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(2015 - 2019)
Soft landscape design
Client: Viridis / McLaren
With: East architects (hard landscape)
AHMM architects (building)
Civic Trust Awards Regional Finalist 2019

JCLA were commissioned to provide soft landscape design and tree planting expertise for this new office development in a prime site in central London.

The project required the removal of significant London Plane trees from Farringdon Road. After close investigation, 3 were able to be retained. Replacement trees with sub-surface soil crate systems were planted on the main site and on other sites within the borough of Islington to mitigate this loss, requiring extensive surveys and close collaboration with the contractor.

The rear side of The Ray building steps back across 7-storeys to form a series of accessible terraces, dropping down to the valley of the buried River Fleet. Each of these terraces is planted, providing visual amenity & delight and a haven for wildlife and ecology in this central city site. JCLA devised the concept of a ‘city valley edge’; lush, abundant terraces flank a central grass spine, with evergreen species providing shelter on the lower terraces, and a high meadow style planting to the topmost level.