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3 Sheldon Square

An innovative pre-fabricated approach to integrating nature into existing office environments

Paddington, London, UK

With workers seeking better experiences and stronger connections to nature, British Land is redefining office design with a focus on wellness. At 3 Sheldon Square, cascading planted balconies enhance this connection, offering a pioneering approach to integrating nature into office environments.

Reimagining the Corporate Landscape

The traditional concept of the office building is undergoing a significant transformation. Biophilic design in the workplace has gained significant traction in recent years, driven by studies showing its positive impact on health, well-being, and productivity.

The retrofit of 3 Sheldon Square in Paddington for client British Land seeks to challenge the default corporate look and feel of an office building, challenging the conventions of workplace design and improving the well-being of occupants by creating a repetitive, sustained and palpable connection with greenery.

Working alongside architect Morris and Co, the team's response to this brief was to create a series of planted hanging balconies that would transform the appearance of the building, originally designed by Sidell Gibson in 2001.

The landscape approach concentrated on ensuring benefits of light, fresh air and a connection to nature were experienced inside and out

Planting for biodiversity, resilience and wellness

Cascading planters, suspended from a striking red steel prefabricated structure designed by Morris & Company, soften the architectural form while also enhancing the visual appeal for both neighbouring buildings and passers-by at street level.

The newly introduced balconies provide 450 square metres of accessible outdoor space, designed for social gatherings and relaxation, alongside 80 square metres of climate-resilient greenery that visually connects to the adjacent Paddington Central Amphitheatre, recently re-designed by Gillespies.

A Mediterranean-style planting palette was chosen for its resilience and suitability for both sun and shade, with species selected to maximise seasonal interest, regulate building temperatures during the summer and winter months and boost biodiversity to ensure resilience against future climate challenges.

We employed a distinctive planting style that extends from the ground-level amphitheatre up to the balconies above, incorporating species that support pollinators, based on the RHS’s Plants for Pollinators. This cohesive approach creates a stepping-stone landscape for wildlife and seamlessly connects the two projects, allowing them to be perceived as one harmonious entity