Royal Canoe Club

Client: The Royal Canoe Club
Location: Teddington, Middlesex

Home to 400 kayakers, canoeists, rowers, skiffers and dragon boaters, the Royal Canoe Club has been at its current site on Trowlock Island on the Thames near Teddington for 110 years.  The club wanted to improve the facilities for members and be able to host regional training and events for other watersports clubs as well as provide the local community with opportunities for social and physical recreation. 

Because of its unique Thames-side setting, a timber framed and clad building that would blend in with the bungalows on the island was essential for the new facility.  The new boathouse is a long, low building which makes maximum use of the available site.  it is set on piled foundations to overcome difficult ground conditions and has a gently sloping grey concrete-tiled roof and external walls faced with white painted composite cladding boards. Flooding can be a major problem at Trowlock so, to protect the building, it is built on 900mm brick piers.

The front aspect sits directly on the water's edge and features a glazed gable and large windows and doors which allow light to flood in.  The  coaching and workout room has excellent views over the river and provides ample space for a variety of other activities, social functions and community meetings.  All internal areas of the new building are fully accessible to wheelchair users with external ramps and a lift to provide access to all users.

In order to get materials to site Pinelog had first to build a temporary bridge to the island, substantial enough to take lorries carrying building materials. 

Printer Friendly