Inline Design was appointed as principal contractor for the full turnkey conversion of The Works – a derelict Grade II* listed Victorian boiler house on the banks of the River Medway in East Farleigh, Kent – into a contemporary corporate headquarters for Chord Electronics, the British hi-fi specialist.
Building Solution
Our involvement began at the inception of this project and spanned planning, design development, and full on-site delivery of the refurbishment and conversion programme – with the majority of construction works carried out by Inline Design’s own directly employed, multi-skilled trades. We introduced the client to Felix Lewis Architects, who went on to lead the architectural and interior design.
Following its completion, this award-winning project has been acclaimed as a landmark example of sensitive heritage conversion. The Works is a compelling demonstration of our capabilities as a principal contractor for complex heritage buildings – combining early-stage collaboration, project management, and delivery to the highest standards.
A Rare Example of British-Egyptian Architecture
Designed by engineer James Pilbrow in 1860, this building is a rare surviving example of Egyptian Revival architecture in Britain – a style that flourished briefly in the mid-nineteenth century, drawing on the grandeur of ancient temples.
Originally part of a Victorian waterworks, the structure was once crowned by a soaring obelisk chimney. Positioned adjacent to a medieval Grade I-listed bridge – believed to be the oldest in Kent – it has a unique and historic setting.
Prior to our involvement, the building had fallen into disuse and disrepair, suffering from an unsympathetic earlier conversion, water ingress at roof level, and recurring flood damage from its riverside location.
The Client, Chord Electronics, which already occupied the adjoining former pumphouse, acquired the building with the intention of creating a new flagship headquarters to reflect their premium global brand.
Scope of Works
As principal contractor responsible for full turnkey delivery, Inline Design managed the project from inception through to handover. This encompassed:
- Pre-construction: programme planning, value engineering, procurement and design co-ordination with the architectural and engineering team
- Heritage-compliant refurbishment of the building fabric, including repairs to brickwork and the removal of unsympathetic additions to restore its original character
- Full structural works – to support a new steel-clad rooftop extension, including installation of new steel beams, concrete padstones, relocation of wrought iron beams and glazed balcony at rooftop level
- Ground floor tanking and flood resilience – new concrete staircase, terrazzo and ceramic tiling, and the raising of all M&E systems above potential flood levels
- Internal fitout across three floors – drylining, partitioning, bespoke joinery, glazed partitions etched with hieroglyph-inspired motifs, and a new timber and steel staircase within a glazed enclosure
- Full integration of M&E services including through the retained chimney shaft and co-ordination of lighting design
- External works – new steel windows and landscaping.
Project Challenges
- Heritage compliance: Every element of this conversion to offices was subject to close scrutiny from planning and heritage authorities. The work had to remain fully compliant with the listed building status and all interventions had to be sympathetic to the building’s exceptional architectural character.
- Flood resilience: The riverside location of the building required a comprehensive flood mitigation strategy, integrating structural tanking, robust material selection and revised services layouts without compromising the quality or aesthetics of the internal spaces.
- Constrained site: The building’s location adjacent to the River Medway and a Grade I-listed bridge presented significant logistical constraints for access, plant movement and materials deliveries throughout the refurbishment programme.
- Complex rooftop extension: The new Corten steel-clad mansard extension required precision engineering, with new structural steel frames craned into position and intricate detailing where contemporary materials met the original building fabric.
- Programme management: Delivering a technically-complex heritage conversion to a fixed programme, managing multiple specialist packages alongside in-house skilled trades, whilst maintaining build quality at each stage.
Our Approach
Inline Design’s approach combined collaborative design management and the discipline of a lean, in-house delivery model for a complex and multi-layered construction project. This ensured that the client’s vision for a headquarters and workspace which embody both the precision of their brand and the extraordinary heritage of the building – was fully realised.
Our in-house teams carried out drylining, partitioning, joinery, flooring, tiling, decorating and elements of the external envelope works, with specialist sub-packages closely managed and monitored by our project management team.
Project Insight
Lee Yeates, Managing Director, Inline Design:
“This project was about embracing the extraordinary character of a rare piece of Egyptian Revival architecture, whilst ensuring that it could support a contemporary business in a challenging riverside location.
By drawing on historic references and keeping flood resilience at the core, this scheme has created a workplace that honours the past, responds to the present and provides a sustainable legacy for the future.
The geometry for a building of this size was challenging. It was a very constrained site and a listed heritage building. The finished scheme looks amazing and the quality of finishing that our team achieved was to a high standard. It was a privilege to work on such a unique and ambitious restoration project.”
Awards
- BCO – British Council for Offices Award for South of England Regional Awards – Refurbished / Recycled Workplace
- BCO – British Council for Offices National Awards – finalist
- RIBS South East Awards – finalist
Project architects – Felix Lewis Architects | Architectural photography – Chris Snook
