Embracing Tension : Wandsworth Gas Works, London | Architecture Thesis on Urban Revitalization

Site Context

The proposed site sits off Smugglers Way in Wandsworth, London, adjacent to the Western Riverside Waste Authority facility designed by Chamberlain, Powell and Bon. The facility sorts waste from nearby councils and sends it for recycling or ships it by barge for incineration.

The WRWA sits in a protected wharf in an old factory area, now the only bastion of industry left, residential development encroaches from all sides, including a new council-led masterplan to demolish the remainder of industrial structures nearby. Previously home to a gas and chemical works the ground is heavily contaminated and is covered with a concrete capping layer.

Design Process

Design began with an intense scrutiny of existing conditions, examining contamination, social and economic conditions and existing resources. This painted a picture of a site that was positioned to be a culmination and meeting point for the area. But had been neglected, forgotten and under utilised. Many models, sketches and testing started to respond to the brief, eventually building towards a ‘floating’ building, lifted above its context.

Observations of typologies along the Wandle revealed repetition of several elements. Firstly, elevated structures that touch at small points on the ground, built for efficiency, allowing a program above and another below. Secondly, a series of temporal ad hoc structures, built from available materials and modified as needed. Thirdly a language of security, fences, barriers and obstacles at thresholds to prevent the mixing of different zonal uses.

Final Outcome

Layering: A masterplan guides the rollout of experimental gas works and a Thames Clipper terminal, integrating ecological, tectonic, and landscape strategies to transform an underutilized site in the Wandle Delta into a complex mixed-use area. It combines pedestrian, bicycle, and water transit with leisure and industry, aiming to engage with the site’s history, current industrial use, and unique character through curiosity, discovery, and functionality.

The main building is open at ground level for soil remediation, HGV access to WRWA, flood resilience, and program expansion. A courtyard with an angled operable canopy supports reused red moment frames, carrying the roof and loggia while also holding green truss members. This design connects Smuggler’s Way to the Thames Clipper terminal. Nearby, the production building converts waste plastic into graphene and hydrogen. It’s slightly elevated for flood resilience and features a small veranda by the water collection pond for seating.

The first floor features a shaded loggia offering communal space for employees and the public. It separates the entrance lobby from the private South zone for employees. The North houses a public canteen, while the South contains labs for hydrogen and graphene testing. An office oversees production and fueling operations.

The building is designed to be visually engaging from afar and within. Visible connections and color-coded structural members indicate the origin of each element. The open structure supports vegetation growth, bird nesting, and easy maintenance. A polycarbonate facade shelters the structure while showcasing the steel frame. Circular apertures echo silo and pipe infrastructure, as well as existing WRWA ventilation. Columns penetrate the facade to support the roof, while a butterfly roof admits neutral north light. The building minimally touches the ground, reflecting a ‘light touch’ approach to the heavily used, contaminated site.

The outer facade is polycarbonate mounted on a lightweight steel frame. The inner envelope is clad with corrugated steel sheeting and accented with recycled glazed green tilling. Operable polycarbonate panels can be arranged to match weather conditions and activity within the building.

Weaving: Weaving describes the blending of industry and leisure, new and old structures, and found and proposed ecologies at the gas works. This strategy reduces environmental impacts, creating an architecture that responds to its context. By integrating materials, structures, and programs, the proposal forms a sustainable design that engages with its surroundings rather than sterilizing them.

R.S.R. Fitter, a pioneer of urban ecology, recognized that urban ‘nature’ is intertwined with human activity. The site hosts several disconnected green corridors. Proposed low-tide pathways enhance existing ecology, while new plantings bridge gaps, connecting these corridors and linking Wandsworth to the Thames Clipper terminal. This strategy creates routes for both animals and people.

The concrete cap will be drilled and filled with soil for tree planting to start phyto-remediation. Tree roots will gradually break up the concrete, using natural ruination for rehabilitation. Vegetation and structure will provide summer shading. Some species may not survive in the contaminated soil, so planting will be adjusted based on their response. Debris from initial trees will create new habitats for small mammals, insects, and plants. Partially excavated ponds and rills will collect runoff, and reed beds will treat greywater before it returns to the Wandle River, improving flood mitigation.

Pushing & Pulling: A series of smaller, temporary structures are proposed near Wandsworth town centre, echoing the main building’s use of found and new elements. Designed for disassembly, they lightly touch the ground and feature silos, pipes, canopies, and trusses, supporting the ecological strategy. These structures guide green corridors north from the Wandle valley while extending the architecture south, creating a cohesive route.

The northern site features the Thames bank pedestrian path, new routes from the south, and the Thames Clipper terminal, complete with a waiting room and pavilion. This area is designed to facilitate travel in both directions while serving as a destination for day and night events, sunbathing, and enjoying views of the WRWA cranes, tide changes, and ferry activity. It also connects the site to the rest of London via green-powered transport.

Synthesis: In order for a dialectic architecture to functionally inhabit the ‘cracks’ on site, rather than patch them over, the proposal hinges on the synthesis of all elements to create a complex and balanced series of programmes; weaving, layering, pushing and pulling to reach an equilibrium of use. “Thin, cranked, jagged lines infiltrate development like cracks in the pavement. They are guided here by a stream, there by disused infrastructure, seeking to connect miscellaneous amenities.” – Irenee Scalbert

The proposal forms a canopy structure with ‘trunks’ that touch down at small points, allowing for vertical layering of programs and providing access, flood response, and shade over the concrete. This integrates with vegetation to create habitat and rehabilitate soil, facilitating water retention and plant growth. Over time, tree roots will initiate phyto-remediation, creating a unified system of canopies and roots that enhance transport links, engage with surrounding ecology, and serve nearby residential developments, establishing a needed climatic destination along the Thames bank.

Conclusion:  Ultimately, this project challenges us to rethink how production and urban life interact, exploring whether industrial processes can enhance rather than detract from city experiences. By utilizing the concept of ruination, the proposal transforms neglected spaces into serene environments that foster rehabilitation and ecological awareness. The initiative advocates for an integrated urban fabric where transport, production, and recreation coexist harmoniously. It envisions a future where these elements intertwine, enriching the urban landscape and enhancing community well-being.

[This Academic Project has been published with text submitted by the student]