The structures at Westonbirt Arboretum consist of a tree top walkway, a tree management centre and a welcome building. These buildings sit alongside a spectacular collection of rare and exotic trees and a traditional woodland that has been managed to provide a sustainable supply of timber. Whilst the forms and volumes on exhibit here are similar to other modern buildings found in rural, natural and agricultural areas; these buildings answer timbers biggest contemporary challenge of how to explore the materials that are available locally. The tree top walkway uses Scottish larch for the decking and handrails. The columns are larch which originates from Siberia which achieves a higher strength rating.
Whilst the Welcome Building features western red cedar shingles sourced from France the other timbers are of UK origin. A douglas fir timber frame supports cedar cladding which features both internally and externally. The studwork is constructed from generic whitewood sourced from UK woodlands. The Tree Management Centre is constructed entirely from UK timbers. A mixture of the estates pine and larch trees where used in conjunction with one another to create the timber frame. The building is then clad in locally sourced oak and douglas fir which age at different speeds, providing a more interesting external appearance. Producing timbers buildings from local woodlands are a reality for future generations of architects.
The house of Ben Laws is an example of an individual’s effort to self-build a timber home. This house was a feature of the TV programme Grand Designs and stood out against the many other self-build adventurers of its time due to the relationship Ben had with the material. Ben took on the building work himself. He was an amateur builder and timber enthusiast. He produced an entirely timber house which is a model of locally sourced, environmental and social sustainability. The building is a testament to the exceptional performance levels and overall quality that can be achieved within the wide parameters of timber.
The house is predominantly made up of four different timbers. Sweet Chestnut is used for the timber frame, cladding, shingles, studwork and blasutrade. Ash is used for the window frames. Oak is used for the veranda boarding, both internal and external doors, pegs for the frame, internal floorboards and other forms of cladding. Larch is used for the floor and roof joists.
The house of Edward Waghorn uses Western Red Cedar for the roof cladding and soffit finish. Sweet Chestnut is used for the internal finishes. Ash is used for all the studwork and internal beams. Sycamore is used for the kitchen cabinets and worktop. Douglas Fir is used for the structural frame.
Tom Raffield’s House demonstrates, how an innovative designer can develop a new system from a material which dates back before human existence. Tom Raffield is better known for steambending furniture and lamp shades. His contemporary craft didn’t see any artistic limits to the process. This allowed him to develop it for use in construction. It is clear that Tom’s design and construction is one of passion and whilst it may appear slightly unnecessary, the solution is both practical and environmental. The internal finishes are flat vertical pieces of beech, larch and sweet chestnut. The form required the external timber to curve. The external cladding is made from a mixture of oak and ash.
These external timbers were chosen as they would be able to provide a long-term resilient cladding. They can be dried relatively quickly and also warp under the intake of new moisture in order for its form to be manipulated. The timbers, both in their constructional form and material character, have helped evolve this building into a piece of architectural expression.
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