Living roof for Piccadilly Gardens

Plans have been submitted for an innovative ‘living roof’ for the pavilion building in Piccadilly Gardens.

The roof will be covered with wildlife-friendly plants and grasses and is designed to attract insects, including butterflies, and birds to the heart of the city. During summer months a profusion of colour is promised.

Landscape architects Grant Associates, who are behind Britain's first urban water park at New Islington in Ancoats, designed the garden.

The 'living roof' takes its inspiration from the structure of a feather. As well as its tapering shape, different bands of nectar-rich wildflowers, sedums and gravel echo the feather's form.

City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said: "This living roof is a highly imaginative way of bringing wildlife into the heart of Manchester. It will be a prominent example of our commitment to encourage biodiversity through high quality design."

Peter Chmiel, of Grant Associates, said: "We were excited to be asked to submit a proposal for the green roof and are delighted our scheme was selected. The concept of a feather offered much in the way of texture and pattern and is symbolic of the current movement to rekindle Manchester's affinity with nature. The roof, which will be visible from some of Manchester's key offices, balances aesthetics with ecology and we hope that this roof will provide valuable habitat to many of the city's indigenous species."

The City Council is encouraging living roofs as part of its goal to become Britain's greenest city. As well as providing wildlife habitats, they will also help the city adapt to climate change - helping prevent flooding by absorbing heavy rainfall, for example. The first living roof in the city centre, specifically designed as a habitat for the rare black redstart bird is currently under construction at Building Design Partnership's new headquarters in Piccadilly Basin. Examples outside the city centre include the roof of Unicorn Grocery in Chorlton.

Proposals for a living roof mark the latest phase of improvements to Piccadilly Gardens which have included raising edges, widening paths and an attractive planting scheme. An environmentally-friendly irrigation system, using naturally stored water from beneath the city centre to water the grass and top up the fountains, was installed last year.

Subject to planning approval, work to create the 'living roof' will start early next year.

The pavilion building, which houses Caffé Nero and Rice, was designed by renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

For more detail about the Manchester: Green City initiative go to www.manchestergreencity.co.uk

Media contact:

Roger Williams, tel: 0161 2343275