Sensitive heritage site
The site was located at the eastern end of Tower Wharf, between the moat of the Tower of London and the River Thames. Tower Wharf is a UNESCO world heritage site and both Tower Bridge and the Tower of London are Grade I listed structures.
Thomas Sinden were selected to deliver the construction of a new build restaurant and outdoor dining terrace.
The new building is broken into 3 distinct parts arranged in a row; a low entrance building that negotiates the junction with Tower Bridge; a tall dining room in the middle; and a wooden deck that provides a covered outdoor dining at the end. The relieving arches beneath the approach to Tower Bridge provide the back of house, kitchen and support functions to the new building on the wharf.
We undertook internal works to the historic “vaults” beneath Tower Bridge Approach and this required specialist carpentry and restoration skills which have been undertaken using Thomas Sinden directly employed craftsmen.
The main construction elements included single storey steel framed construction, timber clad with timber framed glazing and doors, internal finishes, flat roof and rooflights with natural ventilation louvres. Back of house fit out comprised complete M&E installation, including the kitchen venting which was carefully incorporated into the existing openings in the Tower Bridge façade.
Our project delivery and site organisations had to account for the public nature of the site and ensure that our operations were segregated to maintain the Health and Safety of the public at all times.
For Thomas Sinden, this scheme proved an exciting opportunity for our team to deliver traditional heritage work alongside new modern construction methods.