Crossrail Place Roof Garden in Canary Wharf opens to the public

Today marks the public opening of Crossrail Place Roof Garden, a striking new elevated public space designed by Gillespies as part of the seven-storey Crossrail Place development by Foster + Partners in Canary Wharf.

Taking inspiration from a 18th-century ships that might once have docked at this very location, the structure echoes the form of a ship’s hull, while the garden’s design mirrors the global trade routes that once passed through the docks. Planting is split along the Prime Meridian, showcasing species from the Eastern and Western hemispheres.

Stephen Richards, Partner at Gillespies, said:

"The opportunity to create such a large garden in what will become a new destination for London was both a privilege and a challenge. The design of the garden responds to the architectural language of the roof in the creation of a unique and sheltered planting environment. It offers visitors a new vantage point from which to look out across the water and the surrounding area."

The roof garden provides a new publicly accessible green space that enhances biodiversity, supports community wellbeing, and integrates infrastructure with nature in a highly urbanised setting. It also includes performance spaces, quiet seating areas, and winding paths that invite exploration.

Crossrail Place Roof Garden sets a new benchmark for urban greening, roof garden design, and the integration of landscape architecture in major infrastructure developments.

DESIGN TEAM: Gillespies led the landscape architecture for the roof garden. The team included: Foster + Partners | Tony Meadows Associates | Adamson Associates | Arup Engineering | Growth Industry