One of the areas Grainge Architects specialise in is creative refurbishments of existing buildings.
A recent example of this is with the newly opened Rockfish Seafood Restaurant, Salcombe. The mid-20th century water-side building has seen many lives – originally used for storing and repairing boats, later converted to retail as The Old Factory Shop. It is fair to say that in recent years the building has been in decline – and a lot of imagination was needed to bring the abandoned discount store back to life.
Located within both the Salcombe Conservation Area and the South Devon National Landscape (AONB), the project carefully balances heritage and modern design. A key focus was to retain and enhance its original industrial character, stripping back the layers to reveal the original roof structure and stonework. The building has also been sensitively modernised, with top of the range kitchen and building services and contemporary interior design, finishes and lighting, to create a new destination on the water’s edge.
The result is a vibrant waterfront restaurant and taproom for Rockfish and Salcombe Brewery. Rockfish prides itself on providing the freshest seafood in coastal locations, and where better to enjoy it than overlooking the Kingsbridge Estuary from a former boat workshop.
Grainge are proud to have worked with Rockfish on a number of projects, including their Exeter restaurant, with the repeated partnership serving as a testament to the trust that we build with our clients.
If you have an existing building where you feel its potential is being overlooked, do not hesitate to get in touch.
– A view of the original discount store, overlooking the mooring area at low tide –
– A view of the original store interior, stripped back and with no reference to the original use as a boat workshop –
– The new interior, both industrial and contemporary, with views to the outer terrace and waterfront beyond –
– Interior design by Day Studio in close collaboration with the architecture –
– The new waterfront elevation, giving the historic boat shed a new life –