PALACE VIEW: ROOF TERRACE BRIEF

About / Vision:

Palace View, a residential development by Taylor Wimpey Central London, has recently completed build and welcomed its first residents. The scheme comprises 55 apartments, and offers amenities including gym, cinema room, and communal roof terrace with 360-degree views of London – including of House of Parliament, Lambeth Palace, and the City.

Taylor Wimpey Central London, advised by the Garden Museum, is inviting visions for a re-design of the terrace; this is open to design practices, including individuals, to landscape architects, and to contractors who include a design service.

The first residents have begun to enjoy the spectacular views from the terrace; we now wish the roof to become a garden.

This part of Lambeth, at the foot of Lambeth Bridge and beyond, has a horticultural heritage that includes the Garden Museum, Archbishop’s Gardens and Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Our intention for Palace View’s roof terrace is for it to become one of these hidden green spaces.

Uses for considerations:

The roof terrace must remain a communal space for the use of all residents and must cater for a number of uses for residents and their guests, consider the following as a guide:

Sunday morning:

A space that welcomes a resident looking for a quiet, calm spot to read the paper and drink a coffee on a Sunday morning.

Saturday summer drinks:

Imagine a warm summer evening, during which a resident invites a small group of friends for drinks while they enjoy the sunset.

New Year’s Eve fireworks:

The roof terrace offers incredible views of London’s fireworks. Consider an evening where residents invite friends and family for drinks/dinner, then ascend to the roof to watch one of the best annual displays in the world.

Existing parameters:

Please consider the following:

Height:

Views across the site from surrounding streets towards Big Ben are protected, so planting that substantially clears the balustrade particularly to the Eastern section should be avoided. The view must be maintained and not obstruct the views of surrounding residences, while also creating a sense of intimacy for those living at Palace View.

The glazed balustrade is 1.1m high and there are currently only four approved plants which exceed this – feather reed grass 1.5m tall. High restrictions can be investigated in more detail.

Fixtures and fittings:

The roof terrace is paved, the paving will stay as is, though designers may propose minor modifications.

Historical view:

A view taken from this by viewpoint in the 1640s by the artist Wenceslar Hollar is on display on the roof terrace. We have an illustrative image by W Hollar (dated 1707, reprint of 1647 plate) of the view towards Westminster which is on display on the roof terrace.

Budget:

For design, and installation: £15,000

For upkeep: residents’ service charge currently allocates approximately 30 hours per month maintenance of the existing garden; a redesign should look to stay within the perimeters of this.

About the process / timings:

A judging panel comprising Garden Museum and Taylor Wimpey Central London will select the winning design for installation in summer 2018.

Please confirm interest by 22nd June
Site viewing day 27^th June
Submit design proposal by 4^th July
Shortlisted presentations to take place 11^th July
Judges to make decision by 18^th July
Installation to take place in late July

Next steps:

View the roof garden plans:

Typical Roof Detail

Roof Plan

Rooftop Planting Plan

Rooftop Planting Plan2

Detailed Section Build Ups

Detailed Roof Section Build Ups

Rooftop General Arrangement Plan

Please provide your design proposal as a PDF file no larger than 20MB to twcl@luchfordapm.com.

Shortlisted applicants will be asked to present design proposals on a single A3 board at a 15minute presentation. Shortlisted applicants will also be asked to produce a single illustration which can be shared with press and residents.