The Glebe, Chelsea, London SW3

IOTA designed and supplied a wide range of complex landscape solutions for The Glebe residential development in Chelsea, London SW3.

The Glebe is a super-prime residential development designed by Foster + Partners; comprising six apartments, a penthouse and two villas, within the retained walls of the former Jamahiriya School, situated on Glebe Place, Chelsea. With an estimated development value of £300m, for just 9 residences, less than a minute's stroll from King's Road, The Glebe can lay claim to being London’s most prestigious address.  

The scale and ambition of the landscaping vision, by Tom Stuart-Smith, is no less impressive; and by any measure, this was a substantial and challenging project. IOTA was responsible for the detailed manufacturing design for all sheet metal landscaping elements, including:

• 75 linear m of W 1270 x H 1000mm root-sealed and water-sealed planters for large bamboo, including extensive internal reinforcement, support masts and drainage sumps
• 23 linear m of W 1270 x H 990mm shrub planters
• 17 linear m of structural planter, capping a wall; and to serve as both a protective barrier, and a secure base for attachment of bespoke hardwood fencing  
• 11nr. large timber-clad steel planters of complex geometry
• 12nr. bronze-clad steel planters
• 2nr. oval-shaped, bronze-capped, granite-clad steel water features
• L 11000mm ‘flying’ window box outside the Main Villa Master Bedroom
• Large, sunken, stainless steel encapsulated tree pits

The design work extended over many months, and required intensive collaboration with the Landscape Contractor, and IOTA’s client, Gavin Jones; Landscape Designer, Tom Stuart-Smith; Executive Architects, Formation Architects; and Principal Contractor, Brookfield Multiplex. Whilst all detailed manufacturing design was by IOTA, fabrication was split between IOTA and other sub-contractors – given the sheer scale and complexity of the scheme, combined with an exceptionally challenging project programme.