Residential · Roof gardens · Communal landscapes
Forest Hill, London
Sensitive communal landscapes and elevated roof gardens for a contemporary art-deco inspired residential development.
Project overview
Communal landscapes shaped around architecture and woodland character
Set within a leafy London suburb, Forest Hill brings together 16 executive apartments arranged within architecture that blends art-deco references with modern minimalism. The external environment needed to reflect this hybrid character, while responding to a steep site framed by woodland.
The landscape strategy creates a sequence of communal spaces — from ground-level terraces for sitting, gathering and play, to upper intensive roof gardens with aromatics, small trees and elevated long views across the city. Each level has its own identity but is unified through sensitive planting, materiality and a clear respect for the semi-woodland setting.
Tags
Residential design Roof gardens Communal amenity Biodiversity Steep sites
Project snapshot
- Client
- Private developer
- Location
- Forest Hill, London
- Scope
- Concept to detailed landscape design for communal gardens, terraces and intensive roof gardens
- Key elements
- Tiered terraces · Roof gardens · Aromatics & small trees · Play pockets · Biodiversity-led planting
The challenge
Working with a steep urban plot and a sensitive local vernacular
The development sits on a pronounced slope, restricting how spaces could be arranged and limiting opportunities for large communal zones. High-rise living also places extra pressure on providing meaningful, accessible outdoor spaces that feel generous despite the compact footprint.
There was a need to respect the local character — a blend of suburban houses and woodland edges — while integrating a contemporary architectural language. Balancing levels, structure, screening and usability required a careful combination of engineering and refined planting design.
Outcomes
Sensitive response to site and context
The landscape scheme honours the site’s history, its leafy surroundings and its semi-woodland character.
Usable spaces at all levels
Ground-level terraces and rooftop gardens provide varied amenity for relaxation, socialising, play and urban food-growing.
Enhanced biodiversity
Native and near-native species, aromatics and structural planting create habitat pockets across multiple levels.
A cohesive environment that complements the architecture
Landscape and building work together to form a calm, contemporary development with a strong sense of place.