Rope Makers Yard

Ropemakers Yard is a historic rope works factory in Stockport, Cheshire. The original site comprised of a three-storey mill building with a large surrounding single storey industrial unit which was a later addition. To the wider site, the industrial unit is to be replaced with a new apartment building, townhouses, and car parking. In total 28 new homes are provided. A single storey feature façade of historic interest is retained to screen the new apartment building.

Interfacing new structure with historic structures can be particularly challenging. This is especially true when wanting to achieve contemporary detailing. We carefully worked through a series of key details looking at crucial interfaces and produced a set of bespoke and carefully coordinated details in order to achieve the architectural design intent. The final structure comprises of a braced steel frame with transfer structure, cantilevered terraces (to pull foundations away from retained façade) and ground improvement foundation techniques. Early on in the design process we explored options for façade retention using our experience of temporary works design, to derive the most structurally efficient solution whilst meeting the constraints imposed by the contractor.