going forward. We look forward to the Podium Awards developing further and reflecting the outstanding technical ability in this sector. Well done to all entrants and many congratulations to the 2019 winners.”

Sponsored by Everedge

• fabrik Ltd: Fulham Riverside

Domestic Design Sponsored by Trovia

• Aralia Garden Design: Chelsea Creek Roof Terraces

Podium Planting Design Sponsored by Pro Landscaper

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Outstanding Podium Product

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• Livingreen Design: Terraces Furniture

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AWARDS

SUPREME WINNER SPONSORED BY BOURNE AMENITY

FABRIK LTD

Passionate landscape architect Johnny Rath founded fabrik in 2003. The multidisciplinary landscape and environmental design practice is a team of landscape architects, arborists, landscape planners and urban designers who bring innovative design to the external environments around them.

Fabrik’s recent project, Fulham Riverside, has scooped not only the Best Commercial Design award but also the Supreme Award at the inaugural Pro Landscaper Podium Awards. Judges said it was “a technically complex project to design showing good attention to detail”.

The scheme also received high praise as judges found it “difficult to see how a design for a project such as this can be improved upon”.

The multi-layered space boasts a large pool in the centre of the lawn accompanied by a 3m-high waterfall, an education centre with a sedum planted roof and a derelict jetty which has been transformed into an ecological garden.

These exquisite podium gardens at Fulham Riverside are an impressive revamp of the neglected warehouses that were once situated there and are incredibly deserving of these two prestigious awards.

“Congratulations to the team at fabrik on its Fulham Riverside design.

At a full two acres, the scale of the project is impressive and demonstrates how large-scale planting can be transitioned onto podium levels to create stunning landscapes. The ‘gardens within a garden’ concept has created a haven for residents in a densely populated part of London as well as satisfying certain SuDS criteria.”

Jonathan Bourne, director of Bourne Amenity

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PORTFOLIO AWARDS

THE WINNERS COMMERCIAL B U I L D

SPONSORED BY MEDITE SMARTPLY

FULHAM RIVERSIDE

ELITE LANDSCAPES

D O M E ST I C D E S I G N

SPONSORED BY TROVIA

CHELSEA CREEK ROOF TERRACES

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ARALIA GARDEN DESIGN

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COMMERCIAL D E S I G N SPONSORED BY EVEREDGE

FABRIK LTD

FULHAM RIVERSIDE

P ODI U M P L A NT I NG D ES I G N SPONSORED BY PRO LANDSCAPER

THE BARBICAN BEECH GARDENS AND THE HIGH WALK

NIGEL DUNNETT

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AWARDS

O U T S T A N D I N G P O D I U M P R O D U CT SPONSORED BY FUTURESCAPE

WINNER

LIVINGREEN DESIGN LTD TERRACES FURNITURE SHORTLISTED

BOURNE AMENITY INTENSIVE LIGHTWEIGHT TOPSOIL

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CHESTER GARDENER LTD: LEXINGTON

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SHORTLISTED

CHESTER GARDENER LTD: CAENWOOD COURT CLADDING

SHORTLISTED

LIVINGREEN DESIGN LTD: BESPOKE PLANTERS

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