Bouchon Bistrot

Bouchon Bistrot is a well-established restaurant in the heart of Hexham, Northumberland and as part of its popularity required additional usable space and modernisation of the existing building. The Home Engineers (NE) Ltd provided the structural design for the three-storey rear extension and refurbishment of the Grade II Listed Building. The rear extension was designed as a braced steel frame which forms the new kitchen and two additional floors of usable space for the restaurant. The extension also benefits from an external terrace. The steel frame comprises of hot rolled steel columns and beams which provide support to cold rolled joists with a ‘lewis’ deck and screed over. Due to the ground conditions on site it was necessary for the structure to be built on piled foundations.
The main challenges on this site were restrictions regarding installation of the steel frame due to working in a relatively confined space. Therefore, it was imperative that we developed a light-weight steel frame structure with an appropriate phasing plan of how installation could be achieved. As part of the proposals the existing Listed building was also refurbished. The refurbishment included structural alterations meaning new structural steelwork needed to be installed above the proposed structural openings to support the existing load bearing elements above. We also specified a series of remedial works for defected areas.

Architect: 33 Architecture