Knightsbridge Home – Engineering

• Location London, UK
• Services Engineering
• Area 7,800 sq ft
• Completion 2015

Due to the constrictive nature of the existing site footprint, as well our client’s brief for the day-to-day living requirements, it became apparent that the solution was to extend the property downwards by two floors to create an eight storey family home. In order to facilitate this, the 1890s front façade was retained with the existing rear façade removed, alongside with all the existing floors.

Creating the new levels entailed an excavation below the existing lower ground floor of the property to form one basement with traditional concrete underpinning and the next level of basement with secant piled walls. Due to the nature of the local ground conditions, it was necessary for a ‘belt and braces’ water management system which integrates with the new structural scheme.

The challenges faced on site included restrictive head room due to the temporary bracing of the absent floors above, as well as a tapering angled site footprint requiring numerous strategies from the main contractor, Walter Lilly, and their specialist sub-contractors.