About the project

Dating from the 1920s, Axtell House is a handsome Art Deco office building on the corner of Warwick and Beak Streets in Soho, London W1. As part of a major refurbishment and extension, the developers commissioned renowned garden designer Andy Sturgeon to create a new rooftop garden on the seventh floor. We’ve worked with Andy on numerous projects over the years, including his Gold Medal-winning gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Through this longstanding relationship, we were asked by contractors Willerby Landscapes to manufacture a set of 26 bespoke free-standing metal planters, in 13 different sizes. The smallest measured 1310mm long by 450mm high and wide; the largest were 2155mm long, 450mm wide and 750mm high. 

The rooftop location meant the planters’ overall weight, with soil and plants, was a serious consideration (the largest were designed to hold mature olive trees). We therefore manufactured them in 3mm aluminium, which we can work quickly and to a perfect finish thanks to our state-of-the-art welding technology and skilled coded welders. In mild steel, the 26 planters would have weighed around 2.8 tonnes: making them in the lighter alloy reduced the total weight to just 905kg. 

Following full pre-treatment, all 26 were powder coated in BRIG143 to achieve a smooth, seamless, matte finish to suit their elegant setting.

About the project

Dating from the 1920s, Axtell House is a handsome Art Deco office building on the corner of Warwick and Beak Streets in Soho, London W1. As part of a major refurbishment and extension, the developers commissioned renowned garden designer Andy Sturgeon to create a new rooftop garden on the seventh floor. We’ve worked with Andy on numerous projects over the years, including his Gold Medal-winning gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Through this longstanding relationship, we were asked by contractors Willerby Landscapes to manufacture a set of 26 bespoke free-standing metal planters, in 13 different sizes. The smallest measured 1310mm long by 450mm high and wide; the largest were 2155mm long, 450mm wide and 750mm high. 

The rooftop location meant the planters’ overall weight, with soil and plants, was a serious consideration (the largest were designed to hold mature olive trees). We therefore manufactured them in 3mm aluminium, which we can work quickly and to a perfect finish thanks to our state-of-the-art welding technology and skilled coded welders. In mild steel, the 26 planters would have weighed around 2.8 tonnes: making them in the lighter alloy reduced the total weight to just 905kg. 

Following full pre-treatment, all 26 were powder coated in BRIG143 to achieve a smooth, seamless, matte finish to suit their elegant setting.