infrastructure/engineering
Hunt & Steward (1894), 1894
The Lock House, Ranelagh Drive, TW1 1QZ
The Lock House is part of Richmond Lock & Weir, on the left bank of the Thames at Richmond. Originally home to the resident lock keeper, it is now the design studio and exhibition space of Astronaut Kawada, architects and designers. They have fully refurbished the interior of the Lock House to create a series of spaces to complement the remarkable and unique qualities of the main structure.
Richmond
Richmond
H37
External space has level access. Internal space via 3 steps, with handrails. Parking on street. Area liable to flooding at high tides.
Access and seating on quayside and internally
The Lock House is part of the Grade 2* listed Richmond Lock & Weir, on the left bank of the Thames at Richmond, which was completed in 1894 and still fully functioning. Originally home to one of the resident lock keepers, for a time it housed the river Police, but it is now the design studio and exhibition space of Astronaut Kawada, architects and designers. On the 130th anniversary of its construction, they have fully refurbished the interior of the Lock House to create a series of spaces to complement the remarkable and unique qualities of the main structure. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the interior of the Lock House and enjoy its relationship with the main Lock & Weir structure that it is part of. Level access is available to enjoy the view from the quayside of the Lock House, while entry to the interior is via three steps.
The Lock House is a working design studio and also an exhibition space. An exhibition will coincide with Open House, giving an insight into some specific work of the practice, inspired by nature and the positive potential of humanity to co-exist in balance. Our projects cross boundaries between the architectures of human and natural habitat.
After last year's OpenHouse at The Lock House, this year we hope to coordinate with the adjoining working Lock House run by the Port of London Authority Lock Keepers on the other side. This will allow visitors to experience two contrasting parts of Richmond Lock & Weir and see how the two buildings and spaces compare. Of our 3 day event, we will coordinate 1 day with the PLA on the 20th only.
NB. Visitors will also need to register their visit with the PLA Richmond Lock & Weir on 20th, to control numbers to the working Lock side. Refer to their Open House entry for registration and ticketing.
