Using smaller machinery, including a track-mounted spider crane (which, admittedly, had to be operated from the neighbouring yard), meant slightly slower progress, but it enabled us to execute our brief with precision and minimal disturbance to the outdoor space.

Did it require specialist skill? Absolutely.

Thankfully, the Thirdson Construction team includes a plethora of specialised sub-contractors.

Our director David is an old hand when it comes to acting as a go-between, and his professional expertise is second only to his diplomatic skill; so after much rationalising, weighing up and coaxing frayed tempers, he managed to secure the exact materials and features specified by the clients; even the more unorthodox ones.

Steel mesh, hoods, screens, awnings, plates, balustrades and wall linings… all these critical components required a complex and collaborative process from sourcing the subcontractors to drawing the products to site measurements to critical datum lines (to line up with the shadow-line details of the walls). While this was obviously time-consuming and incredibly labour intensive, it also brought forth an incredible result.