Biophilic Beauty

Abode2 visits Canada Gardens, that is bring biophilic design, which evokes a deeper connection with nature by blending our homes with the natural world, into the centre of this vibrant London neighbourhood

Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer at Quintain Living started by saying: “Biophilic design incorporates a love of nature into our homes, emphasising a connection with the natural world. This has a whole host of benefits, from enhanced air quality to stress reduction, mental restoration, and a positive mood. As part of our long-term commitment to our residents’ wellbeing, we are proud to deliver these benefits as a fundamental part of life at Canada Gardens.”

Designed around an urban country concept, Canada Gardens brings nature indoors at every turn – whether that be in the lobby, on the rooftop or within the acre of podium gardens. According to Canada Gardens’ interior design team at Fossey Arora, the development is all about relaxation and connection with nature.

Fossey Arora adds: “There’s a really positive energy in creating a home packed with greenery and natural materials. Bringing nature indoors introduces a sense of harmony and peace in a space that is hard to rival with man-made materials. All of the 743 apartments and the extensive amenities have been designed with this concept at their core.”

This connection with nature spans across the senses. Stepping into the super-lobby, the scent of orange, bergamot and lavender welcomes you, delivering the promise of warmer days as we head into spring. Large Ficus Nitida trees and Monstera in black fiberstone planters from Oasis Plants dot the vast space and there’s a verdant hanging garden gradually emerging from the library balcony above. Over the years this will grow into a trailing curtain of greenery that reaches all the way to the floor.

Ketsia Bond, Associate Designer at Oasis Plants describes: “Canada Gardens offers a new kind of city living and has been created for those who want to enjoy urban life at a different pace. With all the facilities and social spaces available - it’s cosy, welcoming and makes you feel at home from the moment you move in.”

Natural materials abound throughout Canada Gardens. This is particularly apparent in the clubhouse, where more than 40 hanging baskets with trailing plants adorn the beams, in addition to a variety of floor-standing and tabletop potted displays. The gently diffusing scent of fig trees floats through the sun-filled space, which serves as a community hub for residents looking to rest, relax and enjoy the views to the gardens beyond.

Wandering through the acre of gardens, residents can enjoy beds of flowers, bushes and trees, grassed areas dotted with outdoor kitchens and BBQs to enjoy with friends or family. Those looking for a deeper connection with the food on their plate can hire allotment beds and make use of the potting shed, with its growing timetable, advice from Wembley Park’s resident landscaper and other green-fingered resources.

Within the gardens, younger residents can discover the wooden pirate ship playpark and water feature – perfect for inspiring creative play in natural surroundings. Play equipment, an outdoor gym and extensive greenery are also available at the adjacent Union Park, which is due to grow to seven acres in size.

Fossey Arora comments: “Even those who work remotely benefit from Canada Gardens’ biophilic design. We’ve dotted beautiful wooden, work-from-home sheds within the lush, green gardens, putting workers at the centre of a natural environment that delivers a boost to both mood and productivity.”

Within the apartments themselves, natural, tactile materials abound. Wooden bedframes, side tables, coffee tables, chairs and more are paired beautifully with a palette of soft greens and greys inspired directly by the natural world. Touches of darker blue add warmth (imagine a dusky spring sky as evening deepens), while timber panelling ensures nature flows through into the bathroom.

Danielle concludes: “Canada Gardens aren’t just homes that look good – they’re homes that feel good as well. Biophilic design plays a big part in that. Living in London’s most exciting new neighbourhood doesn’t have to mean disconnecting from nature, it can mean quite the opposite. So few homes in the capital have their own green space. Canada Gardens turns that on its head.”

www.quintainliving.com