Fairhurst was appointed as the project engineer to provide both structural and civil design for the renovation, refurbishment and extension of 70-78 Shorts Gardens.
The complete footprint of the project is split across two adjoining buildings, abutting Shorts Gardens along the northern elevation and Betterton Street along the southern. Interestingly, a large portion of the buildings was historically used as an ammunition factory during WWII.
The existing structure along Shorts Gardens is framed out in steelwork with reinforced concrete slab for floors. To create the desired unobstructed access throughout, multi-storey steel box frames now stand in lieu of most of the internal masonry walls that once provided stability to the building.
The new steelwork extends upwards to create the expansive double-storey extension, occupying the complete floor of the Shorts Gardens side, adorned with a curved full-height glass façade along the northern elevation – a feature piece of the project. This extended space seamlessly spans across to the Betterton Street side, culminating in the construction of a double-floor penthouse overlooking the enchanting sights of West London.
The highlight of the structural scheme is the penthouse’s roof design – an artfully folded steel structure, reminiscent of origami craftsmanship.
