The hustle and bustle of Canary Wharf is known the world over. The area is a key part of London’s central business district, and the epicenter of the capital’s economic activity. Skyscrapers dot the busy skyline in Canary Wharf, while on the ground, the area is full of popular restaurants, bars, and shops bringing verve to this part of the city. 

But few of the buildings within Canary Wharf offer tranquility quite like Wardian.

The development is the brainchild of international property developer EcoWorld Ballymore and brings a slice of nature into the business centre of London. The 767 private apartments contained in two towers rising 50 and 55 storeys into the sky, provide panoramic views of Canary Wharf and the City. 

The two towers, Bagshaw and Hobart, are named after the Wardian Case, which was used to transport exotic plants around the world in the 19th century. The Wardian Case was particularly important for London’s tea trade, with the glass box being used to safely stow and carry tea plants from the farthest-flung areas of the Earth to London’s Docklands where they were processed and packed for home use. 

But it’s not just in the name that Wardian takes its inspiration from its 19th century forebears: Its entire design is centered around putting nature first. Each apartment comes complete with a private wrap-around ‘sky garden’ up to 37.2 square metres in size; the communal areas of the building are a veritable jungle of plants, housing more than 100 different species of exotic plants sourced from all four corners of the planet. Wardian’s communal spaces have echoes of the botanic palm houses of Kew Gardens and the Barbican—but are right on residents’ doorsteps. 

Those living in Wardian London’s suites, penthouses and one- and two-bedroom apartments can enjoy their own nature-inspired properties, or head to The Observatory, a botanically-inspired sky bar and lounge on the 53^rd floor that offers incredible views across the capital. The Observatory’s floor-to-ceiling windows flood light into the bar from three sides, providing the ideal hideout for residents wanting to escape the commotion of the city. 

Residents—whether young professionals working in the City or Canary Wharf itself, or international residents based in the UK looking for extra space to accommodate family—can also take advantage of the building’s world-class amenities, including a 25-metre open air swimming pool, state-of-the-art gym and wellness facilities, treatment rooms, private cinema, and landscaped gardens. 

From 2023, they’ll be able to pop downstairs to enjoy restaurant and retail outlets that are opening soon, such as Espresso Room, a soulful neighborhood coffee shop. Already, residents can mosey around Botanical Boys, a plant and interior treasures store that opened at Wardian in spring 2022. Botanical Boys also offers support to residents looking to craft their own sky gardens, giving top advice on plant care for the apartments within the building. 

Should you want to venture further, residents are ideally situated just a short walk away from Canary Wharf station, which ensures speedy connections into central London and beyond via the new Jubilee line, and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR). Thanks to Crossrail, Heathrow Airport is just 45 minutes away, while City Airport is simply a few stops away on the DLR.

Suites start from £643,500, one-bedrooms from £698,000, while two-bedroom apartments start from £1,022,250 and penthouses from £1,850,000. For more information about Wardian or to speak with the sales team, please get in contact with Wardian London.

+44 (0) 20 3627 6559

sales@wardianlondon.com

Wardian Sales Gallery
Wards Place
London E14 9TP

This article was originally published by WIRED UK