Victualling Yard- Architectural Overview
The Royal Naval Dockyard was conceived and built as a workshop/ fortress to serve an active fleet of warships. The collection of buildings that now remain reflect that purpose. They are strong powerful statements built to last and reflect a confidence in the future. They are, first and foremost, industrial buildings.
Adaptive reuse of the buildings, particularly the dominant buildings 21 and 23, must recognize the heritage of the past and not offer a solution for the future that distracts from the original powerful architectural statements (which are the strong masonry walls, large, arched window openings, simple detailing and an industrial low pitch roof).
It was decided to create a new internal structure which would leave the external walls relatively undisturbed. This new structure, a building within a building, is to be three stories. The upper floor coincides with the top of the arched openings and requires the new roof line to be raised. The resultant external wall of this upper floor is the greatest architectural challenge. Numerous attempts were made to lower the impact of this extended envelope before the chosen solution was finalised. The upper wall is presented as a slick, seamless glazed band of reflective glass that offers nothing to distract from the architecture of the building’s lower walls.
The two main buildings 21 and 23 are purpose built warehouse structures commissioned by the Royal Navy in the 19th century. They were built as massive, load-bearing stone wall structures with only one upper floor (wooden and built to warehouse specifications). Roofs were early sheet material on light steel trusses. One building is intact; the other is merely a shell of stonework.
The proposal is to strip out both buildings to roofless shells. The walls are completely self-supporting. Within each shell a steel frame, concrete floor structure with two upper levels will be built. This will also support a new steel frame, sheet material roof (insulated). The frame will be built within the stone shells. It will require minimal foundation work as the ground floor is built over a leveled rock layer.
New residential units will be created within the three floors of the structure. Outside walls will be lined with drywall on a steel stud support. All room divisions will be similar stud-framed walls with drywall linings. Party walls between residential spaces will be heavily insulated for sound privacy.
Windows will be new, aluminum framed, multi-pane units to fit inside existing arched-topped openings (lower residential floor) whilst the upper bedroom level will be walled in a continuous band of windows. Ceilings will be drywall type, 12’-0” high on the lower floor and 8’-6” high on the upper floors.
The proposal was the submitted to the Historic Buildings Committee for their approval. The design won a unanimous approval. The style of the top storey, presenting as it does, an uninterrupted band of blue glazing, encompasses an historically correct industrial styled metal roof. The historic significance of these buildings being built as warehouses was not forgotten. All the original stone arched windows openings were retained and the regular rhythm of these strong features became the overruling factor in determining the number of apartments that could be constructed.
Unfortunately, the project was never started and the buildings are now left to the decaying patina of wind and weather. They remain as an historic figurehead of Bermuda's past. They await the opportunity to gain lease terms from Government that will allow the work to restore these fine buildings be undertaken on a commercial basis.