Rafter Walk

Rafter Walk

Rafter Walk

With deck and balustrade made from durable, red-stained hardwood, the walkway forms the eye-catching centre piece of British Land’s wider redevelopment of the Canada Water area. The striking geometry of the boardwalk’s design was defined by architect Asif Khan.

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Seeking to connect the walkway to the heritage of the area, the design references the trade history of the Surrey Docks where timber rafters, delivered from Canada and the Baltic, were unloaded and floated on the water.

The architects undertook an in-depth testing process to inform timber selection and surface treatments, particularly how to achieve the red colour scheme.

The geometry of the design, particularly the double curvature in plan, was harnessed by structural engineers Whitby Wood and exploited to find an efficient structural solution.

Timber specialist Xylotek worked closely with Whitby Wood to develop the deck cassette design in detail, fabricate the cassettes and install them onsite.

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