Biodiversity

How can we adapt our cities for the coming challenges with rising water levels? ​The Coastal Path is a solution for the flood protection line to protect Vejle from storm surges and rising sea water level. Additional land is added to the current edge in a form of nature basins connected by three paths meandering between the different levels. The proposed paths and basins are designed to secure the coastal elevation until 2100.  The paths create a missing link between the city (the harbor and the city center) and the nature of Vejle Fjord and The Deer Park forest. Currently, the recreational experience is disturbed by the presence of heavy traffic and the train tracks. The Coastal Path and raised landscaping act as an intelligent buffer... More

Snug opposite Shakespeare's Globe, favourably positioned on a 6th floor up-close landmark views, this Mediterranean roof garden enjoys vistas of St Paul’s behind it & Tate, the Globe & Millennium & Southwark Bridges in front. Situated in EC4, this compact  rooftop garden features a redolent,verdant cascade of Mediterranean plant species & cosy Manutti sofas.  Marianne Majerus With our clients in Portugal for parts of the year, this rooftop echoes their Mediterranean lifestyle. The plants endure well in this 360-degree sunny and windy prospect, resisting River Thames’ airstreams, heat & pollution.     Marianne Majerus   The breadth of iconic landmarks provides architectura... More

Our first biodiverse roof garden way back in summer 2014 was driven by two major factors: the lack of greenery in the street beneath, and the clients’ adoration in their countryside garden. Perched above the junction of Old Street & Goswell Road in trendy Clerkenwell EC1, the rooftop garden is oblong, spanning a 20-metre length x 3 metres. We created a sibling rooftop on the top level of this duplex penthouse to grow fruit & vegetables. To alleviate this oblongness, we designed 3 zones defined by surface changes from decking to sandstone and grass. Each area features its own planting style: the deck has shrubs, the stone herbs and the grass native trees. Marianne Majerus With 70 plant species, biodiversity is extensive... More

Snug brightly on the 6th floor of the Ziggurat Building in Saffron Hill, London EC1, this art deco roof garden, albeit only 30 sqm in size, is one of the most unique projects we’ve created. Amir Schlezinger With a barrister client who’s an ornithologist & pianist, we were invited to develop the terrace back in 2013. We resurfaced the roof terrace with Balau hardwood decking and black granite paving, detailed with angular LED strip lighting. Amir Schlezinger Bespoke cavity planters, positioned overlooking the city increase spatial depth, let daylight in and feature LED lights which generate a warm glow. The skyline features The Barbican, Shard, Cheese Grater & St Paul’s. Amir Schlezinger Over the y... More

Perched mid-height at the heart of Central London in Holborn, this natural roof garden is all about Mother Nature. Brimming with sprawling plants & teeming with denizen wildlife, this space is a London retreat for our Australian clients who run a large reserve in Brogers Creek, NSW.  Amir Schlezinger Amir Schlezinger Ablaze in autumn, redolent in winter, energised in spring & full of summer festivities, this untamed roof garden celebrates nature full-on. Urban roof terraces are where environmental stewardship is so vital, to support fauna with biodiversity, sympathetic maintenance & recyclable materials, as we should nurse, safeguard & conserve nature. Amir Schlezinger Amir Schlezinger 30 bespoke p... More

Perched high above the picturesque North Downs in Surrey, south of London, this lush roof garden is a biodiverse oasis for both owners & wildlife. Featuring an abundance of biota-friendly species, grown in 50 bespoke planters, there’s focal interest in every season. The bespoke planters create 3 main zones for displaying modern sculpture by the keen art collectors clients, placed symmetrically within perpendicular troughs as key focal points. Our clients have downsized into a brand-new modern penthouse apartment from a large country home, where this roof garden is of great importance for well-being, socialising & displaying art. Amir Schlezinger Amir Schlezinger The planters are made from 3mm high-grade aluminium a... More

Completed in fall 2022, this large roof garden maximises biodiversity to the fullest, with abundant wildlife-friendly species for all seasons. Designed for a commercial investment bank, the 160sqm roof garden is part of 3 roof terraces abounding in architectural trees, shrubs & grasses. Using native meadow perennials, we’ve paired these with grasses to create a lavish city grassland, situated behind the Bank of England, with stunning city views above the centre of London, framing vistas of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Shard and the Walkie-Talkie. Caption Caption At 160sqm, this roof garden features biodiverse planting in 45 bespoke planters of varying sizes to accommodate dense planting of increasing scales. We specia... More

Benjakitti Park is an urban park located in the former Tobacco factory area, owned by The Treasury Department, Ministry of Finance. The site covers 720,000 sq.m. After The Tobacco factory was relocated, the site was developed to become an urban park in Bangkok. Royal Thai Army - 1st Development Division The design concepts are, firstly, to improve public understanding and knowledge about the ecology, forest, hydrology, and environment to the urban community. Secondly, to become ‘Initiative’ of Ecological Park Development. Lastly, to serve the urban communities and preserve the ecological environment of the city retaining the 128,000 cu.m. of water in the rainy season and producing clean water 1,600 cu.m./ day. Royal Tha... More

Sited on the edge of Brent’s Wembley Estate Opportunity Area, GRID Architects have designed and delivered Wembley Parade for Anthology, part of Lifestory.  © Jack Hobhouse The striking curved forms provide 192 new homes across a range of tenures and typologies, set within beautiful communal gardens that trace the edge of the nearby Wealdstone Brook. Wembley Parade contributes to an area that is developing into a great place to live and work, knitting into the London Borough of Brent’s strategic regeneration proposals. The scheme is comprised of two elements, a sweeping curved block which follows the edge of the brook and a dynamic 13-storey tower. A landscaped courtyard designed by Fabrik creates 18,500 sq ft of... More

As part of the Our Energy Our Landscape design challenge, a multidisciplinary team comprised of VenhoevenCS, DS landschapsarchitecten, and Studio Solarix developed a unique and innovative proposal that generates renewable energy while restoring natural connective routes for wildlife. The design for an ultra-light web over the motorway was created for the challenge location in the Netherlands, but it can easily be applied to other sites to become an important part of the sustainability of infrastructure and transport projects globally. This proposal offers a helping hand to small-scale ecosystems and in so doing contributes to a large-scale approach to climate change and biodiversity loss, hence The Butterfly Effect. VenhoevenCS Insect... More