When the Cadogan Estate asked us to get involved in turning a row of garages into new retail units as part of their re-development of 162 – 174 Pavilion Road, this was a project we were keen to get started on. Given our passion for creating and developing new urban environments and breathing life into old buildings, we relished the chance to help transform Pavilion Road into a key shopping destination in Chelsea.

The garages in question weren’t any ordinary garages however, they were in fact a terrace of former stables and accommodation for the large townhouses on Cadogan Gardens, running parallel with Pavilion Road. The townhouses, as well as the first floor of the terrace are also occupied by 11 Cadogan Gardens Hotel. 

As part of the design team alongside architects Reardon Smith, the contractor, Phelan and MEP engineers, HiTek , hotel management and the Cadogan Estate, we were the structural and civil engineers on the project. Key challenges included having to remove many of the existing structural masonry walls at ground floor level, re-supporting the first floor on new steel frames and foundations and keeping the noise to a minimum. All the work had to be done whilst the rooms above were occupied by paying guests of the hotel. To add to the challenge, the site is in a Critical Drainage Area which means the nearby sewer is at risk of surcharging during heavy rain. Thames Water pumps were present in some of the units, so we worked closely with Thames Water and proposed further protection measures to the new underground drainage design. Associate Director, Sam Harland who worked on the project said, “This was a fascinating project and a great example of how effective, close collaboration between the design team and the client is crucial to achieving a great outcome. We were able to apply all our experience of working on heritage buildings and tricky sites to ensure we were able to deal with the many challenges we faced. It is incredibly satisfying now the scheme is complete to see Pavilion Road transformed into a glorious shopping and eating destination with boutique clothes, food and coffee shops spilling out onto the street, creating a public space for everyone to enjoy.”