old billingsgate
Each year CBRE hosts its flagship Supplier Partner Event. This gathering of its top suppliers and industry leaders takes place at Old Billingsgate in London. The venue sits on the edge of the Thames with views of Tower Bridge and The Shard. This historic riverside space needed to feel lively, welcoming and connected to nature for a day of networking and ideas.
As one of the event sponsors, Planteria Group was asked to deliver a planting scheme that would transform the venue and reflect CBRE’s forward-thinking approach. We provided all the event planting alongside our own exhibition stand, creating a seamless blend of biophilic design, practical layout and atmospheric detail.
designing the
The terrace became the heart of the event. We installed a series of “plant islands” made up of real and replica plants dressed with moss between the building’s columns and around the marquee’s concrete weight blocks. This broke up the hard surfaces and brought structure to the open space.
A selection of terracotta, textured and wicker pots held statement plants chosen for their scale and character. Outdoor wooden furniture supplied by Wagstaff complemented the natural theme. String lights were wrapped with replica planting to soften the lines above. Throughout the day the terrace buzzed with conversations, meetings and informal catch-ups. Its riverside location caught the sunlight and carried the event well into the evening.
Inside, we built a living “photo wall” that combined living, preserved and replica planting to form a lush green backdrop finished with a neon CBRE logo. This became a focal point for photos and social sharing, reinforcing the event’s identity and creating a sense of place.
Guests arriving at Old Billingsgate were welcomed by three, two-metre high columns of mixed planting. These bespoke floral displays, including yellow roses chosen to echo the event’s colour palette, created an immediate impact. Attendees and passers-by stopped to take pictures and ask questions, turning the entrance into a talking point.
Even at table level the planting played its part. Each surface featured a mixed plant and flower arrangement designed as more than just a posy. Small compositions tied the whole scheme together and brought nature to every conversation.
The combination of large-scale installations and fine detail transformed the CBRE Supplier Partner Event from a functional venue into a vibrant, biophilic setting. The terrace became a true meeting point of the facilities management community. It remained full late into the evening with food, drink and conversation. The planting created both a backdrop and a draw.
By blending real and replica planting, selecting materials that complemented the venue, and carrying the biophilic theme across entrances, terraces, indoor spaces and tables, Planteria demonstrated its ability to design for atmosphere as well as function.
This project highlighted our Planting approach, creating experiences and showing how even temporary spaces can benefit from thoughtful, sustainable and memorable planting design.
