A benchmark for the future of workplace design, the new headquarters for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, based in Canary Wharf, is a haven of greenery and has successfully created a working environment that encourages calm.

The client: The European Bank  for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

The location: Canary Wharf, London

The dates: Design phase: April – November 2021. Install phase: July – October 2022

With the goal of creating communal spaces heavily focused on the restoring effects of biophilic design, the client came to us with a vision of organic and natural style planting that still felt considered and architectural in its form.

Working very closely with the architects; Perkins & Will, and the contractors; Overbury, we got to work on developing an interior planting scheme that would bring the EBRD’s vision to life.

One of our top priorities when designing the scheme was to select interior planting with a lush and organic look and feel but integrate it in a way that works seamlessly with the architecture of the space, giving the whole interior scheme a polished and considered finish.

We collaborated with the joinery contractors working on the project to ensure that the planting could be integrated within fixed elements of the interior such as seating and counter tops. Not only did this help to make the greenery feel woven into the interior, but it ensured that we could deliver planters that were fit for purpose.

Another priority for this project was working towards achieving the accreditations they hoped for, making sure that our planting scheme covered any necessary requirements. Collaborating with the design team from the early stages of the process was integral in helping us to understand the building needs, the limitations, and the programme we needed to adhere to, something that may have been much harder if we were appointed later in the design stages.

When choosing plant species, Perkins & Will and Overbury joined us on a trip to our supplier nurseries in Holland to pick out key trees and plants for the spaces; these were then shipped at differing times according to the programme so we could install them at their prime. The plants used across the project were chosen with specific details in mind, ensuring that we achieved the exact look the client was aiming for. We also opted for the use of completely real and natural preserved plants, which allowed us to feature greenery in high-level spaces without the need for traditional plant maintenance.

The close collaboration with the architecture and contractor team, the highly considered choice of plants, and the design-led finish throughout the space resulted in a hugely successful result for this project which we loved working on. Plus, with another of our projects located in the same building, our plants now occupy all floors of this Canary Wharf office space, making it one of the greenest in the capital.

Biophilic design really does help to create successful workspaces of the future, not only in terms of aesthetics, but also in building environments that nurture the wellbeing of users.