Short's Gardens is a stunning project that captures the essence of contemporary development. By blending restoration with carefully designed new construction, the revitalisation breathes new life into the building, creating unique and unexpected opportunities for both commercial and residential spaces.

The design has split the existing 7.5 metre high basement into two levels, and adds two floors to each building. The result is a vibrant mixed-use destination in the heart of Covent Garden, London. All of this was accomplished while maintaining sensitivity to the historic context and enhancing the streetscape.

But it wasn’t without it’s challenges. Delivering Short’s Gardens required navigating a series of technical and logistical hurdles. The proximity of the Elizabeth Line underground tunnel, located 14 metres below the site, posed a unique conundrum, requiring innovative solutions to control vibrations and maintain structural integrity.

Charles Jordan, Director and Architect commented; ‘this intricate delivery was successfully achieved thanks to the use of BIM which enabled full integration with all partners and stakeholders, throughout the project, crucial in the context of a retrofit.'

To address the vibrations caused by UKPN's equipment, with whom the site shares a party wall, we decoupled the structures of both buildings using acoustic pads and attenuation techniques.

Additionally, the narrow streets of Covent Garden added layers of complexity to the design and construction process, however the site’s constraints were expertly handled through collaborative efforts and forward thinking solutions.

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