South Quay Plaza, Canary Wharf

Materials:

4000m2 of Running River Granite Paving and 1200m2 of setts, Bespoke Benches, Kerbs, Edging,Skirting, Cladding and Stepping Stones.

Details:

South Quay Plaza is a landmark development designed by architects Foster + Partners. The buildings have been designed to make the best use of the space that surrounds them and there is, mixed within the scheme, 2.6 acres of gardens. Sunlight is able to light up these gardens throughout the day and many of the apartments have dual aspect views. The client wanted lots of variation and banding within the stone for the landscape areas and finally settled on one of our very interesting and original granite options called Running River from Northern China.

When using a granite with this amount of variation, it is really important to ensure that the proper controls are in place. Controlling and understanding the variation is the key to completing a project like this to the clients' satisfaction. To this end, our Commercial Director Calum Fraser with representation from Maylim accompanied representatives from the Client and the Landscape Architect to the factory in Shandong province, China.

The main purpose of the factory visit was to quality check initial production, set standards and rules for colour and tonality variation, determine final size breakdown for the setts and to establish tolerance guidelines for bench production. The visit was very successful and ensured that all parties understood and agreed on all the quality control aspects required. Many potential problems were highlighted and resolved meaning that when the granite arrived on site it met the high expectations of the client.

The result is a beautiful and eye-catching scheme that is original, clever and really striking. Over the first phases, we have supplied upwards of 4000m2 of paving and 1200m2 of setts.

We also produced and supplied many stunning bespoke and complex benches. As well as kerbs, edgings, skirting, cladding and stepping stones. This choice of stone has helped transform the area into a vibrant, modern and inclusive space.

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