The sport of rowing is about simplicity, weight, power, geometry and physics. All play a role in the creation of the beautiful light weight sculling boats which glide across the water, razor sharp hulls pushing forward, oars cutting patterns in the surface as the boat moves.

There is a timeless quality about the River Thames at Chiswick, its historic pastoral landscape seems closer than at other places on the river further downstream. The ancient trees along the banks, the open spaces and greenery of Dukes Meadow, the Cemetery and Crematorium and the Polytechnic sports ground create a man made, open, green landscape.

To be granted an opportunity to work here on the River Thames was an honour for AST*. The project (which gained planning consent in August 2019) will create a new outreach programme offering elite sport to those from a varied background. The new boat house will be built alongside the 1920 Arts and Crafts home of The Quintin Boat Club.

The club was founded in 1888 by Quintin Hogg the philanthropist behind the Polytechnic movement (founder of the Regent Street Polytechnic which became the University of Westminster) who’s legacy is guarded by the Quintin Hogg Trust, our clients.

The field around the club house had historically been used for Rugby and the University of Westminster had been unable to use the field due to its poor condition for over a decade.

AST* developed the brief for the whole site, alongside the club and client body from RIBA stage 0, establishing the aims for the outreach agenda first and the parameters for a new Boat House, refurbishment of the existing club house, a new Rugby Pavilion and 4G artificial pitch. AST* are now retained to masterplan the sporting uses on the site to the north of Hartington Road with the objective of creating and generating capital and revenue returns from the land to allow the development of a major community sports facility on the historic site.