Chelsea Galleries.

Redeveloping two adjoining buildings on London’s King’s Road posed a number of significant engineering challenges. The result is the deployment of innovative and complex structural solutions that produced a more sustainable alternative to demolition and reconstruction, while also being sympathetic to the conservation of a prominent area.

Location

London, UK

Client

CIT

Architect

GRID Architects

Project Value

£8 million

Status

completed 2012

Expertise

Structures

The existing Chenil House & Galleries building to the rear was constructed c. 1927 and has seen a number of uses throughout its lifespan, ranging from semi-industrial to retail, and also commercial offices. There is a great deal of history associated with the site, but the existing buildings had a very poor and irregular layout that was not suited to refurbishment.

The site is located in a conservation area, and hence the challenge to us was to advise the client on how best to achieve the areas and efficiencies required, whilst maintaining as much of the historical envelope as possible.

This involved demolition of the ancillary buildings to the rear of the site, and also demolition of the existing internal frame to Chenil House. The King’s Road façade to the north and east sides of the building have been retained along with the existing roof structure, which required a complex set of temporary works installed pre-demolition.

Within the development but to the side of the main Chenil House building was an existing Dutch Gable façade, which was set back approximately four metres from the face of Chenil House. This step back resulted in a significant loss of internal area, but the façade could not be demolished due to the conservation area status. Our proposal was to clamp the gable end into a system of temporary works, and slide it forward, then secure it in position with the new primary structure frame. This process was completed without damage to the existing gable.

Our involvement in both the façade retention and the gable sliding were key inputs into the planning process, and the subsequent dismissal of associated planning conditions.

The site also involved a significant series of party wall interfaces with the neighbouring residential buildings, and Chelsea Old Town Hall.