Practices to lead nine-month feasibility study on residential component of mixed-use floating scheme next to City Hall
Haptic Architects and Gort Scott have been appointed to lead a nine-month feasibility study into proposals to build a floating residential scheme at Royal Victoria Docks in east London.
The two practices will work with Royal Docks Waterways to develop design ideas for the residential element of the wider waterfront transformation of the dock, which is envisaged to contain both moorings for boats and floating homes.
Consultants Stace and Oakridge will work alongside the team to develop a business case, while engagement firm make:good will lead two consultation sessions on the project starting in October.
The project is aiming to bring year-round activation to Royal Victoria Dock West, which closed to shipping in 1981 and is now a mixed-use area containing the Excel exhibition centre and high-rise housing on its north quay and Wilkinson Eyre’s Crystal Building, which contains City Hall, on the west.
Royal Docks Waterways is a not-for-profit organisation that manages, maintains and develops the Royal Docks on behalf of the Greater London Authority.
The organisation’s managing director Scott Derben said the organisation had been “impressed by the way Haptic Architects, Gort Scott and the wider team approached this project”.
He added: “They’ve identified how this project can act as a catalyst for the holistic improvement of all of Royal Victoria Dock West, carefully balancing public good with private investment to deliver London’s most welcoming, open and vibrant water-place.”
Haptic Architects director Scott Grady described the work as a “genuinely unique commission”.
“Royal Victoria Dock is a remarkable place with a long and layered history that we are building on,” he said.
“Our job is to bring new life to the water here thoughtfully, with proper care for the dock, its heritage, and its community, designing a place that enables more people to access and enjoy the benefits of being near London’s waterways,” he added.
A vision for the dock’s transformation was published in February this year, covering a 12ha area of water with three floating element elements consisting of a residential scheme, a wellness centre and a park. The project is targeting early phases of delivery within three to five years.
The floating wellness scheme is envisaged as a year-round wellbeing destination combining a floating lido, sauna and spa experience with improved open water facilities, with Royal Docks Waterways expected to decide its preferred developer-operator for the scheme by the end of this month.
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