Architectural practice staff complete 'Last Loop' on Thames before move to City
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Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners has moved out of its long-term headquarters on Hammersmith's riverside, and into its new home in the Leadenhall Building, nicknamed the Cheesegrater in the City of London.
Before the move on Monday December 14, staff at the famous architectural practice said goodbye to their old home in Thames Wharf by running, walking and cycling 'The Last Loop' along the river.
For nearly 30 years,the practice's staff have enjoyed the riverside location by completing The Loop – from the office to Hammersmith Bridge and onto Putney Bridge then returning to the office – at lunchtime.
Andrew Morris, Senior Partner at RSHP, waved the flag at the start line as 36 staff raced off to complete the five mile circuit. Everyone who participated received a congratulatory, brightly coloured, RSHP medal presented by Partner, Ian Birtles.
Organiser Phil Dennis said: "For some it was their first time round, others have been many times before, but for all of us, it was our last!"
Staff also posed for a last picture outside the icnonic offices which also house Hammersmith's most famous restaurant, the River Cafe run by Lady Rogers, wife of architect Richard Rogers.
The practice's departure clears the way for developer London & Regional Properties to go ahead with the redevelopment of Thames Wharf.
The Livingstone brothers' property company and partner Knightsbridge Holdings intend to demolish the existing buildings and build two new apartment blocks which will be six to nine storeys high.
The scheme will also retain and convert buildings fronting Rainville Road, providing a total of 57 residential units, as well as some office and retail space.
The planning application, which gained approval from H&F Council in July, is as follows:
Demolition of existing buildings adjacent to the River Thames and redevelopment of the site comprising the construction of two buildings with balconies (one part six, part seven-storey and one part six, part seven, part nine-storey plus mezzanine) together with the retention and conversion of the buildings fronting Rainville Road; provision of a total of 57 residential units (Class C3); 699 sq.m ground floor office space (Class B1); 116 sq.m flexible restaurant/office space (Class B1/A3) and retention of a 544 sq.m restaurant (Class A3); with new access arrangements, basement car parking; cycle parking and associated landscaping.
Richard - now Lord - Rogers set up the practice in 1977 and in 1983 the practice acquired Thames Wharf Studios and converted the site from the Duckham’s oil facility into offices, workshops, housing and the ground floor River Cafe.
News of the impending redevelopment caused speculation earlier this year about the future of the River Cafe. However Ruth Rogers, who has run the restaurant for three decades since launching it with partner Rose Gray who died in 2010, confirmed in an interview last month that it will continue inn the redevelopmed Wharf.
She told the Evening Standard: " We have a really good relationship with Ian Livingstone and he wants to keep the River Cafe as the iconic restaurant it is.
"The development is going to be respectful of it, including the gardens outside."
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