Barbican Beech Gardens, London

Pink Allium and other flowers surrounded by residential buildings
project profile data
Area: Approx. 2,000 m²
Year of refurbishment: 2015
Landscape architect: Nigel Dunnett, University of Sheffield
The Landscape Agency, York
Contractor: Pritchard & Pritchard Ltd., Richmond
System build-up: “Roof Garden“ with Floradrain® FD 60

Beech Gardens, as part of the Barbican Estate in the City of London was laid out in the 1970 and required a refurbishment and replanting in 2015. Based on a new design concept the requirements to meet were the reduction of maintenance needs and the removal of the permanent irrigation system to decrease water consumption significantly. So the landscape architects opted for a naturalistic meadow-like flower-rich vegetation, however, robust and drought-resistant enough to tolerate low water availability and requiring only little maintenance throughout the year. In addition, the long-proven ZinCo system build-up “Roof Garden” with FD 60 – thanks to its high water retention capacity – was the ideal solution to provide for a balanced water-air supply, to drain off excess water and at the same time store sufficient water given the absence of any additional irrigation.

  • View onto a roof garden in London
    Beech Gardens provide recreational green space in the City of London.
  • Meadow-like vegetation with Ornamental Leek
    Varying planting schemes provide colour and interest throughout the year.
  • Flowering meadow surrounded by buildings
    The meadow-like flower-rich vegetation requires only little maintenance.
  • Plant beds with flowers and water feature surrounded by residential bocks
    Various seating areas encourage visitors to rest and enjoy the views.
  • Kniphofia "Tawney King" and Euphorbia
    The main planting type across the site are colourful mixtures of grasses and perennials.
  • Birch trees amidst flowers and surrounded by residential blocks
    Small trees were planted in parts of the roof to add structure and more brightness.