Dreaming of a floating workshop/ classroom/ office/ circling the London canals

We’ve been searching for awhile for a Dutch Barge to renovate and become a base for future projects touring the canals of London, this was the closest we came earlier this year with Vol Vertrouwen, which loosely translate as ‘have trust’ or ‘go faithfully’. Constructed in 1896 near Amsterdam, Vertrouwen is a  steel-hulled Tjalk (or ‘slipper’, named for the distinctive curved hull) equipped with it’s original mast, leeboards, rudder and log burner, although in need of some significant repairs.

Our plan was to keep as much of the original as possible, especially the original stunningly-carved woodwork and ceiling structure, whilst allowing for an open-plan space for teaching, hosting events such as galleries, and transporting tools to spill out into public green spaces along the waters edge for fair-weather workshops.