The Sky Garden at 20 Fenchurch Street

Inspired by the gravity-defying ancient forests you see on 360-degree outcrops, Sky Garden is a unique public garden space housed under a glass vaulted roof overlooking the City of London. The particular microclimate created under this glass vault inspired the creation of a series of micro-landscapes.

Specialist planting consultancy was provided on this project by Growth Industry, acting as a sub‑consultant to Gillespies. The landscape design concept developed a narrative based on the ‘Evolution of plants’, which has resulted in the creation of a garden split into three zones: Shade Tolerant Forest, a Transition Zone and flowering plants. The top terrace of tree fern and fig trees provides a cool, shaded space, whilst the middle terrace brings a transition in scale from the forest down to a display of ancient cycads. The lower terrace is filled with colourful plants to delight the senses all year round.

Set amongst the landscaping is a viewing area, terrace, café, bar and restaurant. The Sky Garden has also been designed to offer a series of large, flexible spaces to host a variety exhibitions and corporate events with a capacity of 450 guests.

Gillespies' design role at 20 Fenchurch Street was also to deliver a high quality de‑cluttered setting for the building at street level. This has resulted in an accessible and welcoming open space at the base of the building along with a living green wall

The planting scheme has been developed to take advantage of the challenging microclimate created by the three-storey glass canopy.