A Workday Retreat: A Roof Terrace Designed for Connection
- Container Garden
- Pergola
- Roof Garden
- Date
- Location
- Hanover Square
- Size
- 78 sqm
- Duration
- 24 weeks
Following a successful previous collaboration, our client invited us to design and build a roof terrace for their latest high-end development in Mayfair
Design
Located on Hanover Street, this impressive project transformed a historic site through a six-storey, luxury new-build offering premier office and retail spaces right in the heart of central London.
The brief was to create a highly flexible outdoor environment that could adapt throughout the working day. Carefully considered zoning allows the terrace to function equally well as a place for quiet lunch breaks and informal outdoor working as it does for larger meetings, client entertaining and evening events. At the same time, the planting introduces a softer, greener outlook for neighbouring offices, helping to reconnect occupants with nature within an otherwise densely urban setting.
Preparation and Build
Crucially, the scheme also had to satisfy a series of rigorous building regulations. Every element of the roof garden, from the paving build-up to the surface finishes, was required to achieve BROOF(t4), the highest classification for external fire performance, whilst remaining within tightly controlled structural loading limits and meeting all associated fire safety and engineering requirements.
Materiality played an important role in defining each zone while meeting the project’s stringent fire regulations. Large-format porcelain paving creates generous open spaces, while linear timber-effect porcelain planks introduce warmth beneath the dining area. The entire terrace is supported by a non-combustible aluminium pedestal and joist system certified to BROOF(t4) standards. Achieving this required close collaboration with the architects and building control team, balancing exacting safety requirements with the refined aesthetic expected of a high-end commercial development.
Refining details below the surface was just as critical to the longevity and upkeep of the commercial space. To eliminate the standard practice of free-standing planters draining directly onto the paving, we engineered a hidden drainage system. Each bespoke planter features dedicated internal pipework that neatly routes excess water out of sight beneath the paving. Collaborating closely with the structural engineer allowed us to ensure the project stayed within weight tolerances without compromising on luxury quality.
Planting
The planting scheme was designed to soften the architecture and create a layered landscape that provides year-round interest while offering privacy and shelter within an exposed rooftop setting. Every species was carefully selected to thrive in the challenging conditions of an elevated urban environment.
Multi-stem Osmanthus × fortunei trees anchor the corners of the terrace, complemented by resilient evergreen shrubs including Pinus mugo and Pittosporum tobira ‘Nanum’, establishing a strong architectural framework. The bespoke steel pergola is softened with Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine), while ornamental grasses including Miscanthus sinensis ‘Gracillimus’ and Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’ introduce movement and texture throughout the scheme.
A carefully composed palette of herbaceous perennials—including Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’, Astrantia major ‘Alba’, Salvia ‘Blue Spire’, Sanguisorba officinalis ‘Tanna’ and Santolina chamaecyparissus—provides seasonal colour and contrast against the contemporary materials. Trailing species such as Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’, Muehlenbeckia complexa and Thymus serpyllum soften the bespoke planters, blurring the transition between planting and architecture.
