The Refinery

First-time bar developers Drake & Morgan commissioned Fileturn to carry out a full programme of works on their Refinery bar and restaurant in London’s award-winning Blue Fin building at Bankside.

Fileturn worked closely with Fusion Design & Architecture to create a distinctive modern design for the new bar and restaurant, which reached the finals of the respected national Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.

Bringing design to life

Contracts Manager Trevor Still took a proactive role in providing the technical detail needed to make the design concept a reality.

Trevor created the technical specification for the bar’s dramatic featured staircase with cantilevered treads that appeared to float against the wall. He also redesigned the layout of the mezzanine floor to make sure that the toilets were positioned correctly for the building’s existing services.

Fileturn were pleased to assist by undertaking the mechanical and electrical design and producing co-ordinated services drawings. Trevor took charge of the client’s directly employed specialist trades to make sure that ventilation and sprinkler systems did not conflict with electrical and drainage work.

Trevor says: “When there are lots of individuals doing separate work, they all think about their own area and they don’t necessarily care if it causes a problem for someone else. On this project we had to get them all to focus on the overall goal of making the design work within the deadline – it took a lot of persuasion and daily communication with everyone.”

Right on target

By keeping the individual trades on track and coming up with prompt and practical solutions to problems, Trevor managed to avoid any delays to the schedule. The client was delighted with the end result.

“We’re over the moon with Fileturn” says Jillian McLean of Drake & Morgan. “Fileturn’s finish and workmanship is excellent. We also had good fun with the team, even at the handover when things can be quite fraught. This was our first development and we learnt a lot, they also stayed around to give valuable input to our post-completion review.”