This weekend sees Canary Wharf’s Crossrail Place Roof Garden join the line-up for Open Garden Squares Weekend (OGSW), an annual London event that encourages the public to explore the capital’s picturesque urban gardens. This exotic garden hidden amongst towering buildings will host a wide-ranging programme of free events over the weekend, epitomising OGSW’s aims to promote enjoyment and appreciation of London’s green spaces, wherever they are found amidst the urban jungle.
The roof garden was designed by landscape architects Gillespies and visitors can learn about how its layout pays homage to Canary Wharf’s maritime heritage. The site originally known as West India Dock was created to be a secure dock for precious cargoes of sugar, rum and spices.
The roof garden’s location, almost directly on the Meridian Line, is reflected in its design and its division into two geographical zones. For example, Japanese Maples and Bamboo can be found in the east of the garden and New Zealand tree ferns in the west.
Alongside the activities programme, which will include free classical music and guided garden tours from Landscape Manager Alec Butcher, visitors can also enjoy an exhibition by artist Debbie Ayles entitled ‘Dynamic City: Reflections in Canary Wharf’ (pictured). London-born artist Debbie created a series of paintings inspired by the buildings at Canary Wharf, which are presented as part of the London Festival of Architecture 2018, whose theme this year explores the interpretation of individual identity and deconstructing a city environment.
Open House Families
Across the same weekend, Canary Wharf will also be hosting a series of 13 workshops as part of the Open House Families initiative. The new festival, designed by charity Open City, aims to inspire the next generation of architects, who will hopefully one day make their own mark on London’s skyline.
Children and families will have the opportunity to participate in a range of immersive events, including Al Dente Engineering which calls for participants to experiment with different pasta to create the ultimate structure and a race against the clock to build the biggest and best LEGO structure. Times vary for all workshops from 11am-4pm across the weekend.
For more information on the above events at Canary Wharf, please visit: www.canarywharf.com
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press Office
Canary Wharf Group plc
T: 020 7418 2166
E: pressoffice@canarywharf.com
Notes to Editors
** Enjoy 3 hours’ free** parking in any of our public car parks when you spend £10 at any of our shops, cafés, bars or restaurants. Simply ask for your ticket to be validated at point of purchase and use in the pay on foot machines before returning to your car.
EVENT DETAILS:
Open Garden Squares Weekend
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 June
Sat 10am-6pm / Sun 11am-6pm
Crossrail Place Roof Garden
London, E14
FREE
Open House Families
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 June
11am-4pm
Various locations
London, E14
FREE
Dynamic City: Reflections in Canary Wharf
Until Saturday 30 June
Daily
Crossrail Place Roof Garden
London, E14
FREE
About Canary Wharf Group:
Canary Wharf Group has already achieved one of the greatest ever feats of civil engineering, turning a once derelict Docklands into 97 acres of London’s, and the world’s, most sought after office and retail space.
Canary Wharf Group plc has overseen the largest urban regeneration project ever undertaken in Europe, designing and building more than 16.5m sq ft of London real estate, which now houses local and international companies and renowned retailers.
The Canary Wharf Estate is a major retail destination comprising around 1m sq ft across five shopping malls, including the award-winning leisure development, Crossrail Place, housing one of London’s most stunning roof gardens. It also has world-class, year-round arts and events performed throughout the estate.
Canary Wharf Group is a wholly owned joint venture between Brookfield Property Partners and the Qatar investment Authority.
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