“A new community exhibition space on the River Lea in Cody Dock”
Simon Myers of Cody Dock approached me in 2023 with the idea of a building, with an upturned boat as the roof. Not just any boat, but a 1914 lifeboat called the “Frederick Kitchen”
The idea of combining my love of boats and my fabrication led design practise was incredibly exciting so I immediately said yes please.
I had to tender to get the contract for the design work, and once that was done, I was delighted to go for and get the project of delivering this building. A new exhibition space for the community around Newham and the River Lea.
Not many people get the chance to take an idea all the way through the process up to the final screw in the final piece of timber, but I am happy to say that’s exactly what we did. I have been supported as always by a large network of people, both from the Gasworks Partnership at Cody Dock as well Jake and Ryan and Colin at the workshop, and all the many many suppliers needed to make this happen.
Boat House
Last night we celebrated the launch of the Boat House in Cody Dock. It's a project I've been working on since October 2023 - one of the longest and deepest projects I've ever been involved with.
The boat itself - the Frederick Kitchen - is a 1914 Watson class lifeboat that has been restored lovingly by Tom Myers and his talented crew, plus a fantastic input from the local community and volunteers.
The building - I have had the privilege of taking this from concept through to delivery, all in house. With help along the way from so many people - from volunteers to groundworkers to metalworkers. I'm incredibly lucky to be able to both develop this through drawing and fabricate it with my amazing guys and gals here at Nicholas Alexander.
I should also mention our fantastic structural engineers from Blue Engineering James Nevin and Tommaso Pascucci and the rest of the office - they give me the space to be creative while making sure we have a safe, durable structure.
Towards the end, we had the opportunity to install a permanent artwork on the main doors of the project and we were very lucky to secure the marvellous Bethan Maddocks who created a full size paper cut, that we reproduced in laser cut Corten steel.
These last two weeks have taken a superhuman effort all round, so I want to pay tribute to all the people involved, and make one special mention of Simon Myers of the Gasworks Dock Partnership. It takes real vision and faith, plus a heck of a lot of hard work to have pulled this all together, so it was great to share a drink last night and celebrate.
It's apt that we have rescued a boat that spent its working life rescuing others. Because, somewhere in the process, it has rescued me too.
With thanks to:
Simon Myers and all at Gasworks Dock Partnership
National Lottery Heritage Fund
James Nevin at Blue Engineering
Nicolas Henninger at OfCA
Tom Myers and the restoration team
James and Scott at James Hoyle & Son
Richard Thorne at Custom Moulded Polyurethane
Thomas Lyford at Timbersource
Steve Harding at A.S.D.
Adam Burmingham at River Profiles
Joseph Ash Galvanising Medway
European Glass Group
Chris Kelly at Kelform
Teya-Ann Mills
Bethan Maddocks
Jacob Hatcher and Ryan Hillier and Colin Allen
Plus many more...