Ian Barker Gardens was commissioned by Pentana Solutions to design and construct a relaxing, social space for their staff to utilise while at work. This was a fantastic creative opportunity for our design team as this garden just happened to be situated on a rooftop, offering the chance to create something truly spectacular…and a little quirky.

A square expanse of synthetic turf bordered by garden beds of mixed planting in the south-east corner of the rooftop provides the perfect place for gatherings or perhaps even some group exercise classes.

In the north-east corner of the garden, a vintage Fiat car sits on a bed of natural planting, injecting an element of fun and whimsy to the garden. A timber deck with block seating and a timber walkway edged with bench seats provides ample space for staff to sit and relax or mingle in the garden surrounded by beautiful plants.

The planting palette for this rooftop garden consists of naturalistic plants in gorgeous copper tones, such as helenium ‘mahogany’, sanguisorba ‘tanna’, achilla ‘terracotta’, and calamagrostis ‘kar foerster’. These plants were chosen to provide stunning warm colours and interesting textures throughout the seasons, providing the team at Pentana with a magnificent space in which to relax and enjoy nature.

The north-side of the rooftop features a large area of paving and a strip of turf, flanked by a hedge contained in large rectangular planter troughs. Dividing this area from a row of timber benches and tables is a giant chessboard made of turf and pavers. A steel pergola with a retractable awning covers the entire area, ensuring the space can be enjoyed in all weather conditions.

We are thrilled that Pentana Solutions entrusted our team with such a creative opportunity and we’re sure that they will enjoy the fruits of our labour and love for many, many years to come. We are also very pleased to be maintaining this spectacular garden and in doing so look forward to seeing it grow and come to fruition.

Photography by Claire Takacs.

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