Plant
THE GARDENS OF PLANT
In Basingstoke, Hampshire, an architectural icon, now known as Plant - formerly Mountbatten House and originally Gateway Househas undergone a remarkable transformation. The vision of Mactaggart Family & Partners, and Longstock Capital has seen the original building retained and refurbished to provide exemplar contemporary office spaces and amenities.
Studio Knight Stokoe, has led the revival of the extensive ground level and terraced roof gardens. The proposals honour the original designer, James Russell’s vision that the gardens be informal, elaborate, romantic, overflowing, and tumbling. The redesign addresses current and anticipated climate conditions, enhances biodiversity, and creates more inclusive spaces, seeking to help enrich the daily lives of occupants and visitors.
The revitalised gardens host over 22,500 new plants, including a diverse array of native and non-native shrubs, herbaceous perennials, ornamental grasses, conifers, ferns, succulents, cascading, groundcover plants, amenity grass lawns, species-rich grassland, and seasonal bulbs. Additionally, 86 new trees have been planted to support those already established in the grounds, and to the terraced roof gardens.
The planting design draws inspiration from extensive research on the original scheme, held in the Borthwick Institute for archives at the University of York. Where possible, and appropriate, original plant species have been included in the new scheme. Sequences of meandering pathways and seating areas, invite occupants and visitors to wander through the gardens, meet, dwell, enjoy the views, or find moments for quiet reflection.
This thoughtful redesign creates a sequence of spaces that are both beautiful and functional, embodying the original spirit of the gardens while meeting contemporary needs. This booklet provides an introduction to the history of the gardens, and contains Studio Knight Stokoe’s original planting designs for Plant, which are illustrated on the following pages.
A Arrival Garden Ground Level
B Japanese Courtyard Level 2
C Summer Garden Level 3
D Sensory Garden Level 4
E Vine Garden Level 4
F Magnolia Garden Level 4
G Wisteria Garden Level 4
H Gold Garden Level 5
I Scented Garden Level 5
J Silver Garden Level 5
K Japanese Garden Level 6
L Winter Garden Level 6
M Herb Garden Level 6
A HISTORY OF THE GARDENS
In 1973, paper manufacturers Wiggins Teape commissioned a new headquarters building in Basingstoke, following their relocation from central London. The design was entrusted to Peter Foggo of Arup associates’ Group 2, while the landscape gardens were created by esteemed horticulturist James Russell.
The building, designed with radical innovation at its core, integrated advanced modern techniques and materials for waterproofing, irrigation, and drainage. This approach enabled the creation of a unique plant palette intended to thrive in the shallow soils and harsh conditions of an urban rooftop. The selection of hardy plant species was ground-breaking at the time, setting new standards for design in environments subject to extreme weather.
Architecturally, the building is symmetrically arranged around its diagonal axis, with its form dramatically stepping back from levels 3 to 6. This design not only enhances the building’s visual impact but also accommodated the challenging urban conditions, blending cutting-edge technology with a visionary approach to urban green spaces.
By 1976, the project was completed, featuring the UK’s first terraced landscape gardens, which introduced a freer, more natural style of planting into the workplace. This innovative design not only enhanced the aesthetic appeal but also brought the sur-
Top: Historic view west across the Level 3 gardens
Bottom: Historic view north across the Level 3 gardens
Image credits: Martin Charles / RIBA Collections
rounding landscape of trees and fields into the daily experience of the office staff, with long vistas opening up, with views across the terraced roof gardens.
In 1985, Stephen Scrivens, writing in the Architects’ Journal, observed that the gardens, after a decade, had begun to show signs of deterioration. Many of the terraced roof garden trees, and plants had outgrown their original design, wind damage had wreaked havoc on vines and creepers, and some plants had not been replaced, indicating a need for significant restoration.
Despite these challenges, the building and its gardens were honoured in 2015 with Grade II listing, recognised for their unique design and the pioneering integration of terraced, cascading roof gardens. The gardens themselves were also designated as a Registered Park and Garden, cementing their place in the history of British landscape design. The building and gardens are considered as one of the UK’s 15 most important modern listed buildings, and are affectionately known as the “Hanging Gardens of Basingstoke,”.
JAMES ‘JIM’ RUSSELL
James Russell is a prominent and distinguished figure in the world of horticulture. After a setback due to the outbreak of the Second World War, he assumed control of a once-distinguished but struggling nursery. Under his leadership, the nursery was revitalised, marking the beginning of his prolific garden design career, which spanned over fifty years.
Renowned as both a noted plantsman and garden designer, James Russell’s personal enthusiasms spanned a diverse array of flora, including large shrubs, rhododendrons, roses, and woodland garden favourites such as magnolias, viburnum, hydrangeas, and tree peonies. His prodigious plant knowledge, cultivated through extensive plant-hunting expeditions across the globe, enriched every garden he touched.
Alongside his ground-breaking work collaborating with Arup Associates, James Russell is also recognised for his work at Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland, and at Castle Howard, in North Yorkshire. In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, the RHS honoured him with its highest accolades: the Veitch Memorial Medal and the Victoria Medal of Honour.
Historic view north across the Level 4 gardens Image credits: Martin Charles / RIBA Collections
AArrival Garden
The arrival garden at ground level is designed to create a welcoming first impression and more inclusive approach to the building, that celebrates the semi-mature Katsura and Apple trees, which were part of the original planting scheme. A simple planting palette provides balance to the more elaborate planting of the terraced roof gardens.
BJapanese Courtyard
This sunken courtyard garden on Level 2 is influenced by James Russell’s travels around East Asia, focusing on simplicity and balance. The planting palette is centred around creating a serene atmosphere, complemented by a sculpted water feature which adds a calming sound, while shaded areas, provided by trees and the surrounding building, create a cool and comfortable space throughout the year.
CSummer Garden
At Level 3, open lawns stretch out, offering clear, framed views to the surrounding landscape. From this vantage, you can see into the Level 2 Japanese Courtyard, and enjoy the cascading plants of the upper garden levels. A Bhutan pine tree, preserved from the original gardens, stands as a lasting reminder of the past amidst the new surroundings. The planting scheme is heavily inspired by the original planting palette, with new additions providing for pollinators, and considered for their climate tolerance, as well as their aesthetic value.
DSensory Garden
On level 4 west, a new garden has been created to engage the senses. Positioned to take full advantage of the western light, it shines in the late afternoon and evening. The garden is carefully designed to support biodiversity, with a focus on attracting pollinators, making it both a beautiful and environmentally supportive space.
EVine Garden
The level 4 southern garden, once centred on climbing vines, now features a new planting scheme that reflects the forms and colours of vine fruits. The design captures the natural shapes and tones of these fruits in the flowers and leaves, creating a space that honours the original theme with a fresh, subtle approach.
FMagnolia Garden
At Level 4 central, a new garden has been created, centred around a Magnolia tree. This garden honours the original designer, James Russell, featuring one of his favourite plants as a tribute to his legacy. The Magnolia stands as a simple yet meaningful reminder of his lasting impact.
Wisteria Garden
On Level 4 east, the garden once themed around climbing wisteria now features a new planting scheme, with a design that references the wisteria’s natural shapes, colours, and forms.
HGold Garden
Level 5 east, was originally designed with a gold and brown plant palette, which has been continued through into the new scheme. The planting focusses on plant species and colours that change with the seasons, creating a subtle yet consistent natural theme. This garden forms an important thematic counterpoint to the Silver Garden, also on Level 5.
IScented Garden
Level 5 central, was originally designed with a scent-themed plant species palette, with swathes of Lavender and scented Roses, drifting through the planting beds. The new scheme follows the same approach, and introduces a wider range of scented shrubs and herbaceous perennials. The space subtly integrates fragrances, creating a calm environment where design and natural scents coexist.
JSilver Garden
Level 5 south, was originally designed with a silver and white plant palette, which has been continued through into the new scheme. The planting focusses on species and colours that change with the seasons, creating a subtle yet consistent natural theme. This garden forms an important thematic counterpoint to the Gold Garden, also on Level 5.
Japanese Garden
On Level 6 south, a Japanese design influence established as part of the original garden themes, shapes the planting palette, integrating the preserved Pine trees from the original gardens. The result is a landscape that respects the site’s history with a simple planting palette that focusses on bold blocks of grasses and conifers.
LWinter Garden
On Level 6 central, the Winter Garden features a selection of plant species that thrive in the colder months, many of which were present in the original planting scheme. These plants, chosen for their suitability to the season, bring a calm and understated beauty to the space. The garden’s design reflects the natural changes of winter, offering a peaceful place that adapts to the season’s unique qualities. Deciduous shrubs provide structural interest, whilst evergreen species provide year round colour.
MHerb Garden
Level 6 east, was originally designed as a herb garden, which has been continued through into the current scheme, and which thrives with a diverse selection of edible plants. Crab Apples and a Strawberry tree are scattered among the herbs, providing both shade and fruit. The garden is a simple yet effective space, designed to showcase a wide variety of edible and medicinal plants.
Trees of the Gardens
Arrival Garden
Cercis siliquastrum ‘Bodnant’
Pinus nigra
Tilia x euchlora
Japanese Courtyard
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’
Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Rhododendron ‘Cunningham’s White’
Schefflera rhododendrifolia
Summer Garden
Amelanchier lamarckii
Cercis siliquastrum ‘Bodnant’
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Lane Roberts’
Pinus sylvestris ‘Watereri’
Prunus ‘Shirotae’
Prunus ‘Shogetsu’
Tilia cordata ‘Winter Orange’
Sensory Garden
Amelanchier lamarckii
Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’
Parrotia persica ‘Vanessa’
Styrax japonicus
Vine Garden
Amelanchier lamarckii
Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey’
Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’
Magnolia Garden
Amelanchier lamarckii
Euonymus planipes
Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’
Wisteria Garden
Euonymus planipes
Parrotia persica ‘Vanessa’
Pinus sylvestris ‘Watereri’
Prunus ‘Shirotae’
Gold Garden
Cladrastis kentukea
Cotinus coggygria ‘Ancot’
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Lane Roberts’
Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’
Scented Garden
Sorbus aria ‘Lutescens’
Silver Garden
Heptacodium miconioides
Hippophae salicifolia ‘Robert’
Pinus sylvestris ‘Watereri’
Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula’
Japanese Garden
Acer palmatum ‘Dissectum’
Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’
Pieris japonica
Winter Garden
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Aphrodite’
Parrotia persica ‘Vanessa’
Prunus ‘Shogetsu’
Herb Garden
Arbutus unedo
Malus ‘Evereste’
Malus ‘Rudolph’
Credits
Client
Mactaggart Family & Partners
Developer
Longstock Capital
Project Management & Quantity Surveyor
Circle Development
Main Contractor
CField Construction
Demolition Contractor
Salter Demolition
Design and Delivery Architect
Twelve Architects
CMT Architect
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Design and Delivery Landscape Architect
Studio Knight Stokoe
CMT Landscape Architect
Grant Associates
Interior Architect
Page Architects
Facade Specialist
Montresor Partnership
Mechanical and Electrical Engineer
Skelly & Couch
Sustainability
Scotch Partners
Structural and Civil Engineer
Whitby Wood
Acoustic Engineer
Anderson Acoustics
Lighting Engineer
Orlight Lighting Design
Fire Engineer OFR Consultants
CDM Advisor
David Eagle
Planning Consultant
Quod
Construction Law
CRS
Property Law
Philips Law
Arboriculturalist
Landmark Trees
Soft Landscape and Planting Panoramic Landscapes
Ecologist
FPCR Environment and Design
Soil Specialist
Tim O’Hare Associates
Water Feature and Irrigation Specialist
Waterscapes
Metalwork Specialist
Artistic Metals
Garden Furniture Specialist
Chris Nangle Furniture
Interior Furniture Specialist
Benchmark Joinery
Made for for the opening of Plant on 19 September 2024
Courtesy of Mactaggart Family & Partners, Longstock Capital, and Studio Knight Stokoe
Illustrations © Michael Paul Lewis