Harrods’ former helideck has been transformed into a luxury rooftop event space with panoramic views across London. The architect required a fully compliant, Class A fire-rated decking solution that would complement both the heritage building and the newly constructed internal pavilion.

Delivered by a highly experienced team, this technically ambitious project brought together leading expertise. Harrods, one of the world’s most recognisable names in retail, was the client. Kendall Kingscott Ltd led the architectural design, with TC&D Construction appointed as specialist contractor to manage the on-site installation. Fire Deck supplied Exadeck porcelain decking boards, while Wallbarn provided the Class A fire-rated substructure. Working in partnership, Fire Deck and Wallbarn supported TC&D Construction throughout, offering layout options, technical guidance, site visits and responsive delivery coordination to ensure a smooth installation and on-time completion.

The rooftop presented several technical challenges: varying floor heights of up to 400mm, the need for seamless transitions between interior and exterior levels, and multiple complex access points across the roof. The installation also needed to be completed in time for Harrods’ first rooftop event in late May of 2025.

The flexibility of Wallbarn’s I-Plus aluminium rail system, combined with the secure fixing capability of MetalPad Ex pedestals, enabled the installers to construct a stable framework to support the Exadeck decking boards. This included creating frames for the technically difficult ramped sections, where rails were cut to precise angles and cross-fixed to form a rigid substructure. With 60mm wide aluminium joists providing the foundation, the Exadeck boards were then secured using the Class A W Clip fixing system to deliver a secure and luxurious finish.

The stacked bond layout chosen by the design team is visually striking but significantly more demanding to achieve. Even slight misalignment would have been noticeable, requiring skilful precision. This potential problem was avoided by Exadeck boards being rectified on two planes. Two extra processes during manufacture of the boards occurs to ensure both the sides and the underside planes of each board are perfectly straight, preventing movement and rocking. This double-rectification process, combined with Wallbarn’s perfectly flat aluminium joists, meant that perfect alignment could be achieved. Their consistent dimensions and tight tolerances simplified installation compared with other systems on the UK market. The clean lines draw the eye across the space enhancing the luxuriousness of the scheme. Strength and durability were equally important, with the system designed to withstand high levels of foot traffic.

Exadeck’s wood-effect finish offered the warm, natural looking aesthetic desired by the client. With 17 different patterns on the decking boards, the feeling of real wood grain / knot appearance enhances the look. Superior scratch and stain resistance ensures the system is robust enough for a high-traffic environment, while remaining easy to maintain.

The final space is resilient to weather, silent even during rainfall, and delivers the flawless finish expected of an iconic, ultra-luxury project.