Island Gardens is a public park located at the southern end of the Isle of Dogs in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets on the north bank of the River Thames. The waterside park is notable for its cross-river view of the classical buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, the Cutty Sark and the National Maritime Museum, with Greenwich Park forming a backdrop. The northern entrance of the Greenwich foot
tunnel which links Greenwich to the south of the river, with the Isle of Dogs in the north, is also within the park.
Ark Build was awarded a contract to construct a single storey new café facility with an internal floor area of 77m2. The contract was let under a JCT 2016 Intermediate form with CDP for the M&E services, piling and the Glulam frame. The architectural concept comprised a modern energy efficient structure with external finishes designed to blend in with the parkscape, having minimal visual impact on ancient trees and mature vegetation within the park.
Construction challenges comprised:
a) The diversion of an existing underground foul water sewer which had not been identified at design stage.
b) Hand digging in tree root protection zones.
c) The protection of the public during the delivery of materials and removal of spoil and waste.
d) A high water table.
The building was constructed with piled foundations, slim deck raft, a lightweight glulam Siberian larch timber frame and a lightweight well insulated envelope incorporating double-glazed curved and clerestory windows.
The property successfully achieved an EPC A rating with minimal carbon emissions achieved by a densely insulated building envelope fitted with an air source heat pump and LED lighting with smart controls.
The outcome was extremely successful, with the café providing a much needed commercially run facility in the park, supported by significant levels of public footfall.
Client: London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Contract Administrator: DCUK
Contract Value: £963k
Contract Start Date: May 2022
Contract End Date: February 2023