EcoWorld Ballymore has celebrated a milestone in the future of London housing as their visionary, botanical development, Wardian London officially ‘topped out.’
Overlooking the South Dock and adjacent to Canary Wharf, the 57-storey residential-led development set to complete in 2020 is a world’s first in housing design by offering residents access to a green, tranquil escape in one of London’s busiest and in-demand commercial neighbourhoods.
EcoWorld Ballymore celebrated the development’s unique connection to the natural world with a special moment, which saw resident gardener, Huw Morgan tending to the exotic plants and trees within what will be the building’s 53rd-floor sky garden when complete.
With residents set to move in to their new homes in 2020, the ceremony was a significant landmark for Wardian London. The developer’s vision for a green escape from Canary Wharf’s urban landscape first started in 2016, when construction of the large-scale housing project began. Following completion, the development will offer residents a unique opportunity to benefit from green spaces whilst being just minutes away from one of London’s most vibrant and well-connected commercial centres.
Designed in collaboration with Glenn Howells Architects, Wardian London comprises two residential towers of 55 and 50-storeys which contain 766 homes including suites, one and two-bedroom apartments and penthouses. Instantly recognisable by their generous wrap-around balconies and slender profiles, the towers land onto a two-storey podium, housing a grand lobby, pool, and restaurant and retail outlets. Throughout the development, Wardian cases (glass terrariums) can be found filled with exotics trees and plants, many of which are completely new to the UK.
Residents are openly encouraged to enter and explore the different cases and the plants within, which have matured alongside the project due to being procured up to 2 years prior to installation. Every resident will also become a member of The Wardian Club, allowing access to exclusive facilities including a 25m open-air swimming pool, gym, cinema, two restaurants and a vibrant rooftop observatory.
Wardian London will create a serene escape from Canary Wharf’s dense, urban environment; integrating indoor and outdoor living, connecting residents with the beauty of nature and bringing botanical beauty to this part of the capital.
Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Liew Kee Sin, Executive Vice Chairman, EcoWorld International, said: “It has been a great pleasure to see the development take shape and become one of the most highly-anticipated housing developments in London, and I am delighted to be able to celebrate its topping-out – a momentous occasion for EcoWorld Ballymore.”
Sean Mulryan, Chairman & Group Chief Executive of Ballymore Group added: “Ballymore has owned the site on which Wardian now stands for 25 years so it brings me great joy to see these two beautiful new towers standing on what has been such an underutilised space for so long. This is a huge milestone for the development and we cannot wait to see the first units completed and first residents moving in early next year. We have worked closely with Glenn Howells Architects to create a building that is beautiful on the inside and out, a sleek, geometric exterior gives way to a luscious, green oasis inside. Moments from urban, commercial Canary Wharf, Wardian creates a place to breathe and we are incredibly proud of what has been achieved.”