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Raising The Swiss Chalet Above the Thames Floodplain

  • RRA coordinated the extraordinary lifting of The Swiss Chalet on the banks of the Thames, raising an entire late-19th-century timber building, above floodplain to reduce the risk of future flooding.
  • Status: Completed 2014
  • Value: Undisclosed
  • Location: Hampton, Richmond upon Thames
  • Structural Engineer: Fairhurst
  • Specialist Lifting Contractor: Mammoet
  • Photo Credits: RRA and Absolute Homes
  • Categories: Conservation & Heritage
  • Tags: Architecture, Building Lifting, Flood Protection, Flood Resilience, Historic Building Conservation, Swiss Chalet
Completed multi-storey timber Swiss Chalet with carved balconies, external staircase and bamboo planting beside the River Thames near Hampton Court.
Aerial view of The Swiss Chalet within its landscaped riverside grounds, with the River Thames, pontoons and surrounding houses visible.
View from the carved timber balcony of The Swiss Chalet across its garden towards boats and moorings on the River Thames.
Five-frame animation showing the base of The Swiss Chalet lifting from ground level until people can stand beneath the raised building.
Side-by-side front views labelled Height Before and Height After, showing The Swiss Chalet raised above its original position.
Mammoet lifting team in red workwear passing hardwood cribbing blocks beside the timber base of The Swiss Chalet.
Mammoet operative positioning a hydraulic jack above interlocking hardwood blocks beneath The Swiss Chalet during the lift.
Mammoet operatives in high-visibility clothing gathered beneath the raised building, with hydraulic equipment and two hardwood cribbing towers visible.
Close view of interlocking hardwood blocks with red-painted ends forming a temporary support tower beneath The Swiss Chalet.
Upward view beneath the dark timber balconies of The Swiss Chalet, showing carved lattice panels, supporting posts and projecting eaves.
Low-angle view of the multi-storey timber Swiss Chalet with Mammoet banners fixed across its decorative balconies during the lifting operation.
  • Completed multi-storey timber Swiss Chalet with carved balconies, external staircase and bamboo planting beside the River Thames near Hampton Court.
  • Aerial view of The Swiss Chalet within its landscaped riverside grounds, with the River Thames, pontoons and surrounding houses visible.
  • View from the carved timber balcony of The Swiss Chalet across its garden towards boats and moorings on the River Thames.
  • Five-frame animation showing the base of The Swiss Chalet lifting from ground level until people can stand beneath the raised building.
  • Side-by-side front views labelled Height Before and Height After, showing The Swiss Chalet raised above its original position.
  • Mammoet lifting team in red workwear passing hardwood cribbing blocks beside the timber base of The Swiss Chalet.
  • Mammoet operative positioning a hydraulic jack above interlocking hardwood blocks beneath The Swiss Chalet during the lift.
  • Mammoet operatives in high-visibility clothing gathered beneath the raised building, with hydraulic equipment and two hardwood cribbing towers visible.
  • Close view of interlocking hardwood blocks with red-painted ends forming a temporary support tower beneath The Swiss Chalet.
  • Upward view beneath the dark timber balconies of The Swiss Chalet, showing carved lattice panels, supporting posts and projecting eaves.
  • Low-angle view of the multi-storey timber Swiss Chalet with Mammoet banners fixed across its decorative balconies during the lifting operation.

Protecting a Riverside Landmark

Prominently positioned beside the Thames near Hampton Court, The Swiss Chalet is a familiar and unmistakable riverside landmark. The timber building is understood to have been prefabricated in Switzerland and brought to England in 1882, originally serving as an ornamental garden building and boathouse for the a large estate.

Its waterside position was fundamental to its character, but also left it vulnerable to flooding. In 2014, RRA undertook a full condition assessment, secured the necessary planning consents and coordinated the specialist team responsible for an unusually ambitious solution, to raise the complete building above the floodplain.

Lifting the Entire Building

Rather than dismantling the delicate timber structure, The Chalet was lifted intact using eight carefully synchronised hydraulic jacks. The building rose in increments of approximately ten centimetres, with hardwood blocks, known as cribbing blocks, progressively assembled beneath it to form temporary supporting towers.

The critical moment came with the first centimetre of movement, when daylight finally appeared beneath the structure and confirmed that it had separated cleanly from its supports. From there, the methodical lifting operation was completed within a single day.

A New Level of Flood Protection

The principal accommodation was already elevated above the riverbank, so raising the structure by 1.2 metres provided improved flood protection while creating sufficient headroom for a full-height river-level floor.

This additional space was an unexpected benefit rather than the original purpose of the project and was subsequently used by the client to create a memorable and rather usual space housing a heated, indoor beach. The project demonstrates how careful assessment, specialist engineering and close coordination can provide an imaginative response to environmental risk while preserving a distinctive historic building intact.

Project Highlights

  • Flood protection for a prominent riverside building
  • Condition assessment and planning consents
  • Coordination of the architectural and engineering team, including Dutch lifting specialists, Mammoet
  • Entire timber building lifted without being dismantled
  • Eight synchronised hydraulic jacks
  • Controlled lift completed within one day
  • Full-height river-level storey created beneath the existing building

Watch the short film of the lifting operation.

 

Watch the full eight-minute film and interviews.

This project featured as Week 28 of our  #40Projects40Weeks series, read the story of the day we raised The Swiss Chalet.