Guildford Boat House

Project Overview
The Guildford Boat House redevelopment transformed a riverside hospitality venue on the River Wey into a modern, sustainable facility. Located within Guildford’s greenbelt and conservation area, the project required a sensitive design approach. Hockley & Dawson provided full structural engineering support—from site investigation through to final detailing—delivering a refined, robust structure that complements the site’s natural and architectural setting.

Site Context
Situated along the River Wey, the site posed environmental, heritage, and flood-related challenges. The redevelopment carefully balanced the need for flood resilience and accessibility with the preservation of key views and riverbank character, while enhancing the venue’s operational capacity.

Key Structural Interventions

Substructure & Foundations

• A comprehensive geotechnical and arboricultural investigation informed a piled foundation system appropriate for riverside conditions.
• Reinforced concrete ground and upper ground floor slabs provide a stable base across the split-level structure.

Superstructure

• A hybrid frame combining steel columns, steel roof trusses, and reinforced concrete walls formed the core structure.
• Masonry walls were used where appropriate to reflect the local architectural context and provide solid enclosure.
• Timber was incorporated internally for partitions, ceiling joists, and rafters—offering both a natural finish and flexibility in internal layout.

Roof Design

• The pitched roof is supported by a steel structure, detailed with exposed timber elements for visual warmth and reduced mass.
• Structural performance and aesthetic coherence were balanced to ensure durability and design integrity across the span.

Conservation & Sustainability

• Excavation and foundation work were planned to minimise disruption near root zones and preserve the existing tree canopy.
• Sustainable timber was used throughout, and material waste was minimised during fabrication and installation.
• Key building areas were elevated above anticipated flood levels to improve resilience without compromising the site’s ecological sensitivity.

Summary
Hockley & Dawson’s involvement in the Guildford Boat House redevelopment exemplifies thoughtful, integrated structural design in a flood-sensitive, heritage-rich environment. Through mixed material use, detailed planning, and close coordination with architectural and environmental requirements, the resulting structure is both resilient and harmonious with its riverside setting.