11
July
2022
|
10:24
Europe/London

Reflection Garden reveals new view of St Paul’s

A new public garden opposite St Paul’s Cathedral has been unveiled.

The focal point of the garden at 25 Cannon Street is a reflection pool, creating a double view of St Paul’s dome as it is mirrored in the water.

A collaboration between the City of London Corporation, international real estate company Pembroke and landscape design practice Tom Stuart-Smith, the Reflection Garden will complement the City Corporation’s plans to ensure the Square Mile is a vibrant destination for leisure as well as work.

The City Corporation recently announced a bold new vision for the future of the Square Mile – Destination City – to ensure it remains a world-leading location for workers, visitors and residents.

Seating around the reflective pool immersed in the garden will provide a tranquil space for City workers, visitors and tourists to enjoy a green oasis with local wildlife and views of St Paul’s Cathedral.

Seasonal planting - responding to changing climate conditions - plus flowering species, bird and bat boxes and insect hotels will improve biodiversity. As well as highlighting St Paul’s, the reflection pool provides urban cooling.

The Reflection Garden forms part of a refurbishment of 25 Cannon Street by Pembroke, alongside new retail and hospitality space, which the City Corporation’s Planning and Transportation Committee gave the green light to in 2020.

The newly refurbished 25 Cannon Street – designed by award-winning architecture practice Buckley Grey Yeoman – will provide high-quality office space to meet the needs of today’s urban workforce, with the majority of the office space already assigned to global law firm Dechert on a 15-year lease.

In line with the City Corporation’s Climate Action Strategy, sustainability was central to 25 Cannon Street’s redesign. The building will be able to operate on renewable power and targets the highest energy efficiency rating, while embodied carbon emissions were reduced throughout the construction process. Thanks to the public garden and new roof terrace, the Urban Greening Factor has been raised from 0.29 to 0.49.

Chairman of the Planning and Transportation Committee, Shravan Joshi, said:

“Schemes like 25 Cannon Street are at the heart of the City’s recovery. It will deliver urban greening and exceptional new public space that can be enjoyed by all.

“The recently-unveiled Reflection Garden – making the most of stunning views of St Paul’s with a reflection pool in its centre – complements our vision for Destination City to attract workers and visitors alike.

“Sustainability and accessibility have been at the core of this refurbishment, with measures to reduce carbon emissions and prioritise wellbeing.”

Chair of the Property Investment Board, Andrien Meyers, said:

“The newly-refurbished 25 Cannon Street is a welcome addition to the Square Mile’s top-quality office, retail and leisure offering.

“In particular, the City Corporation was pleased to support the Reflection Garden where both workers and visitors can enjoy views of an iconic London landmark. 

“With most of the office space already let, it is clear that recovery is well underway and we hope schemes like this will continue to draw people back into the City post-pandemic.”

Nick Moldon, Senior Vice President and Head of UK and Germany at Pembroke, said:

“We’re very proud to contribute to the City’s green spaces with our re-imagined Reflection Garden - an important oasis for visitors and the urban community to connect with nature.

“Our vision for the 25 Cannon Street project was to enrich the experience of this neighbourhood, by creating modern new workspaces and adding to the vibrant food & dining scene on Watling Street, while also providing space for people to enjoy the wellbeing benefits of a tranquil garden and encouraging biodiversity in this corner of the City.”

Tom Stuart-Smith said:

“The revived garden at 25 Cannon St makes a unique contribution to the mosaic of green spaces and gardens around St. Paul’s Cathedral. And it is very exciting to be able to celebrate Wren’s magnificent dome by making its reflection an almost surreal, but contemplative centrepiece to this calm green space. I hope it will be a resource for City workers and tourists for years to come.’’

 

ENDS

Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

 

 

Image credits:

Stuart Bailey Photography

 

Image captions:

  1. Shravan Joshi (City Corporation Planning and Transportation Committee Chairman), Andrien Meyers (Property Investment Board Chair), Nick Moldon (Senior Vice President and Head of UK and Germany at Pembroke), Tom Stuart-Smith (Garden design practice) planting final plants in garden.
  2. View of St Paul’s from garden
  3. Reflection pool
  4. Visitors enjoying a moment of calm in the garden
  5. Visitors taking selfies capturing reflection of St Paul’s in pool