The 20-acre waterside site in Wisbech has been transformed into a mixed-use development designed to exceed modern building standards, while creating a perfect location for local, national and international businesses.
The centrepiece of the development is ‘The Boathouse’, a complex design on the bank of the river Nene, designed in the shape of a boat. Despite having to withstand severe weather and salt corrosion, the design incorporates wide-bay curtain walling and a faceted configuration.
For the Wisbech project, commissioned by Fenland District Council, Devizes-based supplier of advanced glazing systems Wrightstyle has installed glazing systems and fire doors to protect fire escape routes. The firm has worked closely with the Council to design a solution to meet the architectural requirements of Feilden + Mawson LLP.
Lee Coates, Wrightstyle’s technical director, stated that the Boathouse involved some real design challenges in terms of developing and fabricating a fire safety solution for a completely unique building design.
The Boathouse, highly commended in the most recent Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Awards, is an integral part of creating a gateway to the Wash and to the network of inland canals stretching into Cambridgeshire and the Midlands – an asset that had been in decline. The site, derelict for 20 years, is now a tourist attraction for the town and a major catalyst for further development.
The Boathouse is the focal point of a wider regeneration project that also has a new business centre, yacht club, and leisure facilities. The strategic vision for the site, its ergonomic design and environmentally-friendly design features are expected to make it an example of excellence for other regeneration projects across the country.
Wrightstyle has been closely involved in a number of regeneration projects, in the UK and internationally, most notably for a recent scheme in Hong Kong, now recognised as a milestone in urban renewal, and which includes a 53-storey office tower, a 5-star hotel with 665 bedrooms, rooftop swimming pool and a 600,000 square feet shopping mall.
UK-based Wrightstyle is a specialist provider of integrated fire-rated steel and glass glazing systems for both the domestic and international markets, with a comprehensive range of guaranteed products offering both internal and external fire, ballistic and blast protection.
