Project overview
The Old Boathouse in Taplow is a conversion and new-build development of eight riverside houses on the Thames in Berkshire. Led by Napier Clarke Architects for Gage Properties, the scheme reimagines a disused brownfield site while retaining the character of its historic setting. At its heart are two heritage assets: a Victorian gatehouse lodge and the former Edwardian boathouse, once used as offices and storage, and now central to the development’s design.
The boathouse is listed in the local conservation plan and serves as a reference point for the new masterplan. Its rhythm, scale and proportions shape the six additional homes, which extend along the river as a terrace of gable-ended longhouses. Materials and features draw directly from the original building, with arched windows, slate roofs and a dark brick plinth carried through the new architecture.
Florens Pollux and Polaris bricks provide a refined palette of whites and greys, set in light stretcher bond to complement the waterside context. The tones reflect on the river, giving the development a sense of brightness and permanence while allowing the repurposed boathouse to anchor the scheme in local history.
