Hidden in a copse of trees is The Lookout Hyde Park. It was built over an old Victorian reservoir, and is now a tranquil haven in the heart of London.

During the day, the wooden terraces, sculptures, and ecological ponds are used as an Environmental Education Centre for urban city children to discover the natural world, and by night The Lookout becomes a magical secluded pop-up venue – an oasis in the heart of busy London.

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In the spring of 2017, DBR Conservation was called in to investigate the state of The Lookout’s decorative cladding, which was marred by patches of deterioration and mould. After looking at a variety of solutions, the final recommendation was the complete removal of the lower bay of panels, and the installation of new boards of the highest quality birch plywood, which were discretely installed with birch plugs.

The artwork on the original panels was copied and faithfully transferred onto the new panels, and then matched with loose brush strokes using a variety of earth pigments such as raw umber, burnt sienna and yellow ochre. Once the painting cured, the wood was treated with over 10 coats of marine grade exterior varnishes with UV protection.

“We are delighted with the results – huge thanks to you and the team for completing the works to such a high standard. It was a pleasure working with you all.”

–  Claire Ashfield from the Royal Parks Foundation

Take a look at this project on Instagram.

More projects by DBR Conservation teams can be found <a href="”> here.