Situated on the banks of Hanworth Broad, this intriguing building was constructed on three brick vaults from a 19th-century boathouse. The project presented the team with several challenges. The setting, a Site of Special Scientific Interest lying within a historic 18th-century park, was very sensitive, and the main structure of the old boathouse was thought to have been lost in the early-20th century, so any new intervention required careful thought. The practice established a good working relationship with the local authority, and the scheme was supported by the community. The team's understanding of sensitive sites, their technical expertise and sympathetic design were crucial for securing planning consent.
Great care was taken to ensure that the boathouse was built as economically and sustainably as possible. The structure, erected on site in just two days, is a green oak frame, and the roof was thatched with Norfolk reeds by a local thatcher. The Boathouse has a composting toilet draining to a reed bed, a borehole for water, natural wool insulation and a wood burning stove. It is used as an artist’s studio.