The Water Gardens

Built

Refolo Landscape Architects (R-LA)

A suspended 1960s iconic Brutalist podium deck garden in central London, two-thirds covered by a water feature. The design restored the Brutalist layout of the garden whilst providing innovation.

NEW LONDON AWARDS 2020

Shortlisted in the PLACEMAKING category and the WELLBEING PRIZE

A 5,000 sqm iconic Brutalist 1960s podium deck, two-thirds covered by water, in a semi-public communal courtyard serving 200 apartments, was in urgent need of repair. The design restored the original Brutalist layout with innovative contemporary solutions. These included a dynamic new paving design; a pedestrian priority road upgrade; contemporary jet water features; diverse terrestrial planting providing biodiversity, habitat, and food all year round; new aquatic shallow shelves to contain the vegetation substrate and promote wildlife breeding; and a new SuDS rain harvesting system.

Project information

Status

Built

Borough

Westminster

Size

5000 sq m

Completion

January 2019

Location

127 Edgware Rd, Tyburnia, London W2 2HT, UK

Team Credits