Having completed the first phase at Salford E3, we returned to complete the extent of the podium works. As you can see from the images the finishes ranged from wooden planters to artificial turf.
The project has been running throughout this year and we have carefully finished each section to give a clean and neat appearance to the podium deck. The main issue with landscaping on top of concrete decks is efficiently draining water from the roof. To overcome this we install protective layers and drainage board across the roof before we start to build up to the finished levels. We then use permeable methods to increase the depth to the required height before adding each of the finishes.
We used both block paving and paving slabs to distinguish between individual balconies and different sections of the communal areas. It is important that all paving laid onto the roof is porous to avoid pooling and potential slip hazards. As well as the different paving finishes, we installed decking with a pergola for climbing plants to grow up and an area of artificial grass. This gives an amenity area for the residents to enjoy without the need for regular and expensive maintenance that a turf lawn would have done.
Finally, we installed an area of sedum blanket to provide an eye catching floral display in the summer and lush green ground cover in the winter. The planters you can see in the photos were planted with a variety of different species to give a range of colours throughout the year and finished with ornamental bark mulch to give a tidy and contemporary finish. The planters also feature benches on the end to provide a place for the residents to sit.
We are extremely proud of this project and although some elements were a challenge, we look forward to taking on more podiums as the finished result was striking.
If you would like to have a look at the first phase of this project, take a look at our original case study: