20-30 Greyfriars Road

A contemporary interpretation of monastic garden traditions for a new co-living community in central Reading. Drawing inspiration from over 700 years of heritage, the landscape creates a vertical sequence of outdoor spaces that support biodiversity, wellbeing, and shared living.

20-30 Greyfriars Road sits in the heart of Reading, a short walk from the railway station and neighbouring the historic Greyfriars Church.

For over seven centuries, the local area has been connected to the Grey Friars and their monastic community; a legacy that informs our landscape vision for this new co-living development by Elder, comprising 266 co-living units across a 13-storey structure.

Studio Knight Stokoe joined the project at RIBA Stage 3, building on planning approval secured with a landscape scheme by Henshall Green.

Our conceptual approach reinterprets three monastic garden typologies for contemporary urban life:

+ Cloister Garden (Ground Floor) – An enclosed courtyard offering calm and contemplation, with layered shade-tolerant planting and pleached trees.

+ Productive Garden (Seventh Floor) – Raised beds for herbs, vegetables, and cutting flowers within perennial planting and fruiting trees, inviting residents to cultivate and harvest.

+ Physic Garden (Twelfth Floor) – A sensory rooftop sanctuary of medicinal and aromatic plants, designed to thrive in full sun and wind.

The project targets 146% Biodiversity Net Gain, BREEAM Excellent, and EPC A ratings.

Ecological enhancements include bat and bird boxes, invertebrate features, pollinator-friendly planting, and green roofs, supporting wildlife corridors across Reading's city centre.

Sustainability principles guide the approach:

+ Multi-layered planting at ground and roof levels

+ Permeable hard surfaces

+ Drought tolerant planting scheme at roof levels

+ Planting scheme provides natural approach to screening prevailing wind exposure

+ Self-grow areas for residents

The design principles centre on two core themes: Biophilic; connecting people with nature through diverse planting and multi-sensory experiences, and Regenerative; creating resilient, adaptive places that address climate and biodiversity challenges through permeable surfaces, climate-resilient planting, and habitat creation.

The landscape creates spaces for both solitude and gathering; quiet corners for reflection, communal tables for shared meals, and productive plots that encourage horticultural skills and community. Seasonal rhythms of planting and growth connect residents to nature, supporting wellbeing in the heart of the city.