Societe Generale: Case Study

Located in the busy financial district of Canary Wharf, this leading financial group houses their headquarters in a state of the art building with an outstanding BREEAM rating, making it one of the most environmentally friendly buildings in the area.

With the vision of an extensive biophilic design scheme that surrounded occupants with nature, we were given the brief to integrate approximately 10,000 plants into the interior design of this London headquarters. With the clients originally requesting 80% of the planting to be replica, Plant Designs strongly advised on the viability of live planting due to the building’s natural light and good air flow, not to mention the host of benefits that come with live planting. One of the biggest projects Plant Designs has ever worked on, we had the pleasure of working on the yearlong design development process, with a 12-week installation plan at the end.

To ensure that the client’s brief was met, our design scheme prioritised achieving green visuals at every turn throughout the building in order to give users a natural and calming feel. To do this, we used a wide range of planting methods and styles, from large integrated planters and living walls through to freestanding pots and even planters built into the floor, this project showcases it all!

With the planting being spread across a huge 8 floors of the building, it was important that we assessed each space and designed the scheme with this in mind to ensure that the plants needs were met, and they were able to thrive in the space they had been allocated to.

Aftercare of the plants once they had been installed was a key consideration during the design process and one of the ways in which Plant Designs makes this process smoother is with the use of Vulkaponic in all plants. Vulkaponic is a mineral mixture that not only provides plants with nutrients but also helps with water retention, allowing the plants to retain what they need between visits from our team of expert horticulturists.

As well as the layouts and methods of planting, the plant species used were also carefully considered, with hundreds of different species being selected for the final design. The reception area features large Ficus trees, chosen for both their size and horticultural compatibility with the space, not to mention they make beautiful feature pieces. Meanwhile, other spaces use a range of branched plants such as Strelitzias and Dracaenas to add an architectural element of planting, and low growing plants such as Aglaonemas, Calatheas and Scindapsus to add colour and texture.

Regular design updates and progress meetings were key to keeping everyone in the loop, and when it came to sourcing, we paid a visit to our trusted growers in Holland where the clients and architects picked out their own trees for the space, allowing them to feel even more connected to the design.

Due to the volume of live plants, the process of installation required a strict level of organisation, with extensive planting plans created and executed by the Plant Designs install teams. Materials were prepped and delivered ahead of install days and two teams were onsite, with one team focused on logistics and ensuring the correct materials were available in the correct locations whilst the second team focused on the planting and finished look.

Ultimately this was a hugely successful project that allows users of the building the opportunity for a much-needed connection to nature during the daily stresses of London life. This has been reflected in the many awards and nominations the project has received. To find out more about how our Design & Build team can integrate planting into your interior design, get in touch today.