This mixed-use office and residential development designed by Farrells for British Land is close to Regent’s Park but is set within a dense urban location. Green roofs extend along three different building blocks of various heights and amount to a total area of 2,500m2. The design concept was to improve the occupiers’ health and wellbeing, enhance the urban environment and landscape setting as well as enhance the buildings’ marketability. This holistic design approach also enabled the client to meet its Biodiversity Action Plan objectives.
The design layout comprises a mosaic of different habitatsthat were developed to encourage flora and fauna as well as provide an attractive and accessible outdoor space for workers. The significance of the mosaic pattern, formed by geometric elements, is to ensure that all substrate types have a maximised edge surface, in return increasing the ecological biodiversity opportunities. Substrate and plant communities were designed to support both the clients and London’s BAP priority species such as the black redstart and house sparrow.
The design and its execution have been successful in ensuring that the roof is valuable both from a biodiversity point of view and in being attractive throughout the year.
Credits as supplied: Arup (landscape architect), British Land and Terry Farrell and Partners.
