Following a competitive tender by National Museums Liverpool (NML), HSA was appointed to design a cafe kiosk in the Hartley Hut to support NML’s economic sustainability. Originally designed by Dock Engineer Jesse Hartley in 1844, the Hartley hut is one of three octagonal Watchman’s Hut built to provide shelter for the men operating the lock gates of the dock. 

Our initial studies demonstrated that this would be difficult to deliver without causing harm to the character of the listed fabric due to the lack of servicing to the building.  In exploring NML’s commercial requirement, we identified an under-utilised corner of the adjacent Victorian Pilotage building (also within NML ownership), which, with its existing services connections and as an undesignated heritage asset, felt more suited to a potential food and beverage outlet.

Taking precedence from the Conservation setting and stories of the waterfront in respect of material and the sugar story, this sensitive insertion is set within the existing structural opening with just the edge of the countertop visible in its closed position. The door opens vertically to reveal the serving hatch, whilst also providing shelter for customers on rainy days. Brick waste from the one new structural alteration has been used to form the worktop counter (Granby Rock), externally, the stone floor has been regraded for level access.

Programming and coordination of the Works was successfully delivered around public safety and the installation of specialist fixtures and fittings, and it has become an important pause point for visitors along the waterfront.

Our role in interrogating the client’s brief added value to the project, successfully delivering the client’s requirement for a food and beverage outlet, whilst identifying the value of Hartley Hut for more sensitive uses, for which works are currently progressing to fit out as a micro-museum offering.

Read more about the history of the dock keepers at the Hartley Huts here on NML’s website.