We were asked to design a new roof garden for Orms architects’ refurbishment and extension of Commonwealth House at No 1 New Oxford Street. The nine-storey prow clock tower of the 1939 building, originally designed by Henry Philip Cart De Lafontaine, is an unmistakable mid-town London landmark. The refurbished art deco building was launched in November 2017, providing new retail and office space.
1 New Oxford Street
“The success of our design relies on the attention to detail and the careful planting.”
01 Our Vision
The roof garden is designed to be used as a recreational space by occupants of the building, and for informal events, and capitalises on its views over the West End.
02 Our Process
This project was all about attention to detail, and being able to accomplish a sophisticated result in a short amount of time.
03 The Outcome
We’ve created a new rooftop garden for users of the building, which is as pleasing to sit in with a lunchtime sandwich as it is for after-work gatherings. The success of our design relies on small details such as the different joint sizes between the slats for benches, tables and bar; the ribbed texture of the planters; and the careful selection of plants. The refurbished building won a 2018 RIBA London Award.