Malone + Pike Architects

Battersea Square

Battersea, SW11

The roof terrace with its glazed pavilion, planters and seating, seen across the decking

Location

Battersea, South West London (SW11)

Project

Battersea Square, SW11

Status

Completed

Type

New-build penthouse apartment with contemporary roof terrace

Services

Architecture, innovative outdoor design, newbuild co-ordination

This project transformed the roofscape of a penthouse apartment in Battersea Square, creating a substantial new roof terrace conceived as an extension of the home rather than a separate outdoor space. The brief was to establish a generous and flexible environment for entertaining, while retaining a sense of privacy and calm for everyday use, and involved contemporary architecture for a new-build design.

The architectural approach focused on creating a strong relationship between the interior and exterior. Full-height sliding glazing allows the principal living spaces to open directly onto the terrace, creating a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living.

The terrace is organised into distinct areas for dining, entertaining and relaxation, with the composition of the spaces carefully considered to accommodate both larger gatherings and more intimate day-to-day use.

Interior of the penthouse looking out through full-height sliding glazing onto the terrace
Full-height glazing opening onto the terrace
Terrace with mature olive trees in planters and the London skyline beyond

Landscape and planting form an integral part of the architectural design. Layered planting introduces texture, colour and seasonal variation, creating a more secluded garden environment at roof level and reinforcing the sense of the terrace as an extension of the home.

The project also presented a complex architectural and logistical challenge, requiring a substantial glazed and structural framework to be carefully integrated within an existing residential building. More than 35 tonnes of glazing and supporting steelwork were lifted to the eighth floor and coordinated within a constrained urban setting.

Layered planting between seating areas, softening the edge of the terrace
Layered planting at roof level

The completed scheme creates a distinctive private roof garden that significantly expands the usable footprint of the penthouse, transforming the relationship between the apartment, the sky and the surrounding Battersea landscape.

Photography — Andrew Beasley