The Reflective Garden

The concept was based on Westminster City Council’s objectives to encourage roof gardens for a greener London. Encouraging the building of roof gardens on all new and refurbished buildings increases biodiversity, creates sustainable buildings, reduces rainwater run off and looks at new ways of recycling rain water and water from air-conditioning systems. Due to lack of open space in London, green roofs are all the more important.

Elements from the streetscape are re-used in a new way. The design contains discarded elements of the city such as traffic signs. Old sign-posts are turned into metal sculptures which reflect the sky. Aluminium sheets frame the modular planters and form furniture. Crushed hardcore gives easy access and acts as drainage substrate in the planters. Rainwater and air-conditioning water is reused.

The planting seeks to reinforce and complement the concept of the garden as a refuge. Strong architectural and sculptural forms provide drama and create constants. Robust evergreen forms: Chamaerops humilis, Fatsia japonica and Yucca gloriosa create a strong sense of enclosure and protection, the grasses and flowering plants provide details and colour. A combination of low soft plants and larger spiky, sculptural plants as well as grasses frames the open views of the city. All plants have been selected to withstand unusual climatic condition high up on the London skyline.

Mouchel Parkman Ltd
The Reflective Garden

Designer: Mouchel Parkman and PBA Consulting
Sponsor: Vertex, Westminster City Council
Contractor: J Murphy & Sons, Stonepit Nurseries Ltd