Verde House is just one element in Croydon’s £3.5billion Vision 2020 regeneration to become the hub of living, retailing, culture and business in the South East. With input from Eco Green Roofs, Ltd (EGR), it is balancing highly urbanised living with an environment that engenders safe health & wellbeing.
Developed by Skillcrown for Optivo, Verde House in Cairo Road is in the heart of the suburb’s old town. Encircled by the local tramline and bisected by the six-lane A-road to the south coast, the £25m, 15-storey tower is still bringing a touch of green for residents through a smart podium solution to provide a community recreational space.
To meet planning conditions, the 1st and 4th floors feature a podium roof with grass area for recreational use, and further landscaping on the 14th floor, all of which encompassed hard landscaping. For design continuity, apartments with balconies have their external area paved with the same aesthetic finish. The project was delivered by EGR in partnership with roofing and waterproofing contractor Mid Kent Roofing, part of the Avonside Group.
EGR had to value engineer the architect-designed scheme to achieve the best end result that met the planning conditions, balanced with Health & Safety considerations- achieved during a strict and robust working environment as the project was delivered during Covid-19 pandemic.
The main communal amenity spaces needed to meet the needs of both adults and children whilst minimising maintenance. EGR constructed a base of appropriate drainage boards and fleece over the insulated roof, overlaid with paving, planters and artificial grass to achieve the low maintenance requirement. Bespoke powder coated steel planters completed the project.
It was a condition of the planning for Verde House that, being part of the Old Town Masterplan, there was provision for an improved public realm, with hard and soft landscaping. This is intended to help fulfil the human health & wellbeing criterium of a “better living environment with enriched urban spaces to improve mental and physical wellbeing”
Commented Steve Cayford of Mid Kent Roofing:
“We have a proven relationship with Eco Green Roofs. We know we can rely on them to work in partnership with all involved to deliver the best solution that balances the vision for the scheme aesthetics with the practicalities of construction and ongoing maintenance and management.”
Added Remzi Ahmed, Construction Director at Skillcrown:
“It was a planning condition of the construction scheme that it improved the public realm with hard and soft landscaping, to engender health & wellbeing for residents. We have been impressed with Eco Green Roofs’ expertise, and its single source of responsibility approach from design o install and aftercare. The EGR team took a very specific brief and added value to it, ensuring an aesthetic and compliant solution.”
To find out more
Project in mind to include a recreational podium solution? Please contact info(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)egr.co.uk for advice and support.