The Douglas fir primary frame is laid out, marked, cut and pre-fitted in the carpentry workshop.  It will be planed and oiled before delivery and the framing team will keep it as clean as possible during construction.

The structural design of this building incorporates stainless steel bracing, to minimise visual and physical impact on the internal space.  Here is one of the stainless steel plates being fitted flush to the frame.

The roof, floor and wall panels are pre-fabricated in the workshop.

The completed panels are checked carefully before being numbered and stacked, ready for delivery to site.

This building uses timber pad foundations, similar to a method employed by the Romans.  We used recycled greenheart baulks that were re-sawn.  Greenheart is increadibly durable.  Originally trees grown in West Africa, greenheart timbers have been used in sea defenses around the UK.  This method precluded teh need for poured concrete.

The floor beams are supported by the greenheart post and foundation pads.  The pads incorporate pairs of folding wedges allowing the beams to be very accurately levelled and held square by the temporary braces.  The undercroft allows for plenty of ventilation to the underside of the building which will help to maintain teh condition of the timber elements.

The ground floor panels have been delivered and are being lifted into position with the crane.  They will help to stiffen the frame and confirm the accurate setting out of the beams.

Following the deck panels, the frame is raised using the floor panels as a safe working platform.

Access scaffolding was erected allowing work to continue on the building safely.  The roof panels are lifted into position by a crane.  Each panel edge has a seal that engages with its neighbour to ensure a tight fit.

The glass and glazing has now been fitted and the sub-floor deck is being laid along with battens to the ceiling and walls that provide a service void.  The void helps to future-proof the building and maintains its thermal performance, by avoiding any disturbance to the insulated panels.

The external cladding is made from home-grown larch, machined to finish flush.  The building's architectural detailing includes stainless steel capped corners.

The roof is finished with a stainless steel standing seem covering.  The durability and security it offers is necessary for this central London site.  The material is 100% recycleable.

Now that the roof, cladding and security panels have been fitted, the balcony framework is raised.

The restaurant is now fully functional.  It has been a very popular place to eat and the light and airy, well ventilated building amply fulfills its purpose.

From the outside the restaurant looks warm and inviting.