From the article:
Blue sky thinking for London's newest green space: Incredible public rooftop garden boasts spectacular 360 views of the city from 15 floors above the busy streets below.
A new roof garden from which Londoners can enjoy their extraordinary city-scape from in amongst its towering buildings, beneath the shade of winding wisteria trees, has opened to the public.
Fen Court, a 15-story development in the shadow of the looming Walkie Talkie in the City of London's eastern district, has now opened the doors of it's free-to-access roof garden to the public.
The space, called 'The Garden at 120' sits atop the 427,000 sq ft office and retail development by Eric Parry Architects, which incorporates locations known as 10 Fenchurch Avenue, One Fen Court and 120 Fenchurch Street.
On the rooftop of Fen Court the architects worked with German firm Latz + Partner to create The Garden at 120 which now becomes the City of London’s largest roof top space open to the public.
Whereas the Shard costs £27 to visit and the Walkie Talkie's sky garden can only be entered with advance reservation, anyone can enter the building and take the lift up to The Garden At 120 (subject to a bag check) and it has a capacity for 200 people at a time.
The 2,800 sq m roof garden includes planting inspired by English country gardens, with fruit trees trained to grow flat against the walls and trellises, a water feature, and a perimeter walk that gives vistas of London’s skyline.
Mature Italian wisteria climbs a canopy softening the structure which is designed to give shelter to visitors. Visitors will be able to enjoy a perimeter walk that gives vistas of London’s skyline.
Eric Parry, Founder and Principal of Eric Parry Architects, said: 'Fen Court is a building that represents a sustained dialogue between the planning authority, the client and the architect to create a building that is more than the sum of its architectural parts.
'It is a civic as well as a commercial building and it creates a new convivial horizon within the emerging taller buildings of the Eastern cluster.'
Tina Paillet, Senior Executive at Generali Real Estate, said: 'It is a pleasure for Generali Real Estate to welcome the public to The Garden at 120.
'The garden is the crowning achievement of Fen Court, an innovative development where new technologies blend with tradition and nature to create a unique office and retail environment that will benefit both occupiers and visitors.
'The building is recognisable at a glance and is destined to become a City of London landmark. We hope that this peaceful garden, with its canopy of Wisteria provides a new refuge in the City, providing a place of calming respite for City workers as well as habitat for the city’s birds and insects.'
Chris Hayward, Planning and Transportation Committee Chairman at the City of London Corporation said Fen Court was an exemplar of the type of developments that the City of London’s draft local plan proposes for the future of the Square Mile, many of which are planned to have a free public space.