University of Greenwich, London SE10

Bespoke planters from IOTA’s DELTA Custom range were commissioned for the University of Greenwich’s new £80m Stockwell Street campus.

The building is home to the main research and study library for the whole university, as well as the Department of Architecture & Landscape, and the new Department of Creative Professions & Digital Arts. A striking feature of the building are fourteen interlinked roof terraces, which create one of Europe’s largest teaching and learning green roof landscapes, for the study of aquaponics, apiculture, algae, urban agriculture and the interaction of landscape with the built environment.

The planters commissioned were 6nr. L 1600 x W 1600 x H 700mm, in RAL 7016 [Anthracite grey]. Two of the planters are used to green a terrace overlooking the green roof, whilst four planters create a series of trial planting beds on the hard landscaped thoroughfare between roof terraces. DELTA Custom planters are manufactured from a proprietary, patent-protected form of Fibre Reinforced Cement [FRC] – a material with the following key features and benefits:

• An exceptional strength-to-weight ratio – planters are strong, yet easily handled
• Suitable for all environments, from public realm to weight-restricted interiors
• Guaranteed frostproof, and UV stable
• Resistant to mould, fungus, termites and other vermin
• Certified Class A2-s1,d0 fire retardant
• Breathable yet completely watertight
• Can be drilled and modified on-site with standard tools

The Stockwell Street campus is the work of Dublin-based architects Heneghan Peng. IOTA’s contemporary planters were commissioned by the green roof contractor for the project, Blackdown Horticultural Consultants.