Waterscapes Ltd have been involved with providing irrigation services to the newly created Eden Dock within Canary Wharf.  Formerly known as Middle Dock, Canary Wharf Group have formed a ground-breaking partnership with the Eden Project to create the first of many urban greening zones within the East London development.

Designed to have a significant positive impact on biodiversity and focused on connecting people with water & nature, Eden Dock is part of a much larger plan to have a green ‘spine’ running through Canary Wharf.

Being termed an ‘Urban Oasis’, Eden Dock offers a place to meet, to read, a hang-out amongst the gleaming towers that form Canary Wharf.  Open water swimmers, visitors and residents alike, will improve their wellbeing whilst using the space.

Working closely with Willerby Landscapes & Applied Landscape Design, Waterscapes have created a virtually invisible watering system through each of the floating pontoons to allow all of the different planting zones to receive the water they require to stay healthy.  Using Rain Bird drip products, each tree, hedge, shrub and grass is watered accurately to prevent unnecessary water usage.

Built onboard the floating pontoons, each section of the gardens was constructed with meticulous detail to provide a fluid connection between each area.  Irrigation services are routed between each pontoon through a series of hidden ducts built into the structure, and invisible to the eye.

Located below the Jubilee Plaza, the plant which operates the irrigation system is located, allowing the Client to create, implement and adapt a variety of irrigation programs using the Rain Bird IVM control system.  This intelligent system monitors the condition of the controls continually, providing data on each element of the control system, keeping the Client informed of any potential problems and making fault finding simple.

Technical Details

Pontoon Design & Installation

The floating pontoon structures presented a unique challenge: they would need to move continuously with tidal conditions while remaining structurally stable and accessible to the public. Waterscapes investigated and specified a robust pipe and control cable system engineered to flex and respond to tidal movement, whilst maintaining structural integrity across the full range of tidal conditions and exposure to salt spray in a multi-climate marine setting.

Irrigation Infrastructure

Rather than rely on visible surface pipework, Waterscapes routed irrigation supply and control cabling through a network of frameworks positioned below the decked areas and within sleeves encapsulated directly into the pontoon formations. This approach kept all water delivery systems hidden from view, whilst ensuring flexibility to accommodate tidal movement without strain on connections or damage during structural shifts.

Planting & Water Delivery

Waterscapes installed a comprehensive drip irrigation system that delivers accurate water to trees, shrubs and hedges across the variety of floating platforms. All drip lines and emitters are hidden beneath mulch and landscape finishes, remaining completely invisible to visitors to the space. The entire network is intricately connected through the concealed framework to provide consistent, targeted watering to every planted area on Eden Dock.

Results & Outcomes

Eden Dock has been successfully delivered with a fully integrated water and power distribution system that supports both the dynamic movement of the pontoon structures and the irrigation requirements of planted areas across the space. The tidal-responsive pipe and cable system has proven robust in a marine environment, whilst the concealed drip irrigation delivers reliable water to planting without visible infrastructure. The result is a seamlessly integrated public realm environment where water infrastructure remains entirely hidden from users, allowing the architectural and landscape vision to take centre stage.