The Dock Shed, Canada Water
Mace Group, London
Rather than using conventional vertical balusters, the design called for steel sections shaped to resemble timber planks. Each section twists through 90 degrees, creating a changing profile across the façade. This allows residents and building users to maintain views towards Canada Dock while the density of the metalwork also contributes to shading the full-height glazing behind.
Turning the architectural concept into a repeatable manufactured solution presented a significant engineering challenge. Alloy Fabweld needed to produce large quantities of steel sections with an accurate and consistent twist, ensuring that every component aligned correctly once assembled across the extensive terraces.
To solve this challenge, Alloy Fabweld designed and manufactured a bespoke machine specifically for forming the twisted steel sections. This allowed the team to control the geometry throughout production, combining repeatability with the precision required to achieve the architect’s original design intent.
Galvanizing provided the steelwork with durable corrosion protection suited to the exposed waterside environment while allowing the intricate fabricated sections to retain their distinctive appearance. The quality and technical innovation behind the solution led to Alloy Fabweld’s Canada Water work being featured in the 2024 Galvanizing Awards.
The balustrades play both an architectural and practical role within The Dock Shed. Their twisting profiles create texture, movement and changing shadows across the elevations, while providing edge protection, views towards the dock and passive solar shading. The result is a piece of architectural metalwork that responds directly to both the building’s environmental requirements and its industrial design story.
Alloy Fabweld’s contribution to The Dock Shed demonstrates the value of combining design development with in-house engineering and manufacturing expertise. By developing a bespoke production method to solve an unusual fabrication challenge, the team helped turn an ambitious architectural idea into a durable, repeatable and visually distinctive feature for one of Canada Water’s flagship buildings.
"Alloy Fabweld brought technical ingenuity and manufacturing expertise to a highly distinctive element of The Dock Shed. Their bespoke approach to producing the twisted steel balustrades helped realise the architectural vision with consistency and precision, creating a durable feature that contributes to both the character and performance of the building."
Project Manager
Façade, Rails, Cladding, Balustrades, Balconies
The Dock Shed is a landmark mixed-use building within the major Canada Water regeneration in South East London. Developed by British Land and AustralianSuper and delivered by Mace, the building forms part of a 53-acre masterplan creating a new town centre with homes, workspace, retail, leisure facilities, parks and public spaces.
Designed by Allies and Morrison, The Dock Shed takes its architectural inspiration from the historic timber warehouses that once lined the Surrey Docks. Its exposed structural frame, distinctive saw-tooth roof and plank-like detailing reinterpret the industrial character of the area in a contemporary way, creating a strong connection between the new development and Canada Water’s dockside heritage.
Alloy Fabweld was appointed to deliver specialist architectural metalwork for the project, with the dock-facing balcony and terrace balustrades forming one of the building’s most distinctive features.
