Thames Wharf Studios
Encyclopedia
Thames Wharf Studios, in Hammersmith
, London, was originally an industrial site containing the Duckham's oil facility overlooking the River Thames
in Hammersmith
. It was acquired by the Richard Rogers Partnership
in 1983, which converted the industrial complex of redundant 20th century warehouses into offices, workshops, housing and a restaurant.
in 1921, and major expansions occurred in 1940 and 1948. Another works was established in Birmingham
during World War II, and by the late 1960s Duckham had become the largest selling brand of motor oil in the country. The company was bought by BP in 1970, and the works at Thames Wharf were closed in 1979.
The site was developed as architectural practice offices, lettable workshops and office units (within the refurbished warehouse blocks) and new housing. The Richard Rogers
office's double-height entrance lobby has been developed as an informal gallery where project models are exhibited on steel racks. Throughout the building new elements are expressed in a bold industrial manner, often using primary colours. On the ground floor of the site is The River Café (London)
, which opened in 1987. The café looks out over a private landscaped area that extends to the river walkway. The two-storey rooftop extension to the office space, shaped like a 'bread bin', was designed by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
, an architectural practice that had offices within the Thames Wharf complex but has since moved
to Island Studios, 22 St Peter's Square
. Completed in 1991, the extension’s great semi-circular roof provides a lightweight expression of the activities carried out below.
The remainder of the freeholds have been owned since 2007 by 2 Guernsey companies and a pension fund which acquired John Young and Richard Rogers' share of the freehold interests in 2007. Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
, formerly the Richard Rogers Partnership, remain as tenants, as do The River Café
who both have leases expiring in December 2015.
In 2009 the 1st floor office space was let by Thames Wharf Studios's consultants, Frost Meadowcroft
, to Pokémon
the video and card game company. Other current tenants include Green Dot Ltd, the UK subsidiary of Grüne Punkt GmbH , a Europe wide waste recycling company http://www.gruener-punkt.de/en/duales-system-deutschland-gmbh.html, Clicked Creative Ltd, a digital media company http://www.clickedcreative.com/about, international law firms McAllister Olivarius and HRO Grant Dawe LLP.
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, London, was originally an industrial site containing the Duckham's oil facility overlooking the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
. It was acquired by the Richard Rogers Partnership
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners is a British architectural firm. Established in 2007, it was previously known as the Richard Rogers Partnership....
in 1983, which converted the industrial complex of redundant 20th century warehouses into offices, workshops, housing and a restaurant.
History
Duckham was founded in 1899 and established a good reputation in the field of lubrication for industrial machinery and motor vehicles. By the early 1920s the Duckham range of oils was officially recommended by more than 60 British car manufacturers. Production and product research had started with 10 men at a small works in Millwall. The company moved to HammersmithHammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
in 1921, and major expansions occurred in 1940 and 1948. Another works was established in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
during World War II, and by the late 1960s Duckham had become the largest selling brand of motor oil in the country. The company was bought by BP in 1970, and the works at Thames Wharf were closed in 1979.
The site was developed as architectural practice offices, lettable workshops and office units (within the refurbished warehouse blocks) and new housing. The Richard Rogers
Richard Rogers
Richard George Rogers, Baron Rogers of Riverside CH Kt FRIBA FCSD is a British architect noted for his modernist and functionalist designs....
office's double-height entrance lobby has been developed as an informal gallery where project models are exhibited on steel racks. Throughout the building new elements are expressed in a bold industrial manner, often using primary colours. On the ground floor of the site is The River Café (London)
The River Café (London)
The River Café is a restaurant in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, London, England, specializing in Italian cuisine. It is owned and run by chef Ruth Rogers and until early 2010, Rose Gray....
, which opened in 1987. The café looks out over a private landscaped area that extends to the river walkway. The two-storey rooftop extension to the office space, shaped like a 'bread bin', was designed by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands
Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands is a practice of architects, urban designers and masterplanners established in 1986 and practicing out of London.-History:...
, an architectural practice that had offices within the Thames Wharf complex but has since moved
to Island Studios, 22 St Peter's Square
22 St Peter's Square (London)
22 St Peter's Square, in Hammersmith, London, is a grade II Listed building with a former laundry that has been converted to an architects' studio and office building. It has previously been Island Records' Headquarters and recording studios and The Royal Chiswick Laundry...
. Completed in 1991, the extension’s great semi-circular roof provides a lightweight expression of the activities carried out below.
Present day
Founder partner of the Richard Rogers Partnership and RIBA past president, Marco Goldschmied sold his share of the freehold interest in 2010 .The remainder of the freeholds have been owned since 2007 by 2 Guernsey companies and a pension fund which acquired John Young and Richard Rogers' share of the freehold interests in 2007. Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners is a British architectural firm. Established in 2007, it was previously known as the Richard Rogers Partnership....
, formerly the Richard Rogers Partnership, remain as tenants, as do The River Café
The River Café
The River Café or The River Cafe is used by several restaurants including:*The River Café *The River Café *The River Cafe *The River Cafe...
who both have leases expiring in December 2015.
In 2009 the 1st floor office space was let by Thames Wharf Studios's consultants, Frost Meadowcroft
Frost Meadowcroft
Frost Meadowcroft is a professional services company specialising in commercial property consultancy. Its offices are at 22 St Peter's Square former offices of Island Records and at 181 Kensington High Street...
, to Pokémon
Pokémon
is a media franchise published and owned by the video game company Nintendo and created by Satoshi Tajiri in 1996. Originally released as a pair of interlinkable Game Boy role-playing video games developed by Game Freak, Pokémon has since become the second most successful and lucrative video...
the video and card game company. Other current tenants include Green Dot Ltd, the UK subsidiary of Grüne Punkt GmbH , a Europe wide waste recycling company http://www.gruener-punkt.de/en/duales-system-deutschland-gmbh.html, Clicked Creative Ltd, a digital media company http://www.clickedcreative.com/about, international law firms McAllister Olivarius and HRO Grant Dawe LLP.
