Created to promote sustainability, a green environment and excellence in architecture, the Wardian in London's Canary Wharf has opened its doors to its first residents. The scheme, which comprises two sleek towers engufled in gardens, is designed by Glenn Howells Architects and developed by EcoWorld Ballymore.
The project places an emphasis on plants and green spaces, inspired by 19th century physician and botanist Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward, who invented the Wardian Case – a box used to transport plants across the globe. Drawing on the idea of nature and preservation, the design is filled with environmentally friendly techniques and gardens.
‘The mental and physical health benefits of biophillic design and green spaces is being increasingly recognised and Wardian is a unique gem in one of the capital’s most cosmopolitan and commercial areas,' says the design team.
Landscaping has been curated by Huw Morgan. This includes planted spaces within the residences, but also the communal areas, which house more than a hundred different species of rare flowers and plants. Much of the green areas are enveloped in contemporary glass cases for both protection and visibility, evoking iconic London’s historic conservatories, such as ones at Kew Gardens and the Barbican.
The towers span 55 and 50-storeys respectively and contain over 700 homes of varied sizes. Every unit has its own private garden. Clean, modernist-inspired architecture playfully contrasts the organic, natural element in the complex. World class amenities complement each apartment, and residents automatically become members of The Wardian Club on site.
Apart from the presence and promotion of nature, Wardian also intends to reduce solar gain by its use of projecting terraces, and this strategy is projected to help natural cooling in the short and long term. Additionally, making the most of the power of plants, the development's gardens also support sustainability strategies by naturally cooling the air and providing shade.
INFORMATION
-
'I wanted to create an object that invited you to interact': Tej Chauhan on his Rado watch designDiastar Original which Rado first released in 1962 has become synonymous with elegant comfort and effortless display of taste. Tej Chauhan reconsiders its signature silhouette and texture on the intersection of innovation and heritage
-
High in the Giant Mountains, this new chalet by edit! architects is perfect for snowy sojournsIn the Czech Republic, Na Kukačkách is an elegant upgrade of the region's traditional chalet typology
-
'It offers us an escape, a route out of our own heads' – Adam Nathaniel Furman on public artWe talk to Adam Nathaniel Furman on art in the public realm – and the important role of vibrancy, colour and the power of permanence in our urban environment
-
'It offers us an escape, a route out of our own heads' – Adam Nathaniel Furman on public art
We talk to Adam Nathaniel Furman on art in the public realm – and the important role of vibrancy, colour and the power of permanence in our urban environment
-
Is this reimagined 1980s brick building the answer to future living?Architects Bureau de Change revamped this Euston building by reusing and reimagining materials harvested from the original – an example of a low-carbon retrofit, integrated into the urban context
-
Wallpaper* Architect Of The Year 2026: Je Ahn of Studio Weave on a building that made him smileWe ask our three Architects of the Year at the 2026 Wallpaper* Design Awards about a building that made them smile. Here, Je Ahn of Studio Weave discusses Can Lis in Mallorca
-
You can soon step inside David Bowie’s childhood homeBy 2027, Bowie’s childhood home will be restored to its original 1960s appearance, including the musician’s bedroom, the launchpad for his long career
-
Welcome to The Float House, proof that life on London’s canals can be warm and elegantMoored on London’s Grand Union Canal, The Float House, designed by TiggColl Architects, reimagines what a houseboat can be
-
Wallpaper* Design Awards: this rammed-earth house in Wiltshire is an eco exemplarTuckey Design Studio’s rammed-earth house in the UK's Wiltshire countryside stands out for its forward-thinking, sustainable building methods – which earned it a place in our trio of Best Use of Material winners at the 2026 Wallpaper* Design Awards
-
Fulham FC’s new Riverside Stand by Populous reshapes the match-day experience and beyondPopulous has transformed Fulham FC’s image with a glamorous new stand, part of its mission to create the next generation of entertainment architecture, from London to Rome and Riyadh
-
This modern Clapham house is nestled indulgently in its gardenA Clapham house keeps a low profile in south London, at once merging with its environment and making a bold, modern statement; we revisit a story from the Wallpaper* archives
