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 make 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.
A proposal to perform a restoration as described above was put together by Fraser Butterworth and a close business colleague. The opinions of the UK’s premier stone mason company was sought on the cost of the restoration of the stonework. Permission was sought from and granted by the Historic Buildings Committee. Negotiations to proceed only broke down when the long lease conditions required by the investors broke down after a reformation of the custodians of the site, The West End Development Committee (WEDCO) suddenly became very demanding. The site is still here, of course, but the buildings are steadily becoming decayed.
