Crossrail Place Roof Garden

Taking inspiration from Canary Wharf's rich maritime past, the design of the garden is centred around a metaphorical ship, laden with exotic and rare specimens from all around the world brought to Britain by intrepid 18th-century explorers. The elevated garden lies beneath an intricately designed ETFE lattice timber roof structure, created by Foster + Partners. The roof's semi-permeable canopy allows for natural irrigation and light to reach the garden's interior, creating a perfect microclimate for rare and sensitive plants to thrive.

The site's location directly north of Greenwich places the dock on the Prime Meridian, which divides the western and eastern hemispheres. This inspired the division of the garden and its planting into two geographic zones, featuring plants from these hemispheres. Gillespies worked closely with planting specialists Growth Industry to develop the planting design and concept.

The garden was created with human connectivity in mind and is underpinned by the theme of biophilia. The space is organised around a single landscaped walkway, with multiple smaller paths branching off, creating opportunities for chance encounters and areas for seclusion. At each end of the garden, amphitheatres provide flexible spaces for theatre, events, and usage by local schools.

The garden provides visitors with a rare opportunity to interact with nature within a protected space, and to experience the tranquillity of this environment that counteracts the frenetic pace of Canary Wharf.