PROJECTS » BOW GREEN, LONDON
CITY LIVING, ROOTED IN NATURE
Perfectly positioned between the City, Canary Wharf and Stratford, Bow Green is a landmark St James (Berkeley Group) development that aims to offer residents the best of both worlds: the energy of the city wrapped in lush, landscaped tranquillity. Over 1,400 new homes are set within a rich landscape where greenery knits together dining experiences, workspaces, residents’ facilities and parkland, with an impressive earth sculpture forming a central focal point for the wider neighbourhood.
Within this context, internal amenity spaces were designed to feel like an exclusive private members’ club – complete with two swimming pools, spa facilities, an IMAX cinema, state‑of‑the‑art gym, and beautifully detailed lounges and workspaces. The ambition was to create interiors that matched the architectural quality and public realm, ensuring that residents experience a continuous biophilic narrative from street to suite.
St James engaged us early in the process to develop a cohesive planting concept for key interior spaces at Bow Green, including:
We worked with St James to support a wider vision in which greenery is integral to the architecture rather than an afterthought, visually tying the internal amenity spaces back to the landscaped courtyards and public realm. The scheme was developed to balance real and artificial planting in a deliberate way: live planting is placed wherever residents interact at close quarters, while high‑level and hard‑to‑access locations use carefully detailed artificial and preserved planting, including moss.
Alongside the visual concept, we contributed robust technical solutions to help the design team deliver the intent. This included resolving how planting could be fixed safely into slatted timber ceilings and other complex joinery, advising on waterproofing and linings for planters built into furniture, and addressing weight loading and substrate preparation for moss walls and overhead planting. Throughout the process, the team worked within St James’ commercial and design frameworks, aligning proposals with existing pricing structures, planting schedules and technical drawings, and supplying the information needed to support internal approvals.
THE SOLUTION:
1. Biophilic concept for residents’ club‑style amenities
Bow Green is marketed as a place where residents can enjoy both the energy of the city and the calm of nature. Our planting strategy supports that by focusing on key amenity spaces:
The intent is that moving from landscaped gardens, through shared spaces and into apartments feels like a continuous, nature‑informed experience.
2. Strategic mix of real, artificial and preserved planting
Working with St James’ technical and commercial teams, we defined a clear strategy for each planting type:
This combination keeps residents surrounded by greenery where it matters most, while making the scheme deliverable, compliant and sustainable to operate.
3. Technical resolution for designers and architects
Beyond the visual concept, we helped resolve key technical interfaces for the design team:
4. Commercial clarity and long-term thinking
Following handover, our continued maintenance work helps protect both the resident experience and the original design intent, giving the project team confidence that the scheme will continue to perform as intended over time.
THE RESULTS:
A coherent biophilic experience
At Bow Green, the planting and moss wall scheme extends the landscape language into the building so that residents move from streets, parks and courtyards into communal spaces that still feel green and calm. From concierge to lounge, pool and library, every key touchpoint is softened by planting and supports the development’s promise of city energy wrapped in landscaped tranquillity.
Design intent carried through delivery
For the design team, the project shows how early collaboration with a specialist can turn ambitious visualisations into buildable reality. Technical issues such as slatted ceilings, complex joinery, waterproofing and loading were resolved without diluting the original concept, and costs were presented with clear options so value‑engineering didn’t undermine the biophilic story.
A reference for amenity‑led schemes
The combination of a strategic mix of real, artificial and preserved planting, robust detailing and a planned maintenance partnership makes Bow Green a strong reference point for future amenity‑rich residential projects where landscape, architecture and interiors are expected to work as one.
LET’S COLLABORATE:
If you’re designing or delivering a scheme where planting can elevate communal spaces and enhance the overall experience for residents and visitors, Benholm can support you from early design development through to installation and long-term care.
To start a conversation, call us on 01324 861300 or email sales@benholm.com
