Plans by celebrated architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, or RSHP, to demolish and rebuild its former home, Thames Wharf Studios on Hammersmith's riverside have been abandoned.

Trade publication The Architects' Journal reports that the practice has dropped plans to due to the collapse in London’s high-end apartment market.

In 2015, planning permission was granted for the demolition of existing buildings and their replacement with two buildings of up to nine storeys, providing 57 homes along with restaurant and office space. The existing River Café, run by Richard Rogers’ wife Ruth, would have been retained.

However, as we reported in March, permission was also granted this year for temporary change of use of parts of the building to become community space, artists’ studios, events, workshop, art gallery and education and community space.

This planning application also included a pizzeria to be run by Ruth Rogers.

This temporary use of the building was due to last for between five and seven years, before redevelopment began.

However, according to The Architects' Journal, landlord London & Regional and former employee Marco Goldschmied are no longer willing to pay the £6.5 million planning contribution agreed when planning permission was granted in 2015.

Instead the original £35 million scheme has been abandoned in favour of refurbishing the existing building, which is now understood to be 80% let.

Goldschmied told the AJ: "We have taken the view that for a number of reasons it is not the right time to redevelop the consented permission and have been letting the premises for leases of between five and seven years.

"The refurbishment work, including an overhaul of air conditioning and installing modern, raised floors, has been designed in-house."

The space which was to become the pizzeria has been let to Re:Centre, which has appointed architects Cousins & Cousins to create the new 'wellness' space.

The architects say: " Cousins & Cousins are pleased to announce our appointment to develop and deliver a unique new style of wellness space on the riverfront in London’s Hammersmith. Formerly home to Architects Roger Stirk Harbour and Partners, this exciting new venture aims to provide a welcome sanctuary from the clutter and chaos of modern city life. Re:Centre will run a programme of inspiring talks, screenings, exhibitions, classes, performances, workshops and other events within a nurturing and restful space.

"A resident artist programme will host ten artists at any time in a dedicated communal workspace, and a rentable workshop area will accommodate teachers and practitioners offering classes and workshops for adults and children alike, from art to dance, yoga, music, drama and holistic living.

"A dedicated yoga studio will offer daily classes, and a healthy restaurant will serve light and seasonal food. Re:Centre aims to foster a sense of community and connection, in a space that offers a chance to rest, connect, learn, create and grow.

"Its situation on the river, with a backdrop of the changing seasons – combined with a thoughtful and balanced programme of classes and events, offers us all a chance to rediscover a sense of true balance, and quite literally re-centre ourselves. "

You can see full details of this year's planning application for Thames Wharf's change of use here.

The plans to redevelop Thames Wharf, which gained approval from H&F Council in July 2015, were as follows:

Demolition of existing buildings adjacent to the River Thames and redevelopment of the site comprising the construction of two buildings with balconies (one part six, part seven-storey and one part six, part seven, part nine-storey plus mezzanine) together with the retention and conversion of the buildings fronting Rainville Road; provision of a total of 57 residential units (Class C3); 699 sq.m ground floor office space (Class B1); 116 sq.m flexible restaurant/office space (Class B1/A3) and retention of a 544 sq.m restaurant (Class A3); with new access arrangements, basement car parking; cycle parking and associated landscaping.

Richard - now Lord - Rogers acquired Thames Wharf Studios in 1983 and converted the site from the Duckham’s oil facility into offices, workshops, housing and the River Cafe.

 

July 14, 2017